Britain's favorite biscuit is overwhelmingly the Chocolate Digestive, consistently topping polls as the nation's top choice, followed closely by classics like Shortbread, Custard Creams, Jaffa Cakes, and Bourbons, though preferences can vary slightly by survey.
Top 5 Biscuit Types by UK Consumption and Consumer Favourites
Parle-G has been recognized by Nielsen as the world's largest selling biscuit brand by volume, with billions of packets sold annually. Its dominance is especially strong in India, where it commands a significant share of the biscuit market.
Magazine, private chef to the Queen for 11 years, Darren McGrady revealed the late Queen's favourite biscuits: "When I was there… Chocolate Bath Olivers." He also revealed: "She is absolutely a chocoholic. Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie."
The Definitive British Biscuit Ranking (According to an American)
Aberffraw Traditional Biscuits. These 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. The Great Taste Award winning biscuits are made with a 12 months shelf life.
A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)
A British biscuit is not remotely similar to the fluffy and filling American biscuits made famous in Southern American cuisine. The closest British equivalent to those buttery miracles is a scone, which ain't too bad either.
According to Hello!, Chef Darren Watson said he learned from his research that Princess Kate's favorite sweet treat is sticky toffee pudding, which Prince William verified and said, "Very good." Kate's favorite dessert is a timeless classic—a traditional British treat that can be relatively easy to make.
Walkers Shortbread
Walkers Shortbread rounds takes the title for worst biscuit for saturated fat in our healthiest biscuits round-up, plus they're high in calories and fat overall. Jane adds: "As one biscuit is 93 calories, if you are dieting these aren't the best option as you would probably could only have one."
Princess Diana's favorite chocolate was the Cadbury Twirl, a milk chocolate bar with a unique texture of chocolate curls, often found hidden in her car's glove compartment by her former royal chef, Darren McGrady, who called them her "real weakness". While she also enjoyed other treats, like Drifter bars and Time Outs, the Twirl was a particular favorite indulgence, according to McGrady's accounts.
Best Biscuits in the World
Parle-G biscuits were called Parle Gluco Biscuits until the 1980s. The "G" in the name Parle-G originally stood for "Glucose", though a later brand slogan also stated "G for Genius".
The United Kingdom took the lead in biscuit consumption in 2021, with 2.5 billion kilograms. Spain, Italy and France followed in second, third and fourth place respectively.
McVitie's are set to roll out their deliciously decadant take on one of the nation's favourite treats, the chocolate digestive, to an audience in Kent this weekend. Made from ingredients worth £50.79, the "Golden Di-Festive", contains Alba White truffle, premium white chocolate, cream and a pinch of sea salt.
Parle-G is known as the world's highest-selling biscuit, with nearly 40 crore packets opened every single day. Its simple taste, low price, and long legacy have made it a household favourite for generations.
18 Popular British Biscuits, Ranked
10 delicious biscuits that meet the low sugar guidelines
There's no single "number 1" unhealthy food, but ultra-processed items like sugary drinks, processed meats (bacon, hot dogs), deep-fried foods (fries), and refined snacks (donuts, chips, sugary cereals) consistently top lists due to high sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives linked to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These items offer little nutritional value while increasing risks for chronic diseases.
Ragi Biscuits: These top biscuits for weight loss feature finger millet, abundant in minerals and fiber. They have complex carbs, which keep you full and energized. Ragi biscuits are a healthier option compared to regular biscuits because they have less sugar and fat.
Her Majesty made a point of sharing that it was "bitter" chocolate ice cream that she enjoys the most and this makes sense given her ideal accompaniments.
Yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in the same bed, often with their dog Orla, a revelation Prince William shared, highlighting a more modern, relatable approach to royal life compared to past generations who sometimes used separate beds for status or privacy. While they have separate bedrooms for some downtime and might use separate beds when traveling on the royal train due to its layout, their usual arrangement at home is together, with their dog as a regular bedfellow.
Princess Diana's favourite dish
"When she loved it, Princess Diana was eating salmon two or three times a week, and it was tough for me to keep coming up with different dishes so it wasn't just grilled salmon every day,” McGrady explained in the video. “This was probably one of her favorites.”
In British and Irish cuisine, as well as in the cuisines of Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the word gravy refers only to the meat-based sauce derived from meat juices, stock cubes or gravy granules. Use of the word "gravy" does not include other thickened sauces.
While modern day dunking has its origins in 16th century naval history, it wasn't until the 19th century and the emergence of afternoon tea in the early Victorian era that Great Britain began to regard biscuits as something to be dunked in tea, a British custom that was later exported around the globe.
In the UK are Oreos called biscuits then, or just "Oreos". They are more like a custard cream or bourbon biscuit, but are as American as anything and no American would demare call an Oreo a biscuit.