The festive season has arrived in UK supermarkets and high street chains, with Christmas sandwiches appearing on shelves nationwide. This year's offerings range from traditional favourites to unconventional creations, providing plenty of choice for hungry lunchtime shoppers.
The Ultimate Christmas Sandwich Taste Test
Daily Mail journalists conducted an extensive review of 88 different festive sandwiches currently available across British retailers. The comprehensive taste test included everything from classic turkey and stuffing combinations to more adventurous options featuring curry, falafel, and even lobster.
The team, led by Lifestyle Reporter Gina Kalsi and assisted by hungry colleagues, sampled sandwiches from major supermarkets including Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl, alongside offerings from popular chains like Pret, Starbucks, Costa, and Greggs.
Top-Rated Festive Sandwiches
Several sandwiches achieved the coveted five-star rating, impressing journalists with their flavour combinations and quality ingredients.
The Co-op Irresistible Turkey Double Dip n Dunk Wrap received perfect marks for being "sturdy and packed with filling from top to bottom." Reviewers noted the "very Christmassy" taste with hints of rosemary that evoked Christmas dinner stuffing.
Starbucks Pigs Under Blanket Roll was described as "what Christmas should taste like," with flavourful sausages and bacon complemented by stuffing that "helped bring the whole roll together."
Pret's Smoked Salmon, Soft Cheese and Dill Baguette impressed with its "crisp but not stale" bread and generous amounts of smoked salmon and cream cheese, bringing "Christmas morning to mind."
Other five-star winners included Joe & The Juice's 'Jo Ho Ho' Sandwich, M&S Falalalafel wrap, Waitrose Chicken Wrap with all the Trimmings, and Paul's Brie Christmas Sandwich.
Disappointing Festive Failures
Not all sandwiches met expectations, with some receiving particularly poor ratings from the discerning panel.
Caffe Nero Festive Feast Panini earned just one star, described as an "utter disappointment" with plain chicken and fatty bacon overwhelmed by "lashings of very tangy cranberry sauce" that made the sourdough panini soggy.
Asda Festive Ham & Brie Brioche Roll also scored one star, criticised for its "thick and quite dry" roll and lack of flavour in both the cream cheese and brie components.
Waitrose Vegetable Feast Sandwich received the lowest rating for being "dry, tasteless, and lacking any kind of sustenance," with an overpowering cranberry taste masking other ingredients.
Morrisons Pigs Under Blankets sandwich and Lidl Pigs Under Blankets Sandwich both scored one star, with the latter containing "pieces of hard, gristly bone" in the sausage.
Trends and Surprises
This year's festive sandwich selection shows continued innovation, with plant-based options improving significantly. The Sainsbury's Plant Pioneers No Pigs Under Blankets scored four stars for its "well-seasoned, flavourful sausages and smoky faux bacon."
International flavours are also making their mark, with Waitrose Festive Turkey Curry sandwich and YO! Sushi Xmas Tempura Wrap both receiving positive reviews for their creative approaches to Christmas flavours.
Traditional combinations remain popular, with brie and cranberry appearing in multiple offerings across different retailers, though quality varied significantly between the highest and lowest rated versions.
The extensive taste test reveals that while some retailers have perfected their festive offerings, others still have work to do to create sandwiches that truly capture the Christmas spirit without compromising on quality or flavour.
