Ultimate Coronation food and drink taste test

All you need for a fabulous feast fit for a King to mark the Coronation of Charles on Saturday May 6 - including a limited edition Colin the Caterpillar and some special tipples

The Coronation of King Charles III is almost upon us which means one thing - it's time to party.

There are plenty of delicious snacks and tasty tipples to enjoy as part of a bank holiday weekend of celebrations.

And, of course, it was our patriotic and journalistic duty to taste-test a few for you.

From iconic heritage brands like Walkers shortbread and Wensleydale cheese makers to the major supermarkets and featuring everything from crisps to cupcakes and English gin and Croft Sherry, and Pimm's., here is our Coronation food and drink guide.

M&S Coronation Colin the Caterpillar £10

This limited-edition royal themed Colin the Caterpillar is adorned with an array of white and milk chocolate jewels, finished with a gold crown - will be a big hit with kids. More chocolate than actual cake - so one for the chocoholics too.

3/5

Waitrose The King's Coronation Jewel the Jack Russell Cake £9.25

Not to be outdone, Waitrose has Jewel the Jack Russell - in tribute to Beth and Bluebell — which are the names of the King and Queen Consort's two Jack Russells. Chocolate sponge rolled with chocolate-flavoured buttercream, covered in milk chocolate. Jack is as cute as Colin but in this one there is lots more sponge than chocolate.

4/5

Cartwright & Butler King Charles III Coronation - Teatime Collection £21.95

Shortbread and biscuit tins are the way to go if you want something tasty and a long-lasting memento of the event. Cartwright & Butler's biscuit collection includes butter shortbreads and chocolate brownie biscuits.

5/5

Walker's Coronation shortbreads £10-£14

Walker's Shortbread has limited-edition tins with two different prints of King Charles: There are 24 Union Jack shortbreads in the tin with Charles in his Naval uniform at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Cadet Force Priced £14. The King Charles III: The Royal Deeside Coronation Limited Edition Tin contains shortbread; Triangles, Fingers, Thistles, Rounds and Hearts. £10. Gorgeous.

4/5

Morrisons Limited Edition shortbread tin £5

Morrisons’ commemorative tins of shortbread is very pretty and contain segments of light airy shortbread shortbread petticoat tails.

3/5

Duchy Organic All Butter Shortbread £7.20

Duchy Organic range at Waitrose was founded by the then Prince of Wales in 1990 so it's fitting they have produced a commemorative range. This shortbread was far too sweet for me.

3/5

Lola's Coronation Cupcakes Box of six regular sized cupcakes. £21.90

Celeb favourite Lola's is now catering to Royal tastes with these majestic iced mini cakes. The Coronation box includes a mix of six chocolate and vanilla cupcakes decorated with milk chocolate crowns, Union Jacks and even stamps of HRH. And in tribute to our green-fingered king, the cakes are decorated with edible petals.

5/5

Joe & Seph's Limited Edition Coronation range Ultimate Street Party Bundle.£25This comprises of five flavours including two limited edition ones, especially for the Coronation - British Salted Caramel and British Bakewell Tart. The Salted Caramel was too sweet and as I loathe almonds the Bakewell Tart flavour was wasted on me.

2/5

Patisserie Valerie mini Cake Box £36.95

It wouldn't be a proper English knees-up without some traditional Victoria sponge - named after the King's great-great-great grandmother - and these mini cakes from are divine. They come with three blueberry & lemon cakes topped with chocolate crowns.

5/5

Flapjackery flapjacks £14 - £24

If you’re all caked out, these Coronation flapjacks from Flapjackery will really hit the teatime spot. The pack includes cream tea, salted caramel fudge, and traditional flapjack flavours. And very suitably the millionaire's flapjack is inscribed with a white chocolate crown.

5/5

Wensleydale Collection £59.95Have I died and gone to cheese heaven? And the addition of a fruit cake makes this a perfect afternoon tea experience. The star of the show was the simple but so sensational Yorkshire Wensleydale. Creamy and crumbly deliciousness. The pack is presented in a reusable Wensleydale Creamery jute bag.

5/5

1912 stilton £3.00 (150g)

Now this is a cheesy tribute. has produced a- Stilton crown just as the nation prepares to go crackers for a new monarch. Stilton is the "The King of English Cheeses" and Long Clawson Dairy's multi-award-winning 1912 cheese certainly fits the bill. The most delicious blue cheese I’ve ever tasted - so creamy.

5/5

Snowdonia Cheese Company basket £30

Welsh brand Snowdonia Cheese Company produces award-winning cheese and chutneys perfect for the former Prince of Wales's big day. This bargain basket comes with three cheeses and two chutneys. The fig and apple chutney pairs beautifully with the "rock star", cheddar. The truffle trove is a truffle-infused extra-mature cheddar, while the bouncing berry is a mature cheddar studded with cranberries.

4/5

Cheshire Cheese Company's King's Cheshire £5.50

Limited Edition King's Cheshire Cheese Truckle will make a royal occasion of any cheese board.

3/5

Tyrrells Coronation Chicken flavour crisps £2.75 (150g)

Tasted more like chicken noodles than Coronation chicken but delicious all the same. So moorish the bag should come with a health warning. The king of crisps.

5/5

Morrisons Coronation Chicken flavour crisps 99p (125g)

Strong strangely peppery flavour and not as easy to devour as the Tyrrells version -but that may be a good thing. Nice crunch through.

3/5

Walkers Sensations Regal Lamb and Mint £2 Tesco Clubcard price £1.75

These taste like a lamb roast with no hint of mint. While I enjoy a strong lamb flavour for Sunday lunch - in crisp form it just tastes plain wrong. It's a no from me.

1/5

HECK celebration Coronation Chicken Sausages (10 pack/400g) £3.20 per pack Tesco Club Card price £2.50

Who knew sausages could taste so healthy? Combining chicken with curry powder, cumin, turmeric, ginger & sultanas in a lean mean fatty free sausage. I loved the spice and hint of sweetness from the sultanas. Nice eaten cold too.

5/5

Iceland Coronation Chicken Yorkshire Puddings £3.75

Sounds dubious and the photo on the packaging is hardly appealing but these giant-filled Yorkshire puddings are a tasty alternative to quiche as a salad accompaniment. And for a Royal roast this Sunday.

4/5

Whittard Regal Blend £8

If you’re looking for a great British cuppa look no further Whittard of Chelsea has truly outdone themselves with this Regal Blend. A smooth, rich loose-leaf black tea blended with sumptuous Madagascan vanilla and a right royal flourish of red, white and blue petals.

Mariage Frères, King's Tea tin £27

Luxury tea purveyor Mariage Frères, has created The Kings Tea. A specially crafted blend if ever HRH pops round for tea. An alluring mix of spices and bergamot sourced from Thailand are complemented by pink and yellow rose petals presented in a collectable tin.

Jewels of Nespresso coffee pods from £8

The Coronation isn't just for tea lovers. Nespresso has launched a limited-edition Jewels of Nespresso collection to mark the coronation. Included is this mug, as well as a range of coffee available in Original and Vertuo Coffee Pods.

Sandford Orchards’ new Limited Edition Coronation Devon Red Cider £2.30

Created from British apples grown and pressed in Devon and ade at the oldest working cider mill in the UK, this is a refreshing cider. Truly the best of British.

NIO Dry Martini Premixed Cocktail, from £19.50 for a box of three

Luxury pre-mixed cocktail brand, NIO, has launched its Ready Made Dry Martini as a homage to one of the King's favourite cocktails. Made with Tanquery gin, Cocchi vermouth, Angostura orange bitters, this is pretty potent stuff. Other cocktails include Tea Sour and Strawberry Margarita.

Silent Pool Coronation Gin from £43

This gin has lovely Earl Grey flavours coming through nicely should tea lovers should push the boat out and tost the Coronation with this. And once the gin finished, this will make a fantastic commemorative bottle.

Virgin English Sparkling Brut Coronation Limited Edition £34.99

A traditionally fermented cuvée of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this Coronation wine tastes fruity spicy and buttery with all the elegance of the English countryside it was created in.

Didsbury Gin British Bramble £19.95

The founders of Didsbury Gin British Bramble were awarded a BEM in the New Years Honours list and will be at the palace just before the Coronation to collect their medals. So if it's good enough for the King, its good enough for me.

Luscombe Rose and Cherry Bubbly. 12x27cl bottles, £26.50

Royal Warrant holder, Luscombe's, limited edition coronation Rose & Cherry Bubbly is inspired by the rose featured in the coronation emblem. I love a Rose but hate cherries, however this was very lightly flavoured and supremely drinkable.

High Point Ruby Non Alcoholic aperitif £19.99

Why should drinkers have all the fun? High Point is the world's first non alcoholic aperitif. Fermented, infused and blended on the wild coast of Cornwall using 100% natural ingredients it's citrusy and bittersweet rather than the usual sugary sweet non booze alternatives

Hayman's London Dry Gin £26

Anyone who buys a bottle of Hayman's London Dry Gin from the brand or from Waitrose can take advantage of a limited-edition wrap which displays quintessential British designs.

Hayman's Gin

Belvoir Farm Coronation Elderflower Presse and Cordial £2.25

Double Dutch Pomegranate and Basil mixer 4x200ml £2

Croft Original Pale Cream Sherry £10.99

Pimm's No 1 Cup £12

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