A choc chip champion
Classic custard creams and rich teas are beaten by US cookies
WHISPER it quietly in the tea rooms – but a biscuit which can trace its origins to the other side of the Atlantic has been named as Britain’s best.
It seems the traditional custard cream, rich tea, bourbon and even the mighty digestive can’t quite match America’s chocolate chip cookie.
Biscuits are big business in the UK with six billion packs sold a year and average consumption running at 500 a year.
Taste test experts investigated the best the high street has to offer across popular classics. And it seems people do not need to take tea at the Ritz to enjoy an upmarket experience.
The best biscuit was the Galaxy chocolate chunk cookie, which was not only the best of its type but also the overall winner of the taste test. Good Housekeeping
Institute, which conducted the tests, said: ‘Their impressive score of 91 out of 100 was achieved thanks to the infamous Galaxy chocolate flavour, which added a caramel-like taste to the cookies.’
Chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident in the 1930s. An American chef added chocolate bar pieces into her cookie batter thinking it would melt throughout the dough. Instead, the classic dessert was born.
The best custard cream was won by the ‘delightfully moreish’ offering by Marks & Spencer – which placed second overall. And the best rich tea was shared by Aldi and Asda. Judges enjoyed the Aldi biscuit’s ‘gentle sweetness’ and praised Asda’s ‘milky undertones’.
Rich teas were created in Yorkshire during the 17th century as a light snack for the upper classes.
The best bourbon was shared by Co-op and Tesco.
No biscuit tin could be complete without a digestive biscuit. McVitie’s took the crown for the plain digestive, while M&S claimed the top spot for the chocolate variety.
Good Housekeeping also found the perfect cuppa to enjoy with a biscuit. Ahmad Tea had the best breakfast tea while the top decaffeinated drink was from PG Tips.