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 |
Glen Pougnet |
Dear Nicey,
Our Biscuit Cup has reached the last four Gariballdi vs GingerNut and Rich Tea vs Boaster. Having exhausted all the usual criteria of taste, dunking, performance, design etc we created some random challenges.
Someone had to buy a packet of each semi final biscuit against the clock. All were achieved in under 2min 30 except Gariballdi which took over 40 minutes to find. Also against the clock was opening a pack and eating 3 of each - the dry Rich Tea struggled here.
We weighed, measured and counted sugar content where the Boaster scored highly But the boaster struggled on our value per biscuit calculation. We even got a dog - Harry to choose his favourite Harry loved the Ginger Nuts.
The Ginger Nut easily beat the Garibaldi in the first match but the other semi final was a titanic struggle and the scores were all square after all challenges.
The sudden death challenge was 'The Shopping Bag Drop Test' We dropped a packet of Rich Tea and a packet of Boasters on to the floor to see how many biscuits survived in whole.
Boasters - 2 out of the 9 biscuits survived intact (22% survival rate)
Rich Tea - 21 out of the 36 biscuits survived intact (58% survival rate)
So despite it's fancy dan tray packaging, the Boasters crumbled under pressure to the tightly packed Rich Tea.
FINAL: Ginger Nut versus Rich Tea
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Nicey replies: Glen,
Big Woos on the advanced biscuit testing, inspiring stuff. I'm also impressed that Harry the dog displayed any sort preference at all. I often drop single biscuits to hear the sound they make, you can tell quite a bit from that. |
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Paul Wayper
Tim Tam vs Penguin Review |
Dear Mr Nicey,
I have been priveledged to have brought the Tim Tam to the US, where I can attest that the natives are just as able in the Tim Tam 'Slam' as Antipodeans or Britons (who I have also introduced this many-talented biscuit to). Observations of said Britons indicate that the Penguin would be far inferior to the Tim Tam when used as a straw, but either would be quite satisfactory when eaten separately.
This may be incidental to your site, but Tim Tams can also be used as straws for a variety of alcoholic liquids, port being a favourite.
Have fun,
Paul |
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John Ashton |
Dear Nicey, I just wanted to inform your readers who happen to live in New York of an excellent resource for all things Tea 'n' biccies related. A wonderfull establishment that we ex-pats have been frequenting for many years namely: "Tea and Sympathy" on Greenwich Avenue (between 6th & 7th Avenue) Not only can you pop in for a nice cup (or mug if you prefer) of tea and a sit down but you can also partake of the many splendid epicurian delights that we all (well most of us anyway) took for granted as youngsters. The regular menu contains an assortment of teas, sandwiches, Heinz beans on toast, Bangers'n'mash, shepherds pie etc an assortment of puddings with or without Birds custard plus other goodies and beverages such as Ribena and Lucozaid. In addition there are numerous daily "main and afters" specials. It gets a bit crowded during Lunchtimes so be prepared to wait. On the flipside however, the turnover is pretty quick during these time so the owner will chuck you out to make way for other customers. The best times to
go for a plain old cuppa and a sit down are in the afternoons. If you need provisions such as supplies of Tea and biscuits, sweets (just about everything) Marmite, jams marmalade, Branston pickle, etc. They are available for purchase at "Carry On Tea and Sympathy" next door. Basicly everything your local corner shop would carry. Including newspapers, magazines and videos!! There is also a (real) Fish'n'Chip shop called "A Salt And Battery" which is not only a clever play on words but utilises the London Underground Logo for added impact. It also serves as a handy landmark should you (in your obvious heady state of slight dibeleif and full on olfactory assault) happen to mistakenly stumble into the take out burrito place that is cunningly wedged between Tea and Sympathy and the chip shop. So there you have it. A little slice that is forever England. |
Nicey replies: That all sounds very sensible. |
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Andy Ley
Tunnocks Wafer Review |
When I'm not at university, I live in a lovely old farmhouse, with a log burning stove
and very comfy chairs.
During the winter the larder of this house get very cold and hence, the biscuits we
keep in it get cold too. The major problem with this is that when I go to bite into a
cold tunnock's caramel, a super-sharp piece of wafer nearly always peirces the
gum just above the back of my front teeth! My folly causes pain for a day or two, i need to remember to bite sideways if in
doubt, going with the 'grain' on the biscuit.
Whilst I'm emailing, whats the verdict on the honeycombed 'echo' bar? my girlfriend
adores them but I'm not so keen. |
Nicey replies: Yes chilled biscuits can present special hazards to the unwary eater, thanks for bringing up this important issue. Caramel especially presents problems turning from a viscous gloop at room temperature into a brittle crystalline shards at fridge temperature (>=4 degrees C). I suspect that its the caramel layers in the Tunnocks that have been giving you problems.
As for the Fox's Honeycomb Echo I have to say that there is so much chocolate in an Echo bar that it is difficult for me to form an opinion on them. I think that Honeycomb was slightly grittier than the white chocolate Echo, and if my memory serves me correctly actually had a slightly higher proportion of white chocolate. Perhaps this is what is appealing to your girlfriend. |
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Jason Lekerman |
Please will you advise me the name of the biscuits which are similar to the appearance of Party Rings but without the hole in the middle. They were round, iced biscuits with pink, yellow or brown icing. Each biscuit may be completely iced with the same colour or have a combination (striped) of two or three colours.
Please let me know if you remember the name and whether they are still available to buy. |
Nicey replies: I know what you mean but can't think of the name, didn't they also come in round cornered square shapes as well? or am I imagining that.. |
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