Your ViewsKeep your e-mails pouring in, it's good to know that there are lots of you out there with views and opinions. To help you work out what is what, are now little icons to help you see biscuit related themes. And now you can see at a glance which are the most contested subjects via this graph (requires Flash 6.0 plugin). Please keep your mails coming in to nicey@nicecupofteaandasitdown.com | If you like, you can use this search thingy to find stuff that matches with any of the icons you pick, or use the fantastic free text search, Yay! | Your e-Mails |
Liz Hall |
Dear Nicey and Wifey
Firstly, happy new year, may it be blessed with many sits down and nice cups of tea. Just a quick message to ask, have you come across the McVities lemon and ginger digestives yet? A half eaten pack appeared recently in the works biscuit tin (usually bulging with Lidl's best) and have become a surprise favourite. Interested to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Liz |
Nicey replies: Yes we were sent some prior to their release in June. I was initially very, very, excited about these and possibly set myself up for a fall. I think I was looking for a much zestier ring to them than they delivered, and so overall I was a bit under-whelmed. Its obviously a very tricky line for McV to walk, too much unaccustomed flavour and people will be thrown, too little and it will be difficult to tell the difference. |
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Felix
Wagon Wheel Review |
Yo,
I am writing to express my disappointment about Jammie Dodgers, made by Burton's Foods. Though heavily advertised using the gimmick of jam wrestling, involving TV adverts, top trumps cards, and flash games on a website, the actual bisuits are vile. Some ingredient has the effect of drying out my mouth while leaving a horrible aftertaste reminiscent of the morning after excessive drink and drugs.
One biscuit was enough to ruin the taste of a pint of tea.
Interestingly, Wagon Wheels are made by the same company and have the same unpleasent effect, so they must share the foul ingredient, whatever it is. I suspect it might be a presevative since the effect is rather like that of eating a lump of salt or possibly sulphur.
Thanks,
_Felix |
Nicey replies: Felix,
Sort it out, these are classic biscuits, perhaps something else has shot away your taste buds over the festive season, or in the run up to it (excessive drink and drugs?). |
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Eluned Jones
Tim Tam vs Penguin Review |
Dear Nice Cup of Tea
I currently have a kiwi living with me and he has introduced me to delights of tim tams (or penguins) andport. I had previously heard of tim tams and hot chocolate but this is something else.
Having bitten the corners off your tim tam you suck a shot of port through the biscuit and then eat it. It is a taste sensation and I would recommend it to anyone.
Happy eating!
Eluned |
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Keith O'Kane
Kimberley and Chocolate Kimberley Review |
Dear Nicey,
Just the other day one of my colleagues came into the office clutching a packet of biscuits which were given to her by another member of staff as a Christmas present.
Excitedly, she removed a biscuit (which was a type unfamiliar to her) and took a large bite. Her gleeful expression turned instantly to one of disgust as she raced to the bin to spit out the offending article.
"What in the biscuit world", I thought, "could have caused such an unfavourable reaction?"
I picked up the packet and, with one look at the name, everything became clear.
It was, in fact, the much maligned Kimberly.
Hailing originally from the North of Ireland, I am well acquainted with the Kimberly and, although not my favourite biscuit, I do confess a certain fondness toward the brand.
I know (having read through your site) that my colleague's reaction is not uncommon among English folk and I think that the key to understanding the different reactions by people from Ireland and those from the rest of the world to the Kimberly is not ethnic but more a matter of timing.
In Ireland (at least in my experience), children are started on the Kimberly very young. The Kimberly is considered the natural missing link between the Farley's Rusk and the world of biscuit and as such is introduced to the Irish palette before the understanding of "Biscuit" has been fully formed.
Those who first encounter the Kimberly in later life have already fully established their concept of "Biscuit" and the Kimberly, falling as it does outside this concept, can come as a bit of a shock. Add to this the fact that many of these people are given their first Kimberly by an Irish person (possibly someone's mother) who, having been desensitised in early life, offer no warning as to its nature.
I was glad to read the reviews of the Kimberly on your site which highlight the "wet MDF" taste and texture, giving rise to the "are you sure you stored these in a dry place" reaction as so ably demonstrated by my colleague.
Although I still like the Kimberly, I do agree with your comments and will pass on warnings before attempting to serve Kimberly's to English folk in future.
Thank you for highlighting this issue. |
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Helen
Fox's Butter Crinkle Crunch Review |
Hi there
In respect of your assessment of Butter Crinkle Crunch I would like to add that this biscuit is fantastically good for dunking, perhaps even better than rich tea. The outside goes soft as you would expect, but the inside goes chewy, which works very well. You have to be careful on timing though - this biscuit is easy to over-dunk and lose.
Helen |
Nicey replies: Oh yes if there's one thing a Butter Crunch likes it is to absorb moisture, hot tea being its optimum choice. |
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