HELLO I’M KARINA AND I’M A MINCE PIE FIRST-TIMER.
I’ve lived in the UK for three years now, I’m from Los Angeles, and I thought it was HIGH TIME for me to try one of the classic British Treats that everyone obsesses about during the Christmas holiday.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about them, some people love them, some absolutely gag thinking about them.
I even read that British people average about 15 mince pies each person, each Christmas season. WHAT!!!!!
That’s roughly 781 million pies!!!!!
Is this true for you? Leave me a comment below if you love ’em or you hate ’em!
I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Aren’t they just meat pies? Sounds rather lovely.
LOL!
No.
Wrong.
They’re fruit!
So this Christmas, I went to the shops, grabbed a couple ‘a pies, and sat down to taste test them myself.
Keep reading to see my reactions! Scroll to the bottom for a hilarious video.
THE MINCE PIE CONTENDERS:
- FORTNUM & MASON PETIT FOURS MINCE PIES
- COOP MINCE PIES
- COSTA COFFEE UK BEST TASTING MINCE PIES
TASTING NOTES:
COOP:
OOOOH this one has such a sugary crust, I liked that a lot. But OMG, the inside…. IT TASTES LIKE A BOOT. The fruit inside it just tastes like ‘old.’
As if someone cut up some fruit at home, wrapped it in a leather satchel, went off for a little picnic and then suddenly found themselves on a quest to Mordor, wading through the rivers and hiding from the Nazgûl. In a desperate attempt to flee from persecution, our hero hides their precious fruit in the bark of a tree and let it ferment for 400 years. Then one day, some desperate gnome found it and put it in a little pie to feed their family.
That’s how it tastes.
Who even eats these?
I know my cat has been enjoying them because I keep finding him licking them.
I bet they would be good covered in cream or brandy butter (thanks for the tips, UK friends!)
I’m not looking forward to the next few, sorry Gnomes & COOP.
COSTA COFFEE:
WHOA THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT. It tastes MEATY.
Sweeney Todd, is that you?
Are you sure there isn’t real meat in here? 😂
I can tell why it won best tasting pie of the UK, it really gives you a substantial flavour. Like most bang for your buck in terms of ‘fruity- meat’ pies. Crust was flakey yet doughy, and it was the perfect size for a pie.
AND BONUS POINTS FOR THE CUTE STAR DESIGN.
It was at this point when I realised that I am just not a true Brit. I am no mince pie lover and I can honestly say that with confidence. If I wasn’t keen on the flavour with the miss-uk-pagent-winner of meat pies, I probably should give up the ghost.
Good on ya, Costa. A truly lovely pie that MINCE PIE LOVERS would love.
Saying that, I’d still eat it if it was covered in cream or brandy butter.
FORTNUM & MASON PETIT FOUR TRADITIONAL MINCE PIES:
Okay okay okayyy.
I see you Fortnum & Mason.
Not sure if it was the pretty packaging or the fact that they’re tiny and cute, but I am actually a fan of these.
Shocking, I know. I mean, I just confessed above to thinking I would never love a mince pie, and here I am eating my words.
And pies.
12 tiny mince pies to be exact.
I could pop these in my mouth like cookies. The crust is nice & sugary (without being child-birthday-party-plastic-y) and the mince pie inside is just a TOUCH of flavour. It tastes almost exactly like a JAMMY DODGER to me (another British treat)
I guess for 10 pounds, you’re getting POSH quality. I really do have expensive taste.
OKAY NOW FOR THE WINNER…. DRUMROLL PLEASE……
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WINNER:
FORTNUM & MASON
This is definitely my opinion as someone who is Mince-Pie-Indifferent. I definitely preferred the Fortnum & Mason pies because they’re were easy to eat (you could just have a nibble or a whole box) and they tasted the most like a ‘TREAT’.
Costa pie, sorry hunny. You might be the star of the show for most, and rightfully so, but not for this gal.
Have you tried any of these pies? Which ones are your GO-TO?
Leave me a comment below if you’ve enjoyed this taste test blog and maybe I’ll write more!
Happy Holidays / Happy Christmas,
Karina
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