Marie biscuit
A Marie biscuit is a type of biscuit similar to a rich tea biscuit. It is also known as María, Mariebon, Мария and Marietta, amongst other names.
 | |
| Type | Biscuit |
|---|---|
| Created by | Peek Freans |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, vegetable oil (palm oil in most recipes, sunflower seed oil in e.g. Norway and Finland), vanilla |
Description
The biscuit is round and usually has the name embossed upon its top surface, the edges of which are also embossed with an intricate design. It is made with wheat flour, sugar, palm oil or sunflower seed oil and, unlike the rich tea biscuit, is typically vanilla-flavoured.[1]
History
The Marie biscuit was created by the London bakery Peek Freans in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh.[1][2] It became popular throughout Europe, particularly in Spain where, following the Civil War, the biscuit became a symbol of the country's economic recovery after bakeries produced mass quantities to consume a surplus of wheat.[3]
Consumption
Many consider that the plain flavour of Maries makes them, like rich tea biscuits, particularly suitable for dunking in tea. Other popular methods of consuming the biscuit include using two to make a sandwich with butter and marmite or condensed milk spread in between; covering it with golden syrup; or crumbling it up in custard and jelly (gelatin dessert). Marie biscuits are frequently served to children, and to infants who may be served the biscuits softened in milk as their first 'solid' food. Marie biscuits are also a common ingredient in home-baking recipes.
In Spain, natillas custard is typically served with a Maria biscuit on top.
In Uruguay, they are served filled with dulce de leche and sprinkled with shredded coconut. In Brazil, they are soaked in milk and then stacked in layers of chocolate and vanilla-flavoured custard cream, with whipped cream and crushed cashew nuts on top to make pavê, a very popular Brazilian dessert. In Ireland, the biscuits are known as Marietta and manufactured by Jacob's. In Malaysia, people use them mainly for making batik cake.[4]
Manufacturers
The major international manufacturers (initially sorted by country name):[5]
| Country/Region | Producer | Brands |
|---|---|---|
 Argentina | Arcor | Maná |
| Arcor | Vocación | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia | Arnott's Biscuits Holdings | Marie |
 Belarus | Slodych, confectionery factory | Marierta |
| Confectionary Factory Spartak | Mariya (Мария) | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium | Delacre | Maria |
 Brazil | Fábrica Fortaleza | Maria |
| Piraquê | Maria | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada | President's Choice | Maria |
 Costa Rica | Pozuelo | Maria |
 Denmark | KelsenBisca | Mariekiks |
 Ecuador | Nestlé Ecuador S.A. | María |
 Egypt | Biscomisr | Marie |
 Finland | Kantolan (Made in the Netherlands for Orkla Confectionary & Snacks Finland) | Kulta Marie |
 Germany | Patisserie Gunz | Maria |
 Hong Kong | The Garden Company Limited | Marie Biscuits |
 India | Disha Foods | Treff |
| Bonn Food Industries | Mariebon | |
| Britannia Industries | Marie Gold, Vita Marie | |
| Parle Products | Marie | |
| ITC Limited | Marie Light | |
| DK Bakings Kolkata | Nutribake Morning Marie | |
 Indonesia | CV Jaya Abadi | Marie Regal Biscuits[6] |
| Mayora | Roma Marie Susu | |
 Ireland | Jacob's | Marietta |
 Japan | Morinaga & Company | Marie (マリー)[7] |
 Jordan | Universal Industries Co. Ltd. Zalloum Group | Marie or ماري |
 Kenya | Manji Food Industries Ltd. | Marie |
 Kuwait | Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Co. | Marie ماري |
 Libya | Muhab Food Co. Benghazi | Marie Biscuits |
 Lebanon | Ghandour Food | Marie Biscuits, Lucky 555 |
 Malaysia | Hup Seng Perusahaan Makanan (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Ping Pong Marie |
| Hwa Tai Industries Bhd. | Hwa Tai Marie | |
| Munchy Food Industries Sdn. Bhd. | Munchy's Marie | |
| Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Julie's Marie | |
 Mauritius | Esko & Co ltd. | Marie |
 Mexico | Gamesa, Goya | Marias |
 Norway | First Price (NorgesGruppen) | Mariekjeks |
| Sætre AS | Marie | |
 Netherlands | Pally Holland | Mariakaakje |
| Verkade | Maria | |
 Panama | Productos Alimenticios Pascual S. A. | Maria |
 Pakistan | English Biscuit Manufacturers | Peek Freans |
 Philippines | Republic Biscuit Corporation | Marie, Marie Time, Marie Munch, Marie Gold[8] |
 Portugal | Cuétara, Moaçor, Triunfo, Vieira de Castro | Bolacha Maria, Bolacha Maria Oro |
 Saudi Arabia | United Food Industries Corp. Ltd. Co. | DeemaH Marie |
 Singapore | Khong Guan Biscuit Factory (S) Pte. Ltd. | Marie Biscuits, Small Marie Biscuits |
 South Africa | Bakers Blue Label | Marie Biscuits, Cappuccino Marie Biscuits |
| Baumann's | Marie Biscuits | |
 Spain | Gullón | María Leche, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada |
| Grupo Siro | María Clásica, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada, Mini María | |
| Cuétara | María, María Oro, María Hojaldrada | |
| Fontaneda (Mondelēz International) | La Buena María | |
| Marbú (Artiach) | Marbú Dorada | |
 Sri Lanka | CBL (Munchee) | Tikiri Marie, Marie Light, Rice Marie, Chocolate Marie[9] |
| Cargills (Ceylon) PLC | Kist Marie[10] | |
| Daintee Ltd | Daintee Marie[11] | |
| Luckyland | Luckyland Marie | |
| Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited | Gold Marie, Light Marie, Chocolate Marie, Premium Marie[12] | |
| Manchester Foods Pvt Ltd (Bisma) | Ceylon Marie | |
 Sweden | Göteborgs Kex | Guld Marie |
 Syria | Katalina Foods | |
 Thailand | Laemthong Food Industries Co. Ltd. | Laemthong Marie |
 Turkey | Şimşek Biscuits & Foods | Gorona |
| ANI Biscuits & Foods | Marie | |
 Ukraine | Zhytomyr Confectionary Factory ZhL | Mariya (Марія) |
| Yarych Confectionary Factory | Mariya (Марія) | |
| Kharkiv Biscuit Factory | Mariya (Марія) | |
 United Kingdom | Crawford's | Marie |
| McVitie's | Marie | |
 United States | Iberia, Goya | Maria cookies |
 Uruguay | Kraft Foods | Maria de Famosa |
| El Trigal | Maria Rika | |
 Venezuela | C.A. Sucesora de Jose Puig & CIA | Maria Puig |
 Vietnam | Kinh Do Corporation | Cosy Marie |
 Zimbabwe | Lebena | Marie |
| Lobels | Marie | |
| Arenel | Marie |
References
- James Panton (24 February 2011). Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy. Scarecrow Press. pp. 40–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7497-8.
- Sean O'Grady (20 March 2010). "Minor British Institutions: The Marie biscuit". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- "2 Boxes of Classic Maria Cookies by Cuetara". La Tienda. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
- "Marie biscuit, a simple pleasure that rules the world". Biscuit People. 24 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Marie biscuits". Biscuit People. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "About Marie Regal". CV Jaya Abadi. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Simple Biscuit Life". Morinaga & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Our Brands". Rebisco. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Marie". Ceylon Biscuits Limited. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Kist Biscuits". Cargills (Ceylon) PLC. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Daintee Biscuits & Wafer Products". Daintee Limited. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Premium Marie". Maliban Biscuit. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
External links
- Biscuit of the Week, a review at Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down
- Review of Maria Cookies, reviews of various international brands
- Photos of Marie biscuits from various countries