We tasted mince pies from Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury's - but one was amazing

It's that festive season again when you can't navigate a supermarket aisle without encountering a stack of mince pies. These days, there's a broader variety available in stores, with all sorts of toppings and flavours.

However, it's the traditional basic mince pie that tends to fly off the shelves, particularly when many shoppers are budget-conscious. That's why our colleagues at the MEN decided to conduct a blind taste test comparing the cheapest mince pies from each supermarket, including Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and M&S.

At first glance, most look quite similar - small deep pies with crimped edges and various snowflake, leaf and star patterns on top. The ones from Sainsbury's and M&S are wider than the others and have a top that covers the entire pie, with the MandS ones featuring an open star in the centre.

Aldi's and Morrisons' were slightly more browned than the rest, resulting in a firmer top. Lidl's had the softest pastry, but this didn't appeal to all our testers, so it really depends on personal preference.

The Sainsbury's pies didn't fare well, as the pastry was deemed too dry and crumbly, and the filling of Asda's was considered somewhat bland. All are topped with granulated rather than dusting sugar, but the quantity used varies with each brand, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Sainsbury's and M&S seemed to have only a light dusting, while Morrisons had barely any at all. However, the latter two pies received high praise for their overall taste and texture - with the cinnamon and nutmeg flavours standing out in the M&S ones.

We all appreciated the flavour of the Aldi pies, which are among the cheapest, costing £1.25 for a pack of six. But one pie stood out for those with a sweet tooth - Tesco's Merry Mince Pies, which are price matched to the budget retailer.

The flavours from the rich fruit mixed with its buttery pastry and just the right amount of sugar on top is a winning combination. And at just 21p a pie, this one's definitely the star of the show.

Supermarket mince pie prices

• Aldi - £1.25
• Asda - £1.25
• Tesco - £1.25
• Lidl - £1.25
• Morrisons - £1.45
• Sainsbury's - £1.70
• M&S - £2.75