By Tim Lambert
Early Biscuits
The word biscuit is derived from the Latin words bis cotus, meaning twice baked. The idea of making biscuits goes back to the Romans. However, biscuits, as we know them, were developed in the Middle Ages.
The Tudors were also fond of sweet foods (if they could afford them). The rich ate preserved fruit, gingerbread, sugared almonds, and jelly. However, in the 16th century, sugar was very expensive, so most people used honey to sweeten their food.
Marzipan was introduced into England in the Middle Ages. It is a paste made of almonds and sugar. The Tudors used marzipan to make edible sculptures of animals, castles, trees, and people called subtleties.
From the Middle Ages, people ate simnel cakes. (Simnel was originally the name of fine flour). There is a Simnel Street in Southampton.
At Christmas, the Tudors enjoyed mince pies. They also ate Christmas pudding, but this was shaped like a sausage and contained meat, oatmeal, and spices. Twelfth Night cake was a fruitcake baked with an item like a coin or dried bean; whoever found it became King or Queen or host for the evening’s entertainment.
Meanwhile, scones were first mentioned in the early 16th century.
In Tudor times, people ate spiced buns on Good Friday. The first mention of crosses on them was in the 18th century. So by the 1700s, people were eating hot cross buns.
The earliest recipe for crumpets dates from the beginning of the 18th century (although they may have existed before then). Bath Oliver biscuits were invented by William Oliver in the mid-18th century. Eccles cakes also date from the 18th century.
Modern Biscuits
In the 19th century, with the Industrial Revolution, the mass production of biscuits began. Several new biscuits were invented. Nice biscuits were invented in about 1860. Other new biscuits included the Garibaldi (1861) and the Cream cracker (1885). Alexander Grant invented the digestive in 1892.
In the 20th century, new biscuits were introduced. Custard creams were invented in 1908, and Bourbons were invented in 1910. Chocolate digestives went on sale in Britain in 1925. Ruth Wakefield invented chocolate chip cookies in 1938. HobNobs were introduced in 1985. A chocolate variety was introduced in 1987.
Meanwhile, Jaffa cakes went on sale in 1927. Twiglets date from 1929, and Penguins were introduced in 1932.
In Britain, National Biscuit Day is 29 May.
Last revised 2025