Aldi Taste Test – Christmas Luxuries

Noodlies, Sydney food blog contributor, Evie Chataway taste tests Aldi Christmas luxuries.

A recent article on Noodlies showed the extent of savings to be made on Christmas food products from Aldi in comparison to Coles and Woolies.  The biggest surprise was that aside from ‘basic’ Christmas essentials, Aldi is offering a wide range of products at the luxury end of the scale.  But the proof is in the eating, how do these luxury items measure up when it comes to the big taste test?

…the crisp dark chocolate had that nice cracking when you took a bite into it.  Inside, was a whole cherry wrapped in a thick cherry Liqueur syrup.

Cherry Liqueurs

Chocolate mixed with alcohol, plus you can tick off one daily serving of fruit and veg (kind of) – what more could you ask for?  At under $6 for 200g they certainly fulfil the brief in terms of affordability.  The package itself is a nicely designed cardboard box of muted bronze and gold, with an emblem on it proclaiming ‘Specially Selected’.

It is all fairly reminiscent of the packaging of Cole’s ‘Finest’ Christmas range.  Open up the box, and I counted around 24 chocolates, each individually wrapped in red foil.  The product itself, is great (if you like Cherry Liqueurs, which I grant are something of an acquired taste).  Made in Germany, the crisp dark chocolate had that nice cracking when you took a bite into it.  Inside, was a whole cherry wrapped in a thick cherry Liqueur syrup, which is much more pleasant than the chocolates you bite into only to have your mouth assaulted with a neat alcohol shot.

Cherry Liqueurs Coated in Dark Chocolate – $5.99 for 250g

Luxury Clotted Cream Fudge

I had some volunteers step in for this taste test.  The box design is lovely, with the same gold emblem claim ‘Specially Selected’ and a lovely design at the top of the box which sees it open out as a concertina.  On opening the box, you’ll find a white flecked sealed plastic bag containing, what is described on the box as ‘rich clotted cream fudge made in Yorkshire with lashings of butter’.

Did the taste live up to its Enid Blyton style hype?

The taste testers described the product as creamy and indulgent, very sweet ‘but in a good way’.  Someone else said it brought back memories of childhood holidays when they bought it fresh at the seaside.  Praise indeed.

Luxury Clotted Cream Fudge – $4.99 for 150g 

Milk Chocolate Truffles Salted Caramel

Outstanding packaging on this one, a great quality cardboard box with a lid which slides off to reveal bronze shimmer tissue, and inside the truffles which also have been dusted with a shimmer lustre powder.

The chocolates themselves look very luxurious.  Bite into the chocolate and you’ll find a very soft caramel centre, which has a strong taste of peanut rather than just salted caramel.  They are very sweet, even for those with a sweet tooth.  You couldn’t really eat more than one of them, but perhaps that is the point.  They’d be great served with coffee at the end of a meal.

Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Truffles – $7.99 for 120g

Confectionery for Gifts

Already mentioned has been the quality of the packaging for each of the confectionery products.  It all looks high end and certainly doesn’t feel in anyway budget.  If you’re not hosting Christmas, then you may well be looking for gifts to give to contribute to the table on Christmas Day.

There is nothing on the front of the box to make it known that the product comes from Aldi

Would you be able to give these items as a gift?  Some may be reluctant to give a gift which the receiver might identify as Aldi. There is nothing on the front of the box to make it known that the product has come from Aldi. The only identification is on the back of the box, in small writing where it finally gives the details of Aldi’s address etc.

Ultimately, a gift is a kind gesture, these products are good quality, and they look luxurious.  I feel there would be no problem to give them as a present – if someone is scouring the pack for where it is from, and then is snobby about the origin, then that really says more about them then it does about you.

Alcohol

I’ve written about the great value alcohol on offer at Aldi. One of the best buys is the Veuve Monsigny Champagne, at just under $25 a 75cl bottle.  Light, crisp, and lemony, it’s a wonderful tipple to serve to guests this Christmas, or stick it in a luxury bottle bag and give as a gift.

Also sampled was the Vinatero New Zealand Pinot Noir 2011 at $14.99 for a 75cl bottle.  This wine was impressive, a lovely rich dark colour and complex bouquet of kerosene and peat.  The taste was earthy with fruity red and blackcurrants, yet somehow was also light and easy to drink.

Taste Test Conclusions

The products tasted were of good quality, looked great and certainly would pass muster on any Christmas table.  Is there better quality, well of course there is, if you go to an artisan chocolate makers you’ll find something amazing, but that will also be reflected in the price.  When it comes to supermarket offerings though, the confectionery we sampled was excellent in both value and taste.

Evie Chataway sampled the above products courtesy of Aldi.