’Twas the OFM before Christmas … time for our special festive taste test.

We invited food writer and presenter Georgina Hayden to sample a range of this season’s chocolates and drinks, and to report back on whether they’re naughty or nice …

M&S Collection season’s tweetings

£6, 100g, Marks & Spencer

Oh, they’re filled! I like the blond chocolate. The caramelly filling almost sends it over the edge, but the dark one’s not so sweet. The fact that there’s only five suggests it’s quite fancy.
★★★★

Selfridges Selection peppermint malt chocolate balls

£8.99, 150g, selfridges.com

Mint is my favourite herb. I like the mixture of dark and white. The malt texture is a bit grainy, but otherwise they are very pleasant indeed.
★★★★

Farm Shop winter truffles

£20, 175g, farmshop.co.uk

The shell is nice and thick, and I like the bitterness. The middle is lovely and liquid. It’s heavily spiced: Christmas-flavoured. I’d happily serve them to guests.
★★★★★

Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates winter seasonal box

£24.20 for box of 24, 228g, luisasveganchocolates.co.uk

Milk, white, dark … even pistachio – oh, that’s matcha. The chocolates are quite dense. Fine, not too sweet. If you’re dairy free, it’s a lovely gift.
★★★

Tesco Free From abominable snowman white chocolate and toasted mallow flavour

£3.95, 100g, tesco.com

I like its cute face. Oh. No. The marshmallowy sweetness is overpowering. I would not inflict that on a dairy-free friend.
No stars

Chococo oat m!lk chocolate jolly gonk

£8.50, 80g, chococo.co.uk

I like the gnome. Scandi vibes. Good thickness of chocolate. Nice texture. Not too sweet. Slightly bitter. I think that’s a really solid dairy-free offering.
★★★★

Aldi Ballycastle milk chocolate peanut butter flavour country cream

£7.49, 70cl, aldi.co.uk

It’s a cream liqueur, but there’s something more going on. I’d have it over ice, or in a boozy hot chocolate situation.
★★★★

BEST BUY

Selfridges Selection panettone liqueur

£24.99, 500ml, selfridges.com

Christmas in a glass. I’d serve that over ice and happily have it in the evening instead of a slice of Christmas pudding. I’m well into that.
★★★★★

Asda Extra Special spiced white chocolate cream liqueur

£8, 70cl, asda.com

I’m not convinced. It might be nice in a cocktail – like a white Russian or something. But as it is, it’s slightly on the sweet side.
★★

Waitrose No.1 blonde chocolate flavour cream liqueur

£14, 70cl, waitrose.com

Is it blond chocolate? I think it’s decent. I’d get that for my mother-in-law. That’s a good breakfast, I’d say. Merry Christmas to me.
★★★★

Waitrose No.1 morello cherry amaretto sour

£18, 50cl, waitrose.com

It’s fruity. It’s sweet but there’s sharpness. You could have it after dinner, like you’d have limoncello or grappa. I like it.
★★★★★

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference tiramisu rum liqueur

£15, 50cl, sainsburys.co.uk

I’m having freshers’ year flashbacks of toffee shots. It’s too sweet. I’m not a fan. Tiramisu? You’re joking. I’m getting more toffee than coffee.
★★

M&S Collection alcohol-free frizzantea

£8, 75cl, Marks & Spencer

Often they replace the booze flavour with syrupyness, but not here. It’s a nice tea flavour. I’d toast the new year with that. Cheers.
★★★★

Morrisons festivecherry and almond festive spritz 3.4%

£4, 75cl, morrisons.com

Not a huge fan of the bright red colour. Is it trying to have cherry vibes? It’s not totally unpalatable but I wouldn’t drink it. It’s giving me teenagers in a park.
★★

Belvoir Farm mulled winter punch

£4, 750ml, sainsburys.co.uk

This is a slightly upmarket cordial. Gently spiced – I imagine it would be quite good warm. It’s a nice soft drink, but I think my child would like it more than me.
★★★★

Greekish by Georgina Hayden is available now (Bloomsbury, £26). All items blind-tested