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.
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.
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 )
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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