VALUE FOR MONEY: CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

This week, Value For Moneytests five varities of chocolate truffles.

Lidl Trüffel Pralinés, €2.99 for 150g, €19.93 per kg

Highs:While these pralines are uncommonly cheap, they are also surprisingly good. The box tells us that they are quality, superior, genius, deluxe, exclusive and finest in a combination of French and German - and no box would ever make exaggerated claims, now, would it? They are big and home-made looking, though so irregularly shaped it looks like they were made by a six-year-old; if that sounds insulting, it's not intended to be, as these are very pleasant and very good value. The whipped cream consistency of the centre gives them a lightness the competition is lacking. If we were shopping for Christmas treats in Lidl these would certainly find their way into our trolley.

Lows:While they are very cheap, they taste cheap, and lack the richness of their peers.

Verdict:Cheap but not at all bad

Star rating: ****

Lindt Lindor, €7.49 for 240g, €31.20 per kg

Highs:These dark chocolate truffles, made with 60 per cent cocoa, scored highest on taste and didn't do too badly on value for money either. They are individually wrapped, perfectly round and smooth and filled with a pleasantly creamy vanilla centre.

Lows:We found ourselves eating a whole lot more of these than was necessary, which we were not at all happy about. While we reckoned these tasted as good as any of the more upmarket competition, we're not entirely sure we liked the presentation. They come in a bag and look a little cheap, which rules them out as an impressive Christmas present. The sweets were individually wrapped which created a lot more packaging, although it does mean you can pop one in your handbag and take it away with you.

Verdict:Cheap, nice and great for takeaways

Star rating: ****

Charbonnel et Walker Truffle Collection, €24.95 for 245g, €101.83 per kg

Highs:The milk chocolate in these high-end truffles was made "by a royal-appointed master chocolatier", apparently. They are made with marc de champagne - made by distilling the grape skins, seeds and stalks left behind after champagne grapes have been mulched - as well as white rum and brandy, giving them a hefty boozy kick. We were surprised that we could actually taste the champagne. They come in three varieties - buck's fizz, pink chocolate and plain truffle.

Lows:With 15 in a box, they work out at €1.66 each, which seems extravagant to us. The colour of the pink chocolate is distinctly off-putting and it is unbearably sweet. The flash gold box doesn't make these chocolates look as expensive as they actually are.

Verdict:Nice but too dear

Star rating: *** 

Marks & Spencer Connoisseur Chocolate Brandy Truffle Cakes, €6.95 for 165g, €42.12 per kg

Highs:These chocolates were the only ones to actually make people ooh and ahh, although Pricewatch was not amongst those people. They probably created such a favourable first impression because of their size and the surprisingly crunchy festive holly and snow blob stuck on top of each chocolate. The brandy and marzipan flavours competed for the attention while the dried fruit added to the confusion.

Lows:You only get six chocolates in the box, although they are big and filling, so one will be enough. The chocolate was very dull and they will probably be useless as a present, although they are the most festive and the type of truffle you might buy for yourself without feeling excessively self-indulgent.

Verdict:Festive enough

Star Rating: **

Godiva Truffles, €35.95 for 350g, €102.71 per kg

Highs:There are 15 varieties (including Grand Marnier, Irish coffee, cocoa, crème brûlée, rum and "traditional") in this expensive-looking box of 24, so there's sure to be one - and probably only one - to suit every taste. While they were perfectly pleasant, they did lack the wow factor, although the fruit-based chocolates were lovely and tangy, less sugary than expected and tasting mostly of nice fruit and good chocolate.

Lows:We found it hard to identify the individual chocolates as many of the pictures bore little or no resemblance to what was in the box. They were the most expensive chocolates we found and we were not at all sure if they were worth this price - indeed, we are pretty sure that they are not.

Verdict:For presents only

Star rating: ***