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Your e-Mails

Steve in Minnesota Oreo Review	Believe it or not, you can find anything on the web. For example, a website dedicated to... of all things... the wonderful, far better than Oreo, Sunshine Hydrox cookie As a kid, and even today, I much prefer Sunshine brand to Nabisco. Take crackers (soup crackers), for example, Sunshine Whole Wheat Crackers are great, Nabisco are far to bland and way over salted. Back to the main point, the Hydrox cookie was much better that Oreo, it had better flavor and better ingredients; it was flavored with real vanilla. But Nabisco had a marketing force the Sunshine just couldn't compete with. In the US, from a marketing perspective, perception is far more important that content. Also, as you noted yourself, the 'Hydrox' name is a bit odd, and somewhat reminiscent of drain cleaner, but it is actually a composite name made up of the names of the two primary persons in the Sunshine company at that time. I think they 'Hy...' was for Hyrum, but I'm not sure about the '...drox' part. I knew this at one time, but that was many, too many, years ago. It was suggested that they change the name, but they were steadfast in their loyalty to it. Keebler has now taken over the Sunshine brand, and Hydrox, when they can be found, are marketed under the name 'Droxies'. One final comment, Oreos are the classic lazy mom - hyperactive kids cookie. Pure balls of sugar sandwiched between hyper-chocolate; just by them and eat them. What kid can resist a ball of chocolate and sugar overload. As far as the instruction, that was added many years later as a marketing ploy. It simply reflects the way kids eat Oreos. You see the trick is to twist one cookie off while leaving 100% of the filling on the remaining cookie. However, for the unskilled and the heavy handed, a slight prying action will leave filling on both cookies. Of course, there is nothing you can do then but lick the frosting off, eat the cookies, and try again. Another, actually much better, Nabisco cookie is the 'Nilla Wafer' (Vanilla Wafers). These are just what the name implies, small round hard vanilla biscuits with a yummy flavor. Their not really wafers, but a small round cookie/biscuit that soaks up milk like a sponge. They are also very good for crumbling up and making a bottom crust for assorted deserts. Another unrelated cookie related note; instead of Ginger Nuts, we have Ginger Snaps. Ultra-rockhard ginger cookies with a pleasant ginger bite to them. Also, excellent when softened in mild. However, nothing beats my Mom's homemade ginger cookies; thick soft and chewy with a wonderful ginger flavor. Steve in Minnesota; USA
	Nicey replies: Steve, Right you are then.
Nick Ovel	Good Afternoon! Jim Urpeth asks if there are any other biscuits named after philosophers, would it be stretching the definition of philosopher too far to include Newton (Isaac and fig)? Keep up the good work! Nick
	Nicey replies: Yep, I think we had him down as a mathematician. Perhaps some up and coming modern day Philosopher can change his/her name by deed poll to 'Jam-Ring'. Perhaps Mr Urpeth himself could oblige, 'Jim Jam-Ring' is lovely cheerful sort of a name isn't?
Andrew Hewkin	Hi Nicey, I wonder if any of your readers can shed light on the current output of the former Symbol Biscuits factory in Blackpool. I gather it is part of the Burtons empire, at least that's what it says here But which biscuits are actually produced there nowadays. The surrounding streets used to smell heavenly when I cycled along Devonshire Road as a young Sandgrown'un (that's what they call us Blackpool folk) Kindest regards to you and Mrs Nicey,
	Nicey replies: Yes we will throw that open to the world at large.
Smarthound Wagon Wheel Review	Keith Andrews remembered: "Wagon Wheels, they're a treat for me [wagon wheels!] They're the biggest biscuit, you ever did see! [wagon wheels!] ... .... ..... .... ... ... .... .... . The biscuit thrill to beat the band!" The line that Keith is missing from the Wagon Wheels theme is "Marshmallow filled, they taste so grand"... which is something of a scurrilous claim nowadays because they taste pretty iffy compared to their former glory. They have a stale and artificial flavour and there is no way on Earth that they are the same size as they used to be. And Jammie Dodgers are stale-tasting parodies of their former selves, too. How I wish I'd had the foresight, as a Wagon Wheel munching ten-year-old, to start a small biscuit museum so I could shame the manufacturers of today into admitting their corner-cutting by showing them tangible proof. Come to think of it, after thirty years they would probably taste much like their current incarnation. Now, here's a sort-of-related question; anyone remember Rondellos? They were big biscuits too, perhaps not quite as big as a Wagon Wheel, probably only four or six in a package... Hound
	Nicey replies: Actually I don't think the taste of Wagonwheels has really changed at all, I think your own personal tastes have evolved / matured. I do think Jammy Dodgers have changed quite a bit with today's biscuit being a much softer bake. We have an entry for Rondellos in our missing in action section, which is looking a tad empty so I'll add in your comments.
Adam Christmas	Dear Nicey, I was prompted to remember this by your poll. I always refuse to call herbal tea 'tea'. Surely a drink must contain tea leaves to qualify for the moniker. What's your view? I think they should be called "herbal tea-like drink infusion", so those expecting actual tea from the misleading label will not be disappointed again. I can see why this might not catch on though... Adam.
	Nicey replies: Oh quite. I mean coffee doesn't get all this grief does it? Occasionally chicory or something tries to get involved, but it does have completely random things like stinging nettles, stinky old camomile, rose-hips or blackcurrant leaves passing themselves off as it. If I was tea I would be very indignant, and demand that they only assume the title of "herbal infusion", and use a different shelf entirely in the supermarket.
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