WOULD-BE pie testers were put through their paces at Holland’s HQ in a bid to win a lifetime supply of free pies and a place on a tasting panel.

More than 30 contenders faced mystery tests in rooms at the Baxenden pie plant yesterday with the same number taking part today.

In one room, contenders were asked to spot the difference between a Holland’s Pie and a competitor’s and describe the differences.

Another saw taste testers blindfolded and given strange mixtures – such as olives with grated cheese and jam – and asked to identify the flavours for points.

As a final hurdle, their descriptive powers were tested while tasting crackers, biscuits, chocolate and ice cream.

Testers who said the foods were ‘nice’ or ‘good’ were marked down, while descriptive words like ‘spicy’ or ‘chewy’ saw some contenders leap to the top.

In the pie room, contestant Elaine Brignall, 60, from Ewood Bridge, immediately spotted the differences between a Holland’s steak and kidney pudding and the competitor’s.

She said: “This one isn’t Hollands - it’s too dark and grim looking.

"The pastry is soggy and unappealing and inside there’s lots of gravy and no meat.”

Going on to the blinfold test, Elaine guessed the peanut butter, raisins and marmalade mix contained raisins and coffee and that an orange jelly, sweetcorn, pears and cherries mix contained orange, lime, apple and pear.

Overseeing the blindfold test, Des Morris at Hollands Pies said: “It’s a really difficult skill when you can’t see as people aren’t used to tasting things in this way. One of the mixtures is banana, ginger and chocolate.

"Not one person has tasted the ginger yet, which is strange because it’s the most overpowering.”