Australia’s best Christmas ham of the year is here—can you guess the winner?
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As the festive season approaches, Aussies begin the annual tradition of hunting for the perfect Christmas ham to grace their holiday tables.
It's a time-honoured ritual that brings families together, with the ham often taking centre stage in the celebratory feast.
This year, the search for the best supermarket Christmas ham has been made easier thanks to a diligent panel of taste testers who have sampled and rated a variety of hams from major Australian supermarkets.
Consumer group CHOICE has assembled a panel of experts to conduct a blind taste test of 10 Christmas hams available at IGA, Woolworths, Coles, and ALDI.
Their mission: to uncover Australia's best.
Emerging victorious in this culinary competition is the Seven Mile premium double smoked leg ham, sold exclusively at IGA.
With a commendable score of 79 per cent, this ham has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of the panel, which included local food show judge Fiona Mair, freelance food consultant Brigid Treloar, and food and Easter show judge Jan Boon.
Priced at a reasonable $12 per kilogram, this ham boasts a 'smoky aroma' and a 'pleasant, fairly balanced flavour' that's sure to delight any Christmas gathering.
Not far behind, with a rating of 76 per cent, is ALDI's specially selected premium triple-smoked half-leg ham. At $13.49 per kilogram, it offers a 'pleasant smokiness with a fairly balanced flavour that’s not too salty’.
IGA also offers a more budget-friendly option with its naturally smoked leg ham bone in fully cooked, priced at $8 per kilogram and also scoring 76 per cent.
This ham was praised as a 'good everyday ham for Christmas’, featuring a 'pleasant saltiness that lingers' and a 'well-balanced flavour’.
Woolworths joined the fray with its half-leg ham bone in, which received a 76 per cent rating and is described as having a 'mild and pleasant ham flavour with subtle smokiness and salty aftertaste.'
Also priced at $8 per kilogram, it's an excellent choice for those seeking value without compromising on taste.
It's important to note that the scores were primarily based on the taste test, with a 10 per cent contribution from a nutrition score based on the health star rating.
This ensures that the hams are not only delicious but also meet certain health standards.
Coles has also launched 90 new products in their Christmas range, including the Single Smoked Beechwood Half-Leg Ham, which serves up to 27 people.
It also received a silver award at the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards.
What are your Christmas ham traditions? Do you have a favourite supermarket ham, or do you prefer to source yours from a local butcher? Share your stories and tips in the comments below!
It's a time-honoured ritual that brings families together, with the ham often taking centre stage in the celebratory feast.
This year, the search for the best supermarket Christmas ham has been made easier thanks to a diligent panel of taste testers who have sampled and rated a variety of hams from major Australian supermarkets.
Consumer group CHOICE has assembled a panel of experts to conduct a blind taste test of 10 Christmas hams available at IGA, Woolworths, Coles, and ALDI.
Their mission: to uncover Australia's best.
Can you guess which Christmas ham reigned supreme? Credit: CHOICE
Emerging victorious in this culinary competition is the Seven Mile premium double smoked leg ham, sold exclusively at IGA.
With a commendable score of 79 per cent, this ham has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of the panel, which included local food show judge Fiona Mair, freelance food consultant Brigid Treloar, and food and Easter show judge Jan Boon.
Priced at a reasonable $12 per kilogram, this ham boasts a 'smoky aroma' and a 'pleasant, fairly balanced flavour' that's sure to delight any Christmas gathering.
Not far behind, with a rating of 76 per cent, is ALDI's specially selected premium triple-smoked half-leg ham. At $13.49 per kilogram, it offers a 'pleasant smokiness with a fairly balanced flavour that’s not too salty’.
IGA also offers a more budget-friendly option with its naturally smoked leg ham bone in fully cooked, priced at $8 per kilogram and also scoring 76 per cent.
This ham was praised as a 'good everyday ham for Christmas’, featuring a 'pleasant saltiness that lingers' and a 'well-balanced flavour’.
Woolworths joined the fray with its half-leg ham bone in, which received a 76 per cent rating and is described as having a 'mild and pleasant ham flavour with subtle smokiness and salty aftertaste.'
Also priced at $8 per kilogram, it's an excellent choice for those seeking value without compromising on taste.
It's important to note that the scores were primarily based on the taste test, with a 10 per cent contribution from a nutrition score based on the health star rating.
This ensures that the hams are not only delicious but also meet certain health standards.
Coles has also launched 90 new products in their Christmas range, including the Single Smoked Beechwood Half-Leg Ham, which serves up to 27 people.
It also received a silver award at the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards.
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give me a big bloody big t bone steak any day of the week. 
yum
