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 |
Daniel Bevis
 Coconut Cream Review |
Hello,
I was just reading your review of the Coconut Cream, and felt compelled to point out that while it is lamentable that there appears to be a demonstrable lack of cream in any real sense, it is possible to replicate the creamy biscuit/cake crossover experience. Put your Coconut Creams under the grill for a few moments; not only have you achieved the holy grail of encroaching-winter-tea-accompaniment-snacking – the hot biscuit – but you get to enjoy the delightful juxtaposition of slightly crispy sugary coating and soft creamy innards.
It’s really quite hard to get it right though, and you may ruin a fair few biscuits before you get there… |
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Paul Fairall
 Dad's Cookies Review |
Hi there,
I was an avid eater of Dads Cookies as a child in the 1950’s and until they went AWOL in the 70’s. Imagine my delight when I re-discovered them on a recent trip to Canada. I had intended to buy a load before coming back, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, and a distinct lack of time, it just didn’t happen. I just read a write up that you guys did about them a couple of months back. However is there a grocery organisation, or indeed the company themselves, to whom I could write in order to obtain some more. Not just a packet, but a whole box will do for a start! ( my sister also remembers them and also wants some if we can get them into the UK). The tourist shop in Covent Garden sounds not the best move!
Any help very much appreciated,
Kind regards,
Paul Fairall |
Nicey replies: Paul,
Really the shop in Covent Garden seems to cater for all those Canadians, Kiwis and South Africans who are resident in London and prepared to pay for some reminders of home. It's a bit like a horrendously expensive cornershop that sells tee shirts too. There is one in the next street that caters exclusively for Australians, and is a good place to get hold of exotic Tim Tams. Apart from this though we haven't come across another source of Dad's cookies in the UK. |
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John Kenny
 Digestive Review |
Before I retired from the biscuit industry over 10 years ago Digestives were, for very many years, consistently around 15% of the total branded and own-label sweet and semi-sweet biscuit market - a quite mind boggling proportion. I remember many debates about introducing new Digestive variants but we mostly remained to be convinced they would do any more than fragment the market.
New biscuit products which settle in and survive with a steady market share have always been very few and far between and difficult to formulate. Presumably the up and coming marketing whizzes have recognised this and are now proliferating all these mutations of Digestives arguing that this is what the market needs whilst hoping to justify their existence by increasing sales volumes.
Does anyone know the proportion of the market occupied by the Digestive family now and how successful this strategy has been?
A bald, retired, biscuit basher |
Nicey replies: Hello John,
I'm sure many of the people who drop by the site once in a while would know the answer, however they might not wish to share it. The bewildering proliferation of Digestives in the last 18 months may well throw up a one or two long lasting additions to the family, time will tell.
Still I'm pleased to see some actual biscuit innovation activity around such a major brand to capture our attention, rather than just some marketing push that ropes in some obvious high profile media types. Even the biggest cash cows need the occasional spot of nurturing or else they eventually start to show signs of decline. |
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Gareth Griffiths |
Dear Nicey et al,
On the subject of more people drinking coffee over tea, I think some blame must be lain on the office environment. Where I work, there isn't a kitchen, only vending machines. I can't get through the day without several hot drinks so I have to make due with this vile abomination - however, and this is my point, that even truely foul vending machine coffee tastes a damn sight better than the utterly disgusting and insipid liquid that tries to pass itself off as tea in these things!!
I have to make up my tea ration when I get home by drinking it out of a HUGE mug!
Gareth |
Nicey replies: Excellent, I've just blown the dust off the vending machine icon. |
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Ben Hardy |
Dear Nicey, Wifey and the Younger Members of Staff
It appears that disaster is upon us and tea is now being outsold by coffee as reported by the Guardian. Is there any hope for humanity? Apparently it is due to the rise in herbal tea drinking...
Ben |
Nicey replies: That story seems to be laying the blame with the 20-30 year olds for not drinking enough tea, but in these circumstances I blame the parents too. My niece who will soon be 18 up till now hasn't drunk tea, coffee or anything much really (water and squash I suppose). She realised that to make her way in this world she has to drink tea. Therefore she has taught herself how to do this in the last six months. Naturally we are all very pleased and somewhat relieved. Especially my sister who feels she is somewhat off the hook now, re raising a non-tea drinking daughter.
We can all do our bit to help by making sure that everybody who should be drinking tea does so. Gentle persuasion such denial of access to biscuits unless drinking tea can help. Personally I think it's morally just to insist tea drinking is mandatory in all new employees, unless they can produce some medical reason why not. It should be on CVs in the beverages section, just above qualifications. Coffee drinking can just about be tolerated as most coffee drinkers are tea drinkers in waiting. People who just drink fizzy pop should be strongly encouraged to tea, or emigrate to some country where this is acceptable.
People who just drink herbal tea need to sort it out and start drinking proper tea (again medical exceptions will be grudgingly accepted as long as they accompanied by a 'I'd rather drink proper tea if I could').
There that's not too unreasonable is it? |
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