JAFFA GATE

Biscuits put to test in the Great British Dunk Off

JAFFA CAKE

Dunkability: Right. The biscuit (well, for legal reasons, we really should call it a cake!) responsible for the Great British Dunk Off was a divider with our judges. In a cup of coffee, the Jaffa held up well, but in slightly hotter tea the sponge simply wasn’t strong enough, disintegrating on first dip.

Taste: Still nice, chocolatey and orangey, but the softness of the sponge was a sticking point with our scorers. While some liked the smoother texture, others felt it was miserably mushy.

SCORE: 3/5

KIT KAT

Dunkability: We had a funny feeling the chocolate coating on this four-fingered favourite would protect the wonderful wafer inside and the Kit Kat didn’t disappoint. No Kat-astrophe here.

Taste: Absolutely delicious. Marvellously melty chocolate gave way to a nicely crispy, still-crunchy centre. People have been coating Kit Kats with the contents of their cuppa for well over 80 years and we can see why the tradition has stood the test of time.

SCORE: 4/5

CHOCOLATE DIGESTIVE

Dunkability: Oh, the pressure’s on. The chocolate digestive topped a poll as the nation’s favourite biccie and was a close second in a survey of the UK’s dunking delights. Happily, if it was the Olympics it’d be a gold for Team CD. Firm with only slight choccie goo.

Taste: What a cracker. It was softened enough to take away a bit of crunch and the chocolate was a just-melted marvel. Not even messy, so you could munch on the move!

SCORE: 5/5

RICH TEA

Dunkability: You don’t stick around for 400 years – and have Prince William picking you for his groom’s cake – only to wilt under pressure. Or hot liquid. And the Rich Tea kept its dignity – and shape – after a plunge into our brews.

Taste: Dare we say it, the old favourite can be just a bit bland on its own, so a dookin’ did it no harm at all. A decent middle of the road offering.

SCORE: 3/5

HOB NOB

Dunkability: Given its crumbly consistency, we had huge fears the flapjack-esque Hob Nob might fall apart. But we were pleasantly surprised by how robust it remained after a good soaking. It kept its crunch with aplomb.

Taste: It didn’t quite hob nob with the elite in our test, but it was no Z-list wannabe. Dipping into a boiling brew improved the oatiness and it’s decidedly better after a dunk.

SCORE: 3/5

GINGER NUT

Dunkability: For a biscuit you’d think would go right through the side of the Bake Off tent if chucked at it, the ginger wasn’t red-dy for the challenge. It proved to be a surprisingly easy nut to crack into sogginess.

Taste: Thankfully, it still had the sharp ginger tang despite its lamentably limp consistency. We reckon it’s one that’s best kept dry, though.

SCORE: 2/5

IT was the moment that prompted a national debate. As Shakespeare might have put it – to dunk or not to dunk. A Jaffa cake that is.Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry were discussing what they expected from the Jaffa cakes they’d asked the Great British Bake Off contestants to make when a Liverpudlian lunge had Mary aghast. Paul’s steely blue eyes twinkled as he dunked his Jaffa in his cuppa, but the Queen Of Cake wasn’t amused. “We don’t do that in the south!” she chirped.So, it’s up to us to answer the burning questions of the week – is dunking good or not? And just what should you pop into your cuppa?