Doing Vital Research
I’ve just done some important research (cough cough) and I know you’ll appreciate my dedication.
I’ve been reading some English books lately — rom-coms, some of those those “woman escapes from rotten old life and starts a new one along with gorgeous new man” books, and also cosy-ish UK crime novels, and in each one of them the heroine kept munching on chocolate hobnobs. The universe was clearly sending me a message!
So, naturally I had to discover what this important aid-to-literature was. (I’m conscientious like that, dedicated to my craft!)
I found them in the biscuit (cookie) aisle at my local supermarket. And lo, I found there was an English version (called unsurprisingly Chocolate hobnobs) and an Australian one, called Chocolate Wheaten Biscuits. They looked the same, but a search on-line explained the difference: The wheaten bikkies are made with wholemeal flour and baking powder, while hobnobs are made with rolled oats and white self-raising flour.
But my task was to try the hobnobs — brave of me, I know, because in all these books, the heroines were clearly addicted to chocolate hobnobs. The things I risk for you, my readers!
The verdict? They were very nice. The oatmealy base made you feel as though you were eating something healthy, and the chocolate topping was your reward for being healthy. Obviously.
I don’t buy biscuits as a rule — because they just seem to disappear — I know, strange! And a bit spooky! — but now I’m wondering whether I should have been more scientific and bought a packet of chocolate hobnobs AND one of chocolate wheaten biscuits so I could properly compare them.
What do you think? Should I test both kinds? Are you impressed with my dedication to my craft?
Do you have a favourite (favorite) chocolate biscuit (cookie)?
As a Brit , I am glad you managed to find proper McVities Hobnobs. I can easily eat a packet with a good book, hence the reason I don’t buy them.
In the UK , the perennial topic, of course, is whether you should ever dunk a Hobnob…dunkability being one of the main criteria for biscuits here. Personally I find Hobnobs disintegrate too quickly in the tea so Digestives or Rich Tea work better. People write PhD’s on stuff like this!
Thanks, Lis — I’m not a dunker, but I’m sure the many dunkers in the world will appreciate the research you’ve put into this question. Many thanks.
I am addicted to digestives. So delectable and special. I dunk them in tea. They are my favorite biscuits by far. I grew up eating them when I lived in Canada. Very hard to locate in the US. Pity.
Ellie, I’ve found a few recipes for Digestive biscuits on-line. I’ll share them in the next post.
Dark choc pepermint creams
Stop it! LOL
McVities Dark Chocolate Digestive biscuits ( Wheat meal) are my weakness here in the State. To be “virtuous” I usually try to confine myself to the Original McVities Digestives.
Thanks, Robin — when the two Scotsmen invented Digestives in 1839, they gave them that name because the bicarbonate of soda used in the recipe was thought to aid digestion. And we all know how healthy oats are.
Ha, I took one for the team after reading heaps of English books also. Curiosity and all that, then someone brought me back a tin of Chocolate Biscuits from Harrods – oh my! Hooked! So I bought some Australian Chocolate Wheaten – divine – and then some McVitie’s Digestive Wheaten biscuits, which was the closest I could find to Hobnobs. Somehow or other my packet disappeared too…! So I suggest test merrily away and post your findings. I did favour the English McVitie’s better than most! Now…my quest continues to find Hobnobs…
P.S. Just found the chocolate hobnobs in Coles! Joy!
Oh excellent, Malvina — may the research continue!
Oh dear, now I need to investigate that tine of chocolate bikkies from Harrods.
I bought my HobNobs in Woolies.
But has anyone tried the American Oreo?
Oreos are nothing like digestives or hobnobs! Speaking as someone who has consumed her share of all…
Carol, I’ve tasted Oreos and yes, they’re not at all like digestives or hobnobs. To be honest, Oreos don’t do much for me. Here in Australia, we have so many different kinds of chocolate biscuits to choose from, including the famous TimTam (and its many variations) so I guess it’s like tea — you choose the one you prefer.
I’ve tried Oreos, Carol, and sadly they don’t really do it for me. I think we have so many different chocolate biscuits here that we’re spoiled for choice.
By all means, to do a thorough job, you should try one of each!!
Thanks, Ann — I can see you’re another perfectionist who wishes me to try Chocolate Wheatens and Chocolate HobNobs together, for a more scientific test. I will consider it.
This is noble work you’ve done and the world should know of it.
Thank you, Janice. I am glad to hear that you regard such self-sacrificing research is noble.
I feel that in the name of proper research- for which you are properly recognised – you need round two and a trial of both biscuits over several days because one comparison might not be enough. I salute your dedication!
Thank you Sharon — I appreciate the appreciation of my research dedication. But I think no further tests are necessary.
Get both. Then add mint slice and the double choc Tim Tam or the mint version.
LOL Krystina. I’m very well acquainted with mint slices — a good friend often brings a packet around when she’s dropping in at afternoon tea-time. They’re probably my favorite chocolate coated biscuit. I have tried the various kinds of TimTams, but generally don’t buy biscuits at all if I can help it.
I really enjoy chocolate Hobnobs with the and a good book but I am really addicted to Oreos so I try to avoid purchasing the latter.
My Scottish friend turned me on to Hobnobs and I usually find them in my Christmas bag.
What a nice friend, Cathleen, and what fun to get them in your Christmas stocking.
I am always so impressed with anyone who dedicates themselves to the greater good of the sisterhood!! Can we expect to see the results of your scientific research feature in your next novel? How proud we would feel to know we have participated in this experiment and plot development.
Thank you Sandra — I do dedicate myself to my craft. However I doubt very much that chocolate HobNobs were around during the Regency. Even plain digestive biscuits wouldn’t have been invented yet as they contain bicarbonate of soda, which wasn’t invented/discovered until 1801 in Germany, and didn’t come into widespread use in baking until well after the Regency was over.
And though Regency ladies routinely drank chocolate, it was more like cocoa — the discovery of the method to make normal solid eating chocolate was also yet to come.
I live in Germany, but my favourite is a whole-wheat biscuit with chocolate called Cereola. Seems to be a World Wide addiction…
Thanks, Simone — it sounds similar, I agree.
you owe it to yourself to trry them both and then give us the receipe, I don’t think we have them in the states.
I really enjoy your bolg. thank you.
Absolutely you should have grabbed a packet of each for scientific comparison purposes. I’m assuming the ‘wheaten’ version are what we (in the UK) know as digestives. To cover the full scientific spectrum (McVities’ digestives & hobnobs only – unless you decide to expand the comparison to other brands, in the interests of science, of course!), you should be aware that they are also available in dark chocolate versions here. And there are more ‘traybake-like’ versions of the milk choc varieties sold, softer bars rather than biscuits. And, as one of my old school friends points out whenever I embark… Read more »
And now I see I should have read the comments before commenting … oh well, I may just go and do some experimenting of my own.
ABSOLUTELY, YOU HAVE TO TRY BOTH KINDS OF COOKIES (BISCUITS). IN TERMS OF THE FAVORITES? THE GIRL SCOUTS (GIRL GUIDES?) IN THE USA DO A COOKIE SALE EACH SPRING. THEIR BEST CHOCOLATE IS A SHORTBREAD DISK, UNDERSIDE COATED IN CHOCOLATE, TOPPED WITH TOASTED SHREDDED COCONUT THEN DRIZZLED WITH CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE. YUM! FORTUNATELY, THEY ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ABOUT ONE MONTH PER YEAR.