Value for money

CONOR POPEreviews Christmas biscuits

Fox's Speciality €3.95 for 400g, €9.87 per kg

HIGHS

There are a few cream-filled options which normally makes us sad but we were impressed by the quality. The chocolate biscuits are excellent and while not cheap, they are good value

LOWS

At 400g the box is too small to be a Christmas treat

VERDICT

Hmmmm creamy

****

M&S Extremely Chocolately Biscuit Selection €7.79 for 500g, €15.58 per kg

HIGHS

There are 12 varieties of biscuit and a lot of chocolate. We sampled all 12 – for research purposes – and could not find fault with a single one of them. The dark chocolate ginger was particularly pleasant

LOWS

Cheap box – the box is important if it’s a gift. Expensive too

VERDICT

Lovely but dear

***

Crawford's Rover Biscuits €4.99 for 1kg

HIGHS

Low price may make these the ideal recessionary biscuit

LOWS

There is a thin line between inexpensive and cheap and we fear Rover tramples all over it. These look and taste cheap, and while we’re promised a “new selection” many varieties were all too familiar

VERDICT

Cheap

**

Jacob's Afternoon Tea Biscuits

HIGHS

They come in a tin (which may give the purchase a half-life after Christmas) and have a degree of tradition. Twelve varieties, most coated in chocolate

LOWS

Pricey, but they can be bought for a couple of euro less in Lidl

VERDICT

Enduring

****