Digestive Biscuit?

[Ellen Cherry]

I was in the international aisle in the grocery when my 15-month-old darling started throwing a fit. I wildly scanned the aisle for something I could give him to munch on while I shopped. I spy a red cylinder of something labeled a Digestive Biscuit. Having a vague recollection that the British call cookies "biscuit" I think it's probably an OK thing to give a baby.

They are. They're good ... sort of a shortbread cookie without much sugar (or so it tastes).

So--why are they called digestive biscuits? It makes them sound so medicinal. Are they? Or are they believed to be? Are they something commonly consumed at tea-time? Are they beloved around the world? Or just in Britain?

Let me take this opportunity to recommend them as a kiddie treat. Much less crumbly than a graham cracker.

[Mangetout]

You will find everything you need to know here.

I'd be a little concerned about their salt content, if you're giving them to an infant in any sort of quantity.

[wayward]

My gut reaction is to say 'they just are'. It's just something that anyone familiar with digestive biscuits would never really think about. In fact I, and probably most people I know, would associate the word 'digestive' with biscuits more than with stomachs and colons and the like.
I would normally suggest going here for all your biscuity needs, but sadly they don't seem to have anything to say about its history and origins, apart from a little anecdote in the feedback.

[lieu]

9 out of 10 doctors recommend giving your kids digestive biscuits over air biscuits.

[Cat Jones]

They're one of things I miss being able to pick up easily*, here are a few (not necessarily kiddie friendly) serving suggestions - dunked in white coffee, eaten alongside a juicy pear, with Red Leicester cheese (actually pretty much any cheese but this was a childhood favourite), with brie and a pear, crumbled to from the base of a cheesecake ... yum !

*I got a small packet as part a Christmas present from a cousin this year! (other components of said present - decent tea-bags, cadbury's chocolate and Hula Hoops )

[Ellen Cherry]

Thank Mangetout! From his link:

The digestive biscuit had long been a staple of the business. It was invented by his father’s colleague, Alexander Grant, in 1839 and contained an antacid, bicarbonate of soda, to aid digestion.

And--I'm not feeding them to a baby, per se. He's a year and a half~ish.

[singular1]

Oh my god, I love these things! We first had them in New Zealand in 87, and we've never been able find them back here in the States. I have no idea where Eskippakithiki is, but can anybody tell me where this can be found in the US, specifically the Seattle area? I will be forever grateful to anybody that can help me locate some of these!

[Mr. Moto]

When our kids were very small, we gave them Marias, which would be the Spanish or Latin American equivalent to the digestive biscuit. For that matter, we still do.

Again, it was a very mild flavored cookie, and not overly sweet. We like them for that reason.

The advantage would be that Marias are more easily available in the States. I can get them at most supermarkets or international markets, due to this areas large Latin American population.

[E-Sabbath]

Tried Carr's Tea Biscuits? I think they're similar. I don't remember how close.

[Ellen Cherry]

I got the biscuits at Meijer, singular. It's a grocery/discount store chain based in Michigan, I believe, but they extend down here into Kentucky.

[devilsknew]

Are they anything like Zweiback or teething biscuits? Those are pretty good treats, I know they're for babies but I like them.

[Lissa]

I discovered them on a trip to England. They're awesome with tea.

I've also nibbled on them when I'm nauseous, with mixed results.

[raz]

Originally Posted by lieu

9 out of 10 doctors recommend giving your kids digestive biscuits over air biscuits.

How droll.

[Acsenray]

This thread reminds me that in India there are several brands of biscuits/cookies, meant to go with tea, that have names like "Glucose" or "Gluco" and they often feature images of plump children on the packaging.

I'm told that Indian parents, familiar with the administration of sugar-water either by mouth or intravenously to treat dehydration resulting from stomach ailments, got the impression that "glucose" is some kind of special medicinal chemical. The cookie makers picked up on this association, calling their cookies "Glucose" cookies, making it sound like health food, when, really, all they were saying is that there's sugar in them.

[Spoons]

Originally Posted by singular1

...can anybody tell me where this can be found in the US, specifically the Seattle area?

Drive two hours north, to Vancouver BC. I have yet to see any Canadian supermarket that did not have Digestive Biscuits. They are quite popular up here in Canada.

[Kamino Neko]

Originally Posted by devilsknew

Are they anything like Zweiback or teething biscuits?

No, at least not if I'm correctly informed on what Zweiback is. (And the name suggests I'm right.)

Rather the opposite, actually. Still mostly flavourless, but soft. The shortbread comparison from the OP isn't quite right, but they're definitely closer in consistancy to it than to Zweiback.

[Cerowyn]

Originally Posted by Cat Jones

They're one of things I miss being able to pick up easily*

Ironic that the French, being so close to the UK don't have them, but virtually every corner and grocery store here in [central, anyway] Canada has them! And, I'll probably regret not reading the rest of the thread before I say: try the chocolate top digestive biscuits. Mmmm.

[Hunter Hawk]

Originally Posted by singular1

Oh my god, I love these things! We first had them in New Zealand in 87, and we've never been able find them back here in the States. I have no idea where Eskippakithiki is, but can anybody tell me where this can be found in the US, specifically the Seattle area? I will be forever grateful to anybody that can help me locate some of these!

Assuming the store is still there (and I haven't heard anything about it going away), your best bet would probably be The British Pantry import shop in downtown Redmond. Head down Redmond Way into Redmond (assuming you're coming from the Kirkland area), turn left onto 160th, then turn right into the strip mall.

[Equipoise]

Chicago/Evanston area...

I saw some yesterday at World Market on Maple in Evanston, next door to the Century 12/CineArts 6 movie theater. They were in the back of the store with the other foodstuffs. I never would have noticed them if not for this thread. I didn't get any because the mention of salt content scared me away, but they're there for those who don't have to watch their sodium.

[singular1]

Thank you so much, Hunter Hawk and Spoons. I'm going to look into both of these, and maybe I can bring mr. singular a surprise with his morning tea this weekend!

[Mangetout]

If you like digestives, keep an eye open for Hobnobs - they're similar, but a bit more oaty and crumbly.

[don't ask]

I started a thread a while ago about weird food combinations. One I got from who knows where is Hobnobs and cheese, the sharper the better. I have converted many people by offering them to guests. McVities only of course.

[Rayne Man]

Originally Posted by don't ask

I started a thread a while ago about weird food combinations. One I got from who knows where is Hobnobs and cheese, the sharper the better. I have converted many people by offering them to guests. McVities only of course.

If you buy a box of "biscuits for cheese" you will find (apart from the usual cream-crackers, water-biscuits and Cornish-wafers) digestive biscuits . In the Jacobs selection, this biscuit has the nameHovis marked on it.

[Cat Jones]

I'd forgotten those ! THey used to come in the shape of a little Hovis loaf didn't they ?

[Rayne Man]

Originally Posted by Cat Jones

I'd forgotten those ! THey used to come in the shape of a little Hovis loaf didn't they ?

Still do , we had a box of them this Christmas.

[irishgirl]

Not only digestive biccies, but dark chocolate digestive biccies, when dunked in tea are DIVINE.

The also have digestive biscuits with a caramel and milk chocolate topping, which my husband adores, but I'm not a big fan of them.

[Cat Jones]

Originally Posted by Rayne Man

Still do , we had a box of them this Christmas.

You old show off you !!

[Rayne Man]

Originally Posted by Cat Jones

You old show off you !!

Actually, I don't like them (the Hovis ones) with cheese. I prefer a water-biscuit or cream-cracker, but you always get them in the selection box.

[Cat Jones]

Bath Olivers perchance ?

[susan]

Try World Market or Trader Joe's. Both carry some international cookies/biscuits at times.

[GingerOfTheNorth]

Good lord, now I want some. Grew up with them, they're a Canadian staple. Off to email Mom again.

[Celyn]

Originally Posted by irishgirl

Not only digestive biccies, but dark chocolate digestive biccies, when dunked in tea are DIVINE.

The also have digestive biscuits with a caramel and milk chocolate topping, which my husband adores, but I'm not a big fan of them.

Well, RATS! I was reading this thread thinking, O happy me, I have digestives, and I am very amused 'cos I know that my very first post on SDMB concerned Digestives vs. Graham crackers. *

So there I was all happy and smug, until I read of Irishgirl's biccies with the caramel layer beneath the chocolate one. Now I'm in about the same boat as many of the USA people,'cos I KNOW I used to like those ones, but I am also sure that I have not seen them for a long time.

Bah! So a biscuit quest for me. THing is, I *sort of* try not to bother much with biccies - but now if I have to go and do a proper survey of *all* the biscuit shelves, well, I can foresee a lovely time of returning to the sweet biscuit joys of my youth.


*Never did sort that one out, but I recall that I did also have a great laugh reading about the loony Sylvester (or whatever) Graham. And joined the SDMB, of course, so it was all to the good.

I will get fat and it will all be Irishgirl's fault. Not *my* fault, oh dear me no.

[ninevah]

Originally Posted by Mangetout

If you like digestives, keep an eye open for Hobnobs - they're similar, but a bit more oaty and crumbly.

Oh, and the chocolate-coated Hobnobs are pretty good too!

[Poysyn]

I LOVE digestive cookies.

We also have chocolate coated ones.

But I prefer the normal ones YUM!