Another company looking to move away from the overly sweet, processed flavour of many mince pies is Daylesford, who have chosen to focus on the lighter, more marmalade-like flavours of Christmas. It’s much less sweet than what you’d normally expect and there’s lots of grated apple inside, which keeps the filling very moist.

Available from Ocado.

While we could’ve done with a little more filling, what was there had a good, balanced taste that wasn’t too fruity, too sweet or too bitter. They were deemed the best all-rounder, so would be a sensible choice for a party, and the pastry had a nice crisp texture with plenty of buttery flavour.

Available from Waitrose.

After a fierce debate over whether these should be included in the taste test (Heston has gone for more of a tart than a pie), they were eventually allowed in thanks to their flavour. The combination of lemon and spice was, as one person described it, ‘Christmas in a mouthful’, and the dark shortcrust pastry was more like gingerbread. Mince pie traditionalists might see these as sacrilege, but if you want something different they’re the ones to go for.

Available from Waitrose.

Bursting with citrusy orange flavour and sweet dried fruit, these were universally chosen as the best pies on the table. The pastry was just the right thickness and the thick, rich filling helped prevent it becoming too dry. They might be a little too sweet for some who prefer a more booze-heavy mincemeat, but overall the flavour was exactly what you want from a mince pie.

Available from Asda.