If you’re the kind of person who loves dunking biscuits in their tea, you’ll love these quintessential British biscuits (“cookies” for you Americans). After-all, the British are well known for their tea obsession, so you can guarantee these biscuits will work well. And as a British person myself, I’ve had first-hand experience dunking biscuits my entire life!
Traditionally, biscuit dunking is for black tea with milk, especially English Breakfast teas. But not all biscuits are suitable for this ritual. Some are too soft and crumble easily, while others are too hard and don’t absorb enough flavour. But dont worry, I’ve got your back! I’ve compiled this list of the top 10 British biscuits for dunking in tea, based on their texture, taste, and durability (in no particular order). So grab your mug and get ready to dunk!
1. Chocolate Digestives
To begin with, an absolute ‘all-round’ classic; Chocolate digestives. These bad-boys are one of the most popular biscuits for tea in the UK, and for a good reason. They are an upgrade from the traditional plain digestives, made with whole wheat flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, and topped with a layer of milk or dark chocolate.
These biscuits have a crunchy and crumbly texture that makes them ideal for dunking, as they soften and melt in your mouth. The chocolatey goodness leaves a scrumptious taste in your mouth as it melts with the tea. Plus, it adds a hint of chocolate to the tea once your out of biscuits! The rich and sweet flavour contrasts well with the bitterness and warmth of the tea. You can find these in most supermarkets for relatively cheap.
2. Ginger Nuts
This one’s for you spicy nutters out there! Ginger nuts are made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and golden syrup, giving them a dark and aromatic flavour. They are spicy, crunchy, and so addictive. This biscuit is not everyone’s favorite, as some people are picky about ginger. However, I absolutely love ginger nut biscuits with tea! For me, once dunked, the milky tea actually reduced the spiciness, giving it more a warm gingerbread taste.
These biscuits are also very thin and crisp, which makes them perfect for dunking, as they soften and release their spice into the tea. They are especially good with chai tea, as they enhance its warm and exotic taste – perfect with our Gingerbread Chai Tea Latte recipe. You can also dip them in milk or coffee, if you prefer. McVities are probably the most popular brand of ginger nut biscuits. Although, some supermarket brands can be just as nice for cheaper!
3. Rich Tea Biscuits
Rich tea biscuits are the quintessential tea dunkers, guaranteed to break apart and fall into your tea at least once! This then puts you into panic mode, so you start a rescue mission with the other half of the biscuit. It’s all part of the traditional experience though!
Rich Tea’s are simple, plain, and slightly sweet, with a crisp and light texture that makes them perfect for soaking up tea. Did you know, they are also one of the oldest types of biscuits, dating back to the 17th century in Yorkshire, England. They are sometimes called “one-dip biscuits” because they only need to be dipped once in the tea to achieve the ideal softness. You can also find them in most supermarkets or in your nans cupboard.
4. Hobnobs
Onto one of the top-tier British biscuits now – a personal favorite of mine for dunking in tea. Hobnobs are oat-based biscuits, coated with a layer of milk or dark chocolate on one side. They are almost like a flapjack; crunchy, chewy, and chocolatey, all in one bite. I love them to bits, as they melt in your mouth with one dunk in the tea. It’s almost as if the oats make this chemical reaction that turns the biscuit into a warm oaty porridge as it hits your tongue!
Additionally, they are also very sturdy and durable compared to others, which makes them ideal for dunking. If you don’t go crazy, they shouldn’t crumble or lose their shape in the tea. I would say these biscuits are best enjoyed with a strong and robust tea, such as an English breakfast like Bird & Blend’s Great British Cuppa, or a traditional Twinnings Earl Grey.
5. Bourbon Creams
Bourbon creams are another great example of classic British biscuits for tea, and a childhood favourite. They consist of two chocolate-flavoured biscuits sandwiched together with a chocolate buttercream filling. As kids, what we would do is take the two pieces apart, lick the middle bit off, and then individually dunk each side for a lighter crunch. Genius!
They are rich, creamy, and decadent, making them a perfect treat for any occasion. Not only this, they are great for dunking, since they soften and become more moist and flavourful in the tea. The biscuits pair well with any type of tea, but especially with a sweet and nutty one, such as almond or hazelnut flavoured teas. For an extra chocolatey sensation, you could dip them into hot cocoa. This always goes down well with the kids!
6. Custard Creams
Another classic British biscuit (how many times will I say that?); custard creams. These pair really well with the chocolate bourbons for a bit of diversity. They are the bourbons little sister, featuring two vanilla-flavoured biscuits with a custard-flavoured filling.
You must try these if you are chocolate lover; they are sweet, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They are also very easy to make, with only four ingredients: butter, sugar, flour, and custard powder. Check out this custard cream recipe for more info. Additionally, these biscuits are perfect for dunking, as they absorb the tea without falling apart, whilst giving the tea a creamy hint. I’d say they are great enjoyed with a delicate and floral tea, such as jasmine or chamomile. But you cant go wrong with a classic English breakfast blend.
7. Shortbread
Moving on to something a bit different; Shortbread. This is a Scottish specialty, made with butter, sugar, and flour. However, its popularity has spread all the way throughout the UK (and other places in the world). A popular brand you can find around the world is Walkers Shortbread.
These biscuits have a buttery, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes it ideal for dunking, as it softens quickly and releases its buttery flavour into the tea. They are usually quite thick too, perfect if you want something a bit more filling. It is also very versatile, as you can add different variations to your shortbread, such as lemon, almond, or chocolate. Why not try make you own homemade shortbread with this recipe, it’s super easy!
8. Digestive Biscuits
Back to Digestive biscuits again, but just plain and simple this time. Sometimes simplicity is the key to life! Don’t underestimate their simplicity though, they are a mighty contestant in this list. In fact, most tea-loving households will have a pack of these biscuits. For me, they are the perfect all-rounder, for taste, texture, and robustness.
They are made with whole wheat flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar, giving them a nutty and wholesome flavour. They are also slightly crumbly, but not too much that they fall apart in your tea. The name “digestive” originated because they were originally believed to aid digestion, thanks to the addition of baking soda. Not only are they are delicious on their own, but you can also enjoy them with butter, jam, cheese, or chocolate. I think the versatility of these biscuits is what makes them so popular for tea lovers!
9. Jammie Dodgers
Arguably the most unique on this list, Jammie dodgers are a fun and fruity biscuit consisting of two shortbread biscuits with a raspberry jam filling. This is another childhood favorite, named after the character Roger the Dodger from the British comic strip The Beano. Much like us Brits as kids stealing Jammie dodgers from the cupboard, Roger Dodger was known for his mischief and escapades.
These biscuits are also perfect for dunking, as they soften and become more moist and jammy in the tea. They are most popular with children, since they are so colourful and sweet. You can buy them in most stores in the UK.
10. Malted Milk Biscuits
Last but not least; Malted milk biscuits. These are a light and crumbly biscuit, flavoured with malted milk powder. Because of the milk powder, they have this very milky taste which compliments a milky perfectly! They easy to recognise since they are usually decorated with a cow and a dairy design.
Not only this, they are also very cheap and widely available, making them a staple in many households. This was another classic bucket that my nan would always have in stock. The Malted milk biscuits are ideal for dunking too, as they soften and become more creamy and malty in the tea. They go well with any type of tea, but especially with black tea or rooibos tea.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 British biscuits for dunking in tea, and that you found some new favourites to try. Speaking as a British person, you are guaranteed to come across at least one of these biscuits in every household. We are not just crazy about tea, but we love a good biscuit to dunk too. Just remember, there is no right or wrong way to dunk your biscuits, as long as you enjoy them. So go ahead and dunk away, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Happy dunking!
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