The Review

8 deep filled mince pies with butter enriched pastry filled with mincemeat

Can these pies live up to the bold claim that they ‘of course are everyone’s favourite’.

‘Pastry, pastry, pastry – have I lost my sense of taste today? Or are these another fine example of a tasteless pie? Even if you just want to make up the numbers I see no reason to ever buy these because the Tesco Deep Filled pies are only a little bit less tasteless but almost half the price. Nice tree detail on the case, but a bit anaemic compared with the photo on the packaging.’ – Paul

‘Mr Kipling may make exceedingly good cakes, but he falls decidedly flat in the mince pie department. The overall culinary experience was as if I had specially kept LAST YEAR’S for review this year – completely dried out and rather stale, with a dodgy looking/tasting pastry (pasty and insipid), although the moulded Christmas tree was a nice touch. The packaging, in retrospect, may have given a hint towards the joys inside – very cheap and ‘special offers’ looking, as though Mum had meant to go to Iceland but ended up with Mr Kipling instead because he was EVEN cheaper!’ – Chris

‘Upon mouth entry the pastry mixed with my saliva to create a taste and texture akin to PVA glue. It was an unenjoyable experience as the butter enriched cup became an impenetrable fortress to its mince meat filling. I glanced hints of the true flavour of the filling but these were quickly cloaked in the dusty pastry. Disappointing even with the two free pies and astonishing weight per pie.’ – Adam

‘Too stodgy, as lid of pie was thick so over powered the mince meat, average!’ – Su

‘The box says these pies are ‘delicious straight from the pack’ but I have to disagree. Pale to look at the pie does not match the image presented by the box where they have a golden glow, although that picture is a little disturbing too. In it the pale pastry pie seems to be vomiting Branston Pickle, it’s innards spilling out. Fearing that my first bite would be met by a mince explosion I gingerly bit – but nothing happening – all I was greeted with was an overwhelming amount of pastry, the filling totally overpowered. Bizarrely after eating this pie the back of my throat had a warm, uncomfortable feeling. I shall not be heading to Mr Kiplings Cake Shop in a hurry.’ – Mince Pie Virgin