Calypso Rose
03-12-2024
The best mince pies : OUR HONEST REVIEW
"One of our selections ended up being disqualified. Not because of taste, but it really wasn’t a proper pie."
We've reviewed the best mince pies - tasters Calypso - Head of Most Things, Clare - Head of Some.
Here at Indytute we are keen supporters of Christmas, with all the usual traditions. Our Christmas pudding always seems to come from the same place - and very delicious it is too. The Carved Angel is our go to for the perfect pudding, but we ring the changes when it comes to mince pies and only buy independent.
So we thought we would taste test ten of the finest, from our local independents. Scores out of five for each category. We judged on pastry, taste, amount of filling, appearance and price. We taste tested them cold, but of course, a mince pie should always be heated, deluged in cream with a dollop of brandy butter to set it off, but we are saving that indulgence for the big day.
Below is our selection with entirely subjective comments. We should also say that Biscuiteers founder is related by blood ties, but we put all favoritism aside - they can take it!
We were sad not to grab a Konditor mince pie as they do get rave reviews but traipsing Marylebone, Islington and Daltson in the rain was enough.
One of our selections ended up being disqualified. Not because of taste, but it really wasn’t a proper pie.
After the 5th mince pie, taster, Calypso felt a bit sick.
Mince Pie Review - in no particular order...
A port and prune mince pie. The pastry was sticky and chewy, very moist with an excellent fill. Indeed all the independents should take pride in the fact that they stuff mince meat into the cases. Every single mince pie we tried was filled right to the top.
Daylesford Organic
£2.99 per mince pie
Score: 16/20
Now this is Calypso's local and loves the deli - it's worth the trip for their coffee and beautiful shop but we did feel the mince pies could taste better.
No top on this one, but a very pretty sugary star. A thin cup, but sadly the filling tasted rather burnt.
De Beauvoir Deli
£2.80 per mince pie
Score: 13/20
The pastry was quite sweet, but beautifully offset by the inside which was savory and very fruity and spicy - not too sticky. It looked very, very pretty, traditional, with icing sugar on the top. A good size - you would only want one. Calypso has dreams about their bread.
The Dusty Knuckle
£2.50 per mince pie
TOP SCORE! 20/20
A rather insipid pastry. Looked like it needed a few more minutes in the oven. Open top. Good filling. Excellent price. You could definitely have more than one. And bought from a destination shop - the purchasing experience was extremely christmassy an lovely staff (although that's not been taken into account with the scoring)
La Fromagerie
£1.50 per mince pie
Score: 16/20
A HUGE mince pie. Good colour, you could pass this one off as homemade.
You would only eat one, and the filling is very substantial. Buttery, crunchy pastry. Nearly perfect but a bit spendy.
Ottolenghi
£3.70 per mince pie
Score: 19/20
More of a Danish than a mince pie. It doesn’t look like one, and is large and bun like. A small amount of mince filling throughout, rather than in one dollop.
It would make a delicious mid-morning snack with coffee, but not suitable for Christmas lunch. Disqualified!
Buns from Home
£3.00 per bun
Disqualified!
Couldn't decide if Gail's was independent enough but it made it to the mince pie review.
Very sugary. Light pastry, but the whole pie did seem very sweet. Too sweet for us. Mince pies should always be cut with cream.
Gail's
£3 per mince pie
Score: 13/20
Ringing the changes with a smallish open-topped gingerbread filling.
Sticky and dark with good pastry and a subtle ginger taste. Rather good and (suprisingly) a fantastic price.
Bailey and Sage
£1.50 per mince pie
Score: 19/20
Shaped like a turnover. Low mince meat filling, but also has a layer of brandy butter! Good flakey pastry.
This caused some dissension. Calypso liked it, Clare didn’t! Good if you want a change of shape.
Pophams
£3.50 per bun
Score 16/20
These come with a frangipane layer, which cuts the mince meat beautifully. Beautifully packaged so perfect as a gift. They aren’t too sweet and the pastry has a nice, slighly chewy bite. For full discolsure we are related to the founder, Harriet, but if anything that makes us tougher!
We both thought these were perfect!
