Asda and Marks & Spencer take five wins each in Christmas taste test

Two supermarkets at the opposite end of the price spectrum are the biggest winners of an annual Christmas taste test.

Asda and Marks & Spencer both won five categories out of the 18 up for grabs in the BBC Good Food magazine Christmas Taste Awards.

Asda's Extra Special corn-fed Bronze turkey, costing £6 to £9 a kilo, beat all others to win best in show, with judges describing it as "plump, glossy and beautifully golden - the birds' diet of corn adds colour as well as flavour".

Asda also won praise for its £3 Extra Special frozen macaroons, with judges noting that they "can't believe they come from the freezer".

The expert panel blind-tasted 160 products from the UK's 10 leading supermarkets, ranging from a £50 M&S beef rib with porcini to £1.25 mince pies from Asda.

Gillian Carter, the magazine's editor, said: "This year's results show that you don't have to blow the budget to enjoy great food.

"We always blind-taste all the products so that we judge solely on taste and appearance, and aren't influenced by the packaging or the retailer's reputation.

"The budget supermarkets continue to have a huge impact on the food retail landscape, and this year Asda has really excelled."

M&S won the categories for Christmas pudding, panettone, vegetarian canapes, vegetarian starters and alternative main course for its beef rib.

Tesco won finest seafood platter with its £32.50 three-tiered offering, while Asda also took the title for best ham for its £15 smoked gammon with whisky and ginger glaze and best smoked salmon with its £4 Extra Special pack.