Britain’s oldest biscuit makes a return to the shelves of the Co-op (2024)
The Aberffraw biscuit, which dates back to the 13th century, will be stocked in the Co-op Group’s stores in Wales, after the Great British Bake-Off inspired a business to revive it
The Co-op Group is working with a local Welsh producer to bring back ‘Britain’s oldest biscuit’ to its stores in Wales.
James Shepherd, a former regional journalist, set up the Aberffraw Biscuit Company with his wife Natasha, in 2013, after watching a feature about the Aberffraw biscuit on the Great British Bake Off.
“It’s a basic shortbread that comes in the shape of a scallop shell,” said Mr Shepherd.
“I found a 19th century recipe that called for loaf sugar, which I’d never heard of. I tried to replicate it but it just looked like sludge so I updated the recipe as best I could.
“There are just three ingredients – flour, butter and sugar – and I created a special stamp to make it look like a shell.”
The Aberffraw biscuit (sometimes Aberffraw cake or Teisen Berffro) is said to originate from 13th century Anglesey.
”Legend has it that a Welsh king was holding court in Aberffraw – his wife was walking on the beach there and, spotting a pretty scallop shell, asked for a cake to be baked in the same form. And so the Aberffraw biscuit was born,” said Mr Shepherd.
“However, a far more realistic source for the biscuit was the famous pilgrimage to the church of St James in Galicia, north western Spain, which began in about the 8thcCentury with pilgrims wearing badges on their hat in the shape of a scallop shell.”
The Aberffraw Biscuit Company has completed a deal with the Co-operative to stock his biscuits in 60 stores and is also looking at launching a new range – Shepherd’s Welsh Biscuits – with an unnamed major retailer.
The Co-op Group is working with a local Welsh producer to bring back 'Britain's oldest biscuit' to its stores in Wales. James Shepherd, a former regional journalist, set up the Aberffraw Biscuit Company with his wife Natasha, in 2013, after watching a feature about the Aberffraw biscuit on the Great British Bake Off.
Aberffraw biscuits are said to be Britain's oldest biscuit! The Welsh shortbread is pressed with the shape of a scallop shell and are made with high quality ingredients to create a rich, buttery shortbread.
A biscuit, in most English speaking countries, is a flour-based baked and shaped food item. Biscuits are typically hard, flat, and unleavened. They are usually sweet and may be made with sugar, chocolate, icing, jam, ginger, or cinnamon. They can also be savoury, similar to crackers.
It's a basic shortbread that comes in the shape of a scallop shell… legend has it that a Welsh king was holding court in Aberffraw – his wife was walking on the beach there and, spotting a pretty scallop shell, asked for a cake to be baked in the same form. And so the Aberffraw biscuit was born.
Chocolate Digestives (69%) A clear winner in the biscuit world, Chocolate Digestives are a classic that has been a feature in many biscuit tins in the UK and around the world. ...
In the US, what us Brits call a biscuit, Americans would call a cookie - whilst an American biscuit is something resembling a British scone… making a name like Biscuiteers seem rather confusing!
Cookies are heavier in texture than biscuits, and cookies are often loaded with additional ingredients such as nuts, chocolate, oats, or raisins. Additionally, cookies have a much higher sugar content than biscuits, making cookies crispier and chewier than biscuits.
In England, the closest counterpart to biscuits and gravy would be scones and gravy. However, it's important to note that the gravy in this context refers to a savory sauce, rather than the creamy, sausage-infused gravy that is synonymous with the American version.
In the U.S., biscuits are buttery, flaky bread pastries often served as a side or sandwich at breakfast. American cookies are baked desserts, often sweet, that range in texture and density. Hard or crisp cookies are called biscuits in the U.K. while the chewier dessert can be identified as a cookie.
Now, many companies make their own version of the biscuit under the Bourbon name - including major supermarkets. Many would consider these biscuits to be pretty standardised, perhaps even made in the same factory and packaged for different stores.
Since we began in 1844, we've been sourcing goods from across the UK. Today, we continue to be a major supporter of British farming and home produced foods, trading with almost 2,000 UK farms and over 500 suppliers from across the UK.
The earliest surviving example of a biscuit is from 1784, and it is a ship's biscuit. They were renowned for their inedibility, and were so indestructible that some sailors used them as postcards.
Aberffraw Cakes are translated to Teisen Berffro in Welsh. The second name for these cookies is "Cacen Jago" or St. James Cakes because they utilize a scallop shell which is the iconic symbol of the pilgrimage to St. James Basilica in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Arno Shortbread: traditional shortbread flavour. Bush Biscuits: originally developed by Adelaide company W.Menz & Co., similar to an arrowroot biscuit, but larger and harder, made for camping.
1. The Royal Mint (Established in 886 AD) The Royal Mint is undoubtedly one of the UK's oldest businesses, with a history dating back over a thousand years. Founded in 886 AD, during the reign of King Alfred the Great, the Royal Mint has played a pivotal role in producing coins for the British Empire.
The world's oldest biscuit factory has been discovered in the south of France. The factory, also known as the Barbegal complex in Roman times, consisted of aqueducts and watermills that were used to produce bulk snacks for seafarers in the 2nd century.
Marks and Spencer Biscuits The most popular Marks and Spencer biscuits and cookies available. Tesco Biscuits Every biscuit imaginable from the popular supermarket. Foxs Biscuits Millionaires, Party Rings, Crunch and Crinkle Creams as well as a low fat range.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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