BE: “This isn’t panettone; we’ve gone too far over the line. There’s none of that classic panettone flavour (apart from the peel) to redeem it, and it’s all sugar. It does look playful and fun, though, so it could be good for kids.” Score 3.5/10

EK: “That chocolate cream is disgusting, it’s so sweet. It’s missing the citrus, so it doesn’t taste like panettone, but the taste and texture of the filling is the main takeaway – and that’s bad. You wouldn’t want a big chunk of this.” Score 4/10 BE: “Appearance-wise it’s not giving a lot. Oh gosh, what’s this? Coffee cream! The cream is odd; it tastes like fake, diluted coffee and the texture coats your tongue. No, don’t buy this. I’m not even getting tiramisu – you’d be better off buying a tiramisu, buying a panettone, and enjoying them separately.” Score 1/10 BE: “I agree, this is very similar – and better – than the Tesco panettone. There’s more peel, and it’s not as sweet, which I appreciate.” Score 7/10 EK: “This is nice and tall, which is what you want, but it looks a bit sad. Do you know what this tastes like? Fruit bread. It’s got the texture of panettone but it’s really missing the classic panettone citrus oil – you can smell it, but you can’t taste it. There are loads of raisins in it, so it’s good for breakfast.” Score 6/10 EK: “To me, this is a classic: it looks sophisticated, the texture has a nice lightness to it and there are some good, big chunks of fruit. However, the dough itself is a bit bland and I would like more flavour. Overall, it’s pretty good. Score 7/10With so many varieties on offer, we asked Deborah Parietti, Director & Founder of Feast Italy what to look out for in the perfect panettone. BE: “This looks pleasing; the wrapper is decorative, you can see all the fruit coming through, and it’s got good height. The sweetness level is good, but I’m not getting any prosecco. I like the texture, and I could eat more than one slice of this – but you have to lose marks because I’m not tasting booze.” Score 7/10 Fruit should be evenly distributed throughout the bake, and the aromas of butter, vanilla, raisins and orange should fill the air with its festive scent.

BE: “I want a tall panettone, which this is, but it’s just too sweet and it needs something else going on in this bread. I think chocolate panettone is for people who don’t like panettone.” Score 4.5/10 Minimum life based on 'use-by' date of product. Average life based on last week's deliveries. Life guarantee shown based on delivery tomorrow with the Life guarantee starting the following day. Taste-wise, we’d be looking for a crust that is as soft as the middle, without any bitterness, or worse, burnt aftertaste. A good panettone should be moist but not greasy, with well-balanced ingredients that don’t overpower one another.” Should panettone be refrigerated? Feeding a crowd? Although not included in this round of testing, we have to point out the Selfridges Selection Panettone Hamper — it’s a bumper selection of all things panettone, including a liqueur and chocolates, all inspired by the Italian bake. How do you tell a good panettone? Sugar, Piedmont HAZELNUT( Hazelnuts), Whole MILK powder ( Milk), Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Anhydrous MILK fat ( Milk), Emulsifier: SOY lecithin( Soya), Natural Vanilla Flavouring

Nocciolato Fondente - dark chocolate

BE: “It looks like a giant hot cross bun – they’ve put the wrong thing inside! There’s lots of plump, juicy fruit and peel in here; it’s not bad at all. This feels more like an everyday panettone. If you love hot cross buns, this is for you.” Score 6/10