Top dollar buys best Xmas puddings: Choice

MORE expensive Christmas puddings scored better than their cheaper counterparts in a taste test of 14 products by consumer group Choice.

Puddings

TOP dollar this Christmas dinner will get you top taste when it comes to puddings, according consumer group Choice.

More expensive products scored better than their budget counterparts in the Choice taste of 14 puddings currently on shelves.

Three experts ranked the supermarket and boutique brands puddings - which range in price from 71 cents per 100g to $5.50 per 100g - on their general appearance, quality of finish, moisture, texture, mixture quality, flavour and aroma.

The top tasting pud was Itha's Traditional Plum Pudding, said Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just, who said the testers highlighted its homemade appearance, well prepared fruit and the consistency of the cake mixture.

Itha's Traditional Plum Pudding costs $4.20 per 100g - putting it at the more expensive end of the scale - but the testers considered the price reasonable given the quality of the ingredients.

The four best tasting puddings were all priced above $3.60 per 100g.

"The expert taste testers also considered the shape and weight of the puddings and the balance of fruit, spice and alcohol flavours," Ms Just said.

"They were looking for the even distribution of good quality fruit ingredients, and puds that held their shape when cut."

The best budget buy was Woolworths Gold Vintage Christmas Pudding at $1.98 per 100g.

"Puddings that didn't rate as well had cheaper ingredients and had a gluggy consistency," Ms Just said in a statement on Tuesday.

"They were crumbly when cut and had a poor balance of spice, alcohol, sweet and nuts."

Coming in at the middle of the pack were Coles and Woolworth's homebrand puddings.

Ms Just said puddings were expensive to make - "so it's reasonable to assume you might have to fork out a little more for a top-quality pud".

Best performers

(price per 100g)

Itha’s Traditional Plum Pudding $4.20

Crooked Creek Authentic English Christmas Pudding $5.50

Pud for All Seasons Traditional Plum Pudding $3.62

Pudding Lady Traditional Christmas Pudding $4.30

Value for money

Woolworths Gold Vintage Christmas Pudding $1.98

Coles Finest Luxury Christmas Pudding $1.56 

Fowlers Luxury Plum Pudding $1.63

Lions Traditional Lions Christmas Pudding $1.22

Poor performers

Big Sister Traditional Plum Pudding $1.12

Coles Matured Christmas Pudding $1.29

Pudding Lane Christmas Pudding $4.20

The Cake Stall (Aldi) Luxury Christmas Pudding $1.00

The Cake Stall (Aldi) Plum Pudding $0.71c

Woolworths Select Matured Christmas Pudding with Cognac $1.13