Britons are celebrating National Biscuit Day today, with the annual event paying tribute to one of the nation's most beloved treats.
From custard creams to hobnobs, we all have a favourite biscuit that holds a special place in our hearts and stomachs. Biscuits have been a staple of British culture for centuries, making their way into countless households, workplaces and afternoon tea rituals, with a biscuit to suit every taste and occasion.
Sawley Kitchen in Ripon, North Yorkshire, handcrafts a variety of shortbreads, cookies and ginger thins, and the award-winning artisan bakery is celebrating National Biscuit Day. Kirsty Jaques, marketing manager at Sawley Kitchen, said: "I mean, a whole day dedicated to the biscuit, like you have to, right?
"I think it just allows us to slow down a bit – we're a nation of tea lovers; we like a nice brew – and it's just having that little thing on the side. For us, we only use the best ingredients, top-quality stuff, because we know how important a good biscuit is to go with that brew."
Sawley Kitchen, the Jaques family business, prides itself on how its biscuits are made and the inspiration behind them, with its handcrafted delights baked in the traditional way using vintage family recipes. Alongside selling their products online and at various market stalls, they deliver every day to farm shops, delis and cafes nationwide.
Sawley Kitchen biscuits can also be found in the rooms of various 5-star hotels, including The Ritz London, The Chester Grosvenor and The Grand in York. "It's all Mum's recipes, so whenever we make anything, it's something that Mum dreamed up in her head," said Kirsty Jaques, Marketing Manager at Sawley Kitchen.
"We don't have a lot of machinery here, and we like to do everything by hand because it allows us to keep tabs on the quality of things. We're predominantly known for our shortbread, and our classic shortbread has won an award that we're super proud of.
"We also take traditional biscuits like cookies, ginger thins and put our own spin on it, and I'd probably say that ginger thins are the most popular. When you snap it, that noise is amazing."
Britons are celebrating National Biscuit Day today
|GB NEWS
A massive 83 per cent of Britons drink tea monthly, with it being a staple daily treat for many. To celebrate National Biscuit Day, Buzz Bingo took a deeper dive and conducted a study to find out which biscuits are the most durable when dunked in a cup of tea.
The research found shortbread is the most durable, lasting nearly five minutes when dunked into a cup of tea made with semi-skimmed cow's milk. A fan favourite for many Brits, the chocolate digestive was one of the worst-ranked biscuits in the study, only lasting 39 seconds before disintegrating in a mug of tea with cow’s milk.
The debate over Britain's favourite biscuit is easily waged, and GB News asked the people of Ripon for their opinion. David said: "Well, it's probably a Jaffa cake, but that might be a bit controversial, mightn't it, because some people say it's not a biscuit, but that's my favourite.
"I always used to have when I used to go and visit my nan when I was a kid. And that's why it's my favourite."
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The debate over Britain's favourite biscuit is one that is easily waged
|GB NEWS
Anita said: "Definitely a chocolate Hobnob; it's comforting. And no, I'm not a dunker."
Dexter, aged 4, commented: "Jaffa Cake. Because it has a jam inside it."
Mark stated: "Chocolate Hobnob. I just like the texture of the Hobnob, actually."
Stewart replied: "Chocolate Digestive. (A) lovely creamy chocolate and crunchy biscuit."
And Margaret answered: "Jaffa cakes, because it's nice and soft and it's got a lovely filling. And they're always the same."
To find out more about Sawley Kitchen and the discounts it is offering on National Biscuit Day, click here.
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