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 |
Ray Blake |
Nicey,
Have been utterly enthralled both by the book and the website. I wonder if the undoubted resutant upsurge in teabag consumption compensates for the fall from those convering to your 'two cups from one bag' advice.
Anyway, my reason for writing is to ask if you can remember the biscuit pictured here in a new guise. I have a hazy memory of these being brought home by the Mummy in my young days and I'm pretty sure they were packaged in some silver paper wrapped about the sort of corrugated cardboard which these days is to be found sat atop the uppermost layer in a box of posh chocolates. This packing was necessary, because these came in Garibaldi-style long megabiscuit format. However, these biscuits being so light and delicate, Garibaldi-style packaging would have presented the user with a bag of crumb and dust. Indeed, whilst one could be quite cavalier in Garibaldi separation, dividing these chappies into their individual form was quite a task; tapping one soundly on the plate, for instance, was likely to reduce the megabiscuit to many thousands of fragments. I'm sure they are of similar constitution to the non-cream part of a Mr Kipling Viennese Whirl.
My wife - who spotted the packet whose scan is attached and brought it home - seems to remember that they were made by Bahlsen, but I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Any light you can throw on the matter would be welcome, since we have postponed a tasting session until we can find out the original name of these biscuits; somehow it seems wrong to tuck in in our current state of 'tip-of-our-tongue'dness.
All the best.
Ray Blake
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Nicey replies: Hello Ray,
Right I've never encountered the biscuits of which you speak, they do sound like an import. The remembrance of a foil inner pouch is very indicative of Bahlsen as this would be their 'Tet' packaging. However its likely that other continental manufacturers would have adopted a similar format to the market leader, so its by no means certain.
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Lisa Green |
Hi - I'm responding to the item saying that Manchester water used to be shipped to Ceylon to taste tea with.
Did you know that all Ceylon tea tasting has to be in Colombo, i.e. at sea level; the best high grown tea (usually made into broken orange pekoe or BOP) is produced between 4 an 6,000 feet above sea level and kettles boil at a lower temperature, and therefore don't make very good tea.
Apprentice tea growers are known as creepers, hence the local expression 'He's creeping under Mr. Premadasa at the moment.
I have nothing to do with the Ceylon tea industry, just brought up there: I would ask you all please to resolve to drink lots of Ceylon tea in 2005 to help boost the economy of this shattered country.
Lisa Green |
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Helen Lo
Mint Viscount Review |
Hello,
I’ve just finished reading your book which was extremely informative and brought back many childhood memories which the psychotherapist has yet to manage. There is one omission which I must raise and this is surprising given the attention to detail.
You talk about the Mint Viscount but then don’t give any information on what was the difference between it and the YoYo. Also any differences between men’s preferences and women’s preferences? I’m afraid my husband is crying into his mug of Assam, after I read out your disparaging comments about lemon puffs and pink wafers. But then I’ve always thought he was a bit of big girl’s blouse……
Best wishes
Helen |
Nicey replies: Helen,
Well the primary difference between the Viscount and Yo-yo as I'm sure you know is diameter and depth, with the Yo-yo being wider and thiner. Sadly the Yo-yo was discontinued by United Biscuits in 2003, which is why I omitted them. WIth the exception of the Abbey Crunch I wanted the biscuits all to be currently available.
As for differences in male and female preferences there are not really any strong trends apart from a much higher tolerance of Chocolate by the females, and hence their enhanced ability to enjoy Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Triple Chocolate cookies. Men compensate with the ability to put up with smashed up, past it's sell by date, and generally iffy biscuits if nothing else is to be had. |
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Colin Paterson |
Hi,
I've only just discovered the site, having been bought your book for Christmas and felt I had to relay an experience I had some years ago. My family has long gone without sugar in tea but one of my friends Steve never has. He never had sugar at our house however and the reason is simple ... He was scared!
My father comes from the north of Scotland and his accent is said by some to be strong and may be perceived as aggressive. On his first visit to the house my Dad was making tea and enquired if Steve would like one. Steve replied that he would and that he would like one sugar please, nothing unusual so far! My father was in mischievous mood however and replied that "we don't give sugar to students!" (Steve had recently started at university). This comment was delivered with no change in facial expression and nothing to indicate that he was Joking.
It was at least 5 years before Steve got sugar in his tea at our house, he never did dare ask again, my Dad still smiles when I remind him.
Steve had his revenge however when his mother gave me sprouts!
Colin.
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Nicey replies: Your message contains many simple truths within it. Not least that a Scottish accent is intimidating to many. A friend I used to work with (Wendy (aka 'The Scottish Unit') ) who was originally from Glasgow could slip effortlessly from a estuary accent to a Glaswegian one, often mid sentence. She always reserved her Scottish accent for serious business calls.
What a lovely Scots themed mail with New Year approaching. |
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Tracy
HobNob Review |
Hi Nicey and Wifey,
My hubby bought me your book for Christmas as I’m such a biscuit monster. Anyway I was rather freaked out by your comments on chocolate hobnobs and attracting the opposite sex. Our relationship began with nights of passion followed by a nice cuppa and chocolate hobnobs. We always had a thing about them! Thought I’d let you know so you know you are right! We now have two gorgeous little boys thanks to hobnobs!
Best wishes,
Tracy
PS I’m missing homeblest chocolate digestives. The ones in the big long blue roll. My local Asda used to sell them but they have now disappeared. Has anyone seen them about? |
Nicey replies: That's very nice to hear. Chocolate HobNobs are the most romantic biscuits.
Those Digestives are made by Burton's, I've seen them in Iceland as well as Asda. |
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