Have you been eating your chocolate digestive biscuit wrong?
McVities, which makes one of Britain's most popular treats, says for 100 years people have eaten their digestive biscuits chocolate-side-up - when we should be eating them with the chocolate on the bottom.
At their factory in Harlesden in north London, the company makes 13 million chocolate digestives each day - around 9,000 a minute.
Since its creation in 1925, it's estimated that almost 5.8 billion packets of chocolate digestive biscuits have been sold in the UK alone.
Bill Bryson, an American author described the snack as a "British Masterpiece".
On why people love the biscuit, Nina Sparks, Vice President of the supply chain for the UK and Ireland, said: "It reminds you of coming home from school, the good times and the bad times, perfect with a cup of tea. It provides comfort for a lot of people."
"In 100 years a lot has changed, but the chocolate digestive has stayed the same."
"I've been doing it wrong all these years".
The biscuits are not just a British favourite as they are now enjoyed in around 50 countries. Nearly 10 million packets are exported from the UK each year, with Australia being the biggest market.
The digestive name may not be the most appealing, but it comes from the belief that it had 'digestive' properties due to its use of baking soda in its original recipe.
As early as 1829, an advert in the Manchester Courier newspaper claimed that digestives could 'keep the body in a regular state'.
Fraiser, who has worked at the McVities factory for nearly three decades said the reason why the biscuit is such a favourite is due to its "incredible taste, quality ingredients and the love from the British public."
"The recipe hasn't changed in 100 years, it's just been refined and polished.
"It's a great ingredient, I don't know why people's tastes would change now. People love the chocolate digestive, and long may it continue."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
22 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Irish premier welcomes trade deal between EU and US
The deal was reached during a meeting between Donald Trump and the president of the European Commission on Sunday. The US president met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to hammer out the final details on the trading relationship between Europe and the US. Reacting to the deal, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the agreement was very welcome. I welcome the outcome of trade talks today between the European Commission and the US. — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 27, 2025 'It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US – the biggest in the world,' the Fianna Fail leader said. 'That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland. 'The negotiations to get us to this point have been long and complex, and I would like to thank both teams for their patient work. 'We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here. 'The agreement is a framework and there will be more detail to be fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.' Mr Martin said the higher tariffs will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, which will make it more expensive and more challenging. 'However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship between the EU and the US, which is important not just for the EU and the US, but for the global economy,' he added. 'Given the very real risk that existed for escalation and for the imposition of punitively high tariffs, this news will be welcomed by many.' The deal was also welcomed by deputy Irish premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, who said it brings clarity to businesses. 'While we have yet to see the detail, I welcome that an agreement has been announced by Commission President von der Leyen and US President Trump,' Mr Harris said in a statement. 'A deal provides a measure of much-needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world. Ireland makes a key contribution to this with the Ireland-US economic relationship valued at more than one trillion euros. 'The US had made clear, and this has been replicated in other recent agreements, which the US has reached with other countries, that a baseline tariff was always going to be part of the outcome. 'I have always stressed that tariffs are damaging and will have a negative impact on companies exporting to the US. 'While Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15% is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations for the EU-US trade relationship, which is essential for jobs, growth and investment. 'President von der Leyen described this as 15% tariffs across the board, all-inclusive.' He said further detail is needed around pharma, aviation and other sectors. Mr Harris said he will examine the details of the agreement over the coming days to establish the effect on Irish businesses and the economy. Earlier, EU commissioner Michael McGrath said the meeting was a 'significant and decisive moment'. Mr McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, said it would involve substantive negotiations between both sides. 'It's a significant moment, we hope a decisive moment, and it builds on an enormous amount of work that has been done over quite a period of time,' Mr McGrath said ahead of the meeting. 'President Trump invited President von der Leyen to Scotland for a meeting. 'This follows on the back of intensive negotiations over a number of months. He added: 'It is not a case of turning up and signing on the dotted line. There will be a real discussion that will happen, and it will take on a dynamic of its own, and let's see what happens over the course of the afternoon. 'But from the EU's point of view, we are determined to do all that we can to get a deal for European businesses, because we recognise the cost of uncertainty. 'It manifests in trade and in investment decisions and ultimately in employment and of course tariffs can cost consumers at the end of the day. 'We want a good deal. We have negotiated hard, and we're at a point now where hopefully the two leaders can today bring it to a concluding phase.'
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
British Gas send dead man's family a letter demanding payment of a penny
BRITISH Gas sent a dead man's family a letter demanding payment of a penny. Christopher Storer, 65, was found dead in his one-bed flat in March. 4 4 4 His relatives notified the firm and were assured his account had been closed. His sister Margaret, 63, set up a ' redirect ' on her brother's post and was sent the bill for the final penny. She said: 'I opened the letter and I was absolutely furious. "I was staring at it for 15 minutes. 'I couldn't believe what I was reading. "It made me bloody angry and upset.' Margaret, of Hinckley, Leics, added: 'It's ridiculous. "I feel like I haven't had time to mourn my brother because of having to deal with this. 'They make hundreds of millions in profit. "Where is their compassion in chasing a dead man's family for one more penny? How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills "How low can anyone go? They knew he was dead. "It felt like a sick joke at his expense.' Margaret said she had complained and was offered £20 compensation. British Gas was asked to comment. When a customer dies, relatives should notify British Gas so they can be removed from its database. But there have been multiple examples of the company, owned by Centrica, continuing to send bills. 4
Rhyl Journal
27 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Trump and von der Leyen agree EU-US deal on US President's Scotland visit
The bloc will face 15% tariffs on most of its goods including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals entering America rather than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US President. President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement would provide 'certainty in uncertain times' for citizens and businesses, while Mr Trump hailed what he described as the 'biggest deal ever made'. They also agreed 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals, Ms von der Leyen said. The two leaders met at the US President's Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire on Sunday to hammer out the broad terms of the agreement, the detail of which is due to be fleshed out in the coming weeks. Before their bilateral talks, which lasted around an hour, Mr Trump had said there was a '50-50' chance of the deal being reached as a number of the sticking points remained. Following the meeting, he said: 'I think it's great that we made a deal today instead of playing games and maybe not making a deal at all … I think it's the biggest deal ever made.' Ms von der Leyen said: 'Today's deal creates certainty in uncertain times, it delivers stability and predictability for citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.' Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin welcomed the 'clarity' the agreement brought to the transatlantic trade relationship and said the implications for exports from Ireland would be studied in the coming days. Together, the EU and the US are a market of 800 million people. And nearly 44 percent of global GDP. It's the biggest trade deal ever ↓ — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 27, 2025 'That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland,' he said. 'The negotiations to get us to this point have been long and complex, and I would like to thank both teams for their patient work. 'We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here.' The development on Sunday evening looks to have averted the prospect of transatlantic trade war amid concerns that US tariff rates could damage the world economy. However, uncertainty remains over American levies on steel, which Mr Trump has suggested remains subject to a rate of 50%.
