So today it’s the turn of Tesco’s finest range and their 12 month matured Christmas pudding. Now there’s some initial confusion here; the front of the box tells me its infused with cider, amontillado (I don’t even know what this is…), sherry and ruby port. So far so boozy. Then the side of the package tells me it’s ‘with Courvoisier VS cognac. Is this an ingredient or a serving suggestion? Currently the number of different boozes seem to be out numbering other ingredients. I may have to drink this pudding rather than eat it. It’s not one for the teetotallers out there.
Onto packaging and I like what they have done here. Eschewing the ‘super-large quality street’ cellophane aesthetic of most individual puds, Tesco have gone for a classic matt finish box design. Seasonal and posh. Inside, the pud comes clothed in a swarthy black case. If James Bond were to eat a Christmas Pudding, this wold be it. I feel like it was delivered by the Milk Tray man.
Glowing from this positive packing experience I pierce the lid – no exciting booze fumes yet – but on exiting the microwave this pudding is emanating a selection of glorious scents. I’m not which one of the top shelf liquors it is but it smells good, and fortunately not of cooked cider which smells vile.
Initial appearance shows a good mix of plump fruit and even something that looks like a slice of apple. And here is where it all falls down. Literally.
I was quite excited as I noticed the pudding pack suggested a proper dome shape. Unlike Lidl’s homage to Australian geology, this pudding should have been the right shape. Careful readers will note the use of the past tense here because on removal from its plastic shell, this pudding has collapsed. Firstly, it took me three tries to get it out and then ‘flumph’. You could not serve this at a dinner party without some serious brandy butter related replastering.
Trying not to judge this book by it's cover, first bite and it’s actually pretty tasty. Fruity, boozy and with a tang. It’s a lighter pud, a golden brown sponge rather than a dark mahogany but it is good. There’s lots of fat raisins and a pleasing dryness with no grease or oil residue on the plate. There’s even big chunks of nuts which gives a good texture. But perhaps too much dryness as it’s not holding together well.
Aftertaste is perhaps a bit too tangy for my liking – too much fruit acid rather than a pleasing mellowness. Frankly, I’m a little surprised at their claims of 12 month maturing as this feels like a younger pudding than that. Continuing through, it gets a little sticky as things progress, there’s perhaps a bit too much sponge and it does continue to fall apart during eating so, several spoonfuls in, I’m left with a medley of brown crumbs more than one pleasing final spoonful. I’ll definitely finish this one though.
Score: A fairly pleased 6.5. Almost twice the price of Lidl and almost twice as good, you could serve this up at your Christmas dinner with no shame attached and actually, as it's on the lighter side, it feels like you could probably even stomach this after the main feast with relative ease and no need for a strategic lie down between courses. That said, if you are to go for it, make sure your guests aren’t architects, I think the odds of getting this one out the plastic in one piece are limited.
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