Which supermarket makes the most decadent Christmas pudding?

HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST

IT'S FREE AND FAIR!

To make it a fair tasting, we purchased Christmas puddings from five leading retailers and gathered a group of home bakers for a blind tasting. 

All mince pies were stripped of their packaging and numbered before being served to the tasters, who rated them on appearance, aroma, taste, and whether they would buy them. 

Auditor Jade Craig checked the scores and collated the results.

THE RESULTS

FIRST PLACE: PICK N PAY

Brandy Christmas Pudding

Price: R99.99 for 450g 

What the judges said:

• Jane: Tasty and moist.
• Penny: All good, a bit crumbly and needs to be doused in brandy.
• Linda: I liked this best of all the puddings.

SECOND PLACE: WOOLWORTHS

Rich & Dark Brandy Fruit Pudding

Price: R109.99 for 450g 

What the judges said:

• Ann: Appearance is good. A bit dry and disappointing.
• Gino: Tastes strangely salty.
• Kathy: Nice, rich, smooth with excellent aroma.

THIRD PLACE: SPAR

Freshline Christmas Fruit Pudding

Price: R69.99 for 400g 

What the judges said:

• Ann: Looks like a chocolate pudding with synthetic taste.
• Gino: Malty porridge taste.
• Annabel: No aroma, nice cherries, otherwise dull.

FOURTH PLACE: CHECKERS

Festive Steamed Pudding

Price: R89.99 for 400g

What the judges said:

• Annabel: Solid and stodgy with way too much clove spice.
• Gino: Cloves overpower everything and I found it dry.
• Ann: Crumbly with strange spicy taste.