Conor Pope seeks value from a selection of plum puddings.

Marks & Spencer Classic Christmas Pudding

€11.49 for 1.36kg/18.45 per kg

Highs: This is the biggest of the puddings tried and will keep you going well into the new year. It is dark and rich and absolutely stuffed with fruit. Eight per cent of this pudding is booze and it smells great, if you're partial to the smell of a distillery.

Lows: It might be a little too sweet for some tastes, although if you don't have a sweet tooth, then none of these puddings is really for you. While it is perfectly round when it is dumped from its bowl, it starts to fall apart as soon as it is introduced to the knife..

Verdict: Sweet and booze-sodden.

Star rating: ***

Tesco Finest Ultimate Pudding

€16.99 for 907g/€18.73 per kg

Highs: Topped with whole almonds, glacé cherries and pecans, this good-sized pudding looks impressive, if not particularly traditional, when spilled from its grey, ceramic, reusable bowl. The cider, sherry brandy and rum included in the mix ensure it is nice and moist. It is not too sweet and, despite the unusual first impression, it tastes very traditional.

Lows: Presumably there are people in this world who like whole glacé cherries but PriceWatch isn't one of them and their presence all over this was a distinctly unwelcome distraction. With all the cherries and nuts on top it's hard to imagine drizzling brandy over the top of this somewhat fussy pudding.

Verdict: Pretty good bar the cherries.

Star rating: ***

Christmas Indulgence Luxury Christmas Pudding (from Aldi)

€4.99 for 750g/€6.65 per kg

Highs: This is the cheapest of the puddings tried and if you're not hoping to feed a multitude, it is probably the most suitably sized too. It's also the easiest to cook: five minutes in the microwave and it's done. It's also brimful of fruit.

Lows: Despite all the fruit, it actually ends up tasting quite bland and by the time this was cooked there was a lot less pudding than bowl. It absolutely stinks of booze even though it only has half the alcohol of some of its rivals.

Verdict: Cheap but not if you're trying to impress.

Star rating: **

My Own Luxury Homemade Christmas Pudding

€10 for 800g/€12.50 per kg

Highs: After a bit of coaxing this comes out of its plastic tub perfectly shaped - you could almost stick a sprig of holly on it, photograph it and use the result as a Christmas card. It's very rich looking and holds its shape well. It is homemade, so you can pretend it is your own handiwork. It's made in Co Tipperary, with stout, whiskey and rum among the ingredients. At 800g it is a good size and is unlikely to go uneaten for long.

Lows: It's not as widely available as some of the other options, although you can place an order on the company's website, www.myownfoods.com.

Verdict: Good value, great pudding.

Star rating: ****