While many countries have famous biscuits, the United Kingdom (Britain) is particularly famous for its biscuit culture, leading global consumption and having iconic varieties like the Digestive and shortbread, deeply tied to tea-drinking. Italy, Australia, and Germany also boast strong biscuit traditions with unique regional specialties, such as Italian biscotti or German Pfeffernüsse.
But as tea became entrenched in the British social scene, biscuits became an integral part of a new ritual, which would eventually become known as afternoon tea. The 18th century also saw the development of two biscuits which would become larder staples in Britain: savoys and ratifias.
15 biscuits from around the world
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.
In 2008, Natchez Mississippi was named the Biscuit Capital of the World, a title they claimed themselves after extensive research to make sure they were the only ones to be the Biscuit capital, and to justify the distinction.
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.
The ancient Egyptians, for instance, cooked up flat brittle loaves made of an old grain called millet. Later, the Romans created the first example of what we would consider a more modern idea of a biscuit. They spread wheat flour paste over a plate and then left it to dry and harden.
Cookies appear to have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain.
The "top 10 biscuits" list varies by region, but Arnott's Tim Tam Original is often #1 in Australia, alongside popular savory Shapes (Barbecue, Chicken Crimpy), sweet Monte Carlo, and crackers like Jatz & Salada, with the UK favoring Shortbread, Biscoff, and Oreos, while global lists feature Oreo, Fig Rolls, and Hobnobs}. Classic favorites globally include shortbread, chocolate-covered biscuits (like Hobnobs), and cream-filled options (like Bourbons), often enjoyed with tea or coffee.
Biscuits are eaten worldwide by people from many cultures. In British culture, the digestive biscuit and rich tea biscuit are the traditional accompaniment to a cup of tea and are regularly eaten as such.
The Best Store-Bought Frozen Biscuits, Ranked
Chef Regina Charboneau, has been named Queen of Biscuits from the New York Times to the Travel Channel with Andrew Zimmern and most recently the Hallmark Channel.
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.
Australia's most popular biscuit is overwhelmingly the Tim Tam Original, an iconic chocolate-coated biscuit that consistently tops sales charts and household favorites, followed closely by savory Shapes crackers (like Barbecue and Chicken Crimpy) and other classics like Jatz and Mint Slice, according to Arnott's sales data.
France. France is widely regarded as the birthplace of modern pastry. Precision, artistry, and technique define its world-class reputation. From croissants and mille-feuille to eclairs and the Paris-Brest, French pastry chefs have turned baking into a fine art, inspiring professionals across the globe.
The history of one of America's earliest and most iconic baked goods actually begins in Europe. The word biscuit comes from the Latin “biscotus,” which means twice-baked, and in medieval times probably resembled what we now know as biscotti.
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."
The UK eats a whopping 382 million biscuits every single day. That's a lot of dunking going on. What's your favourite biscuit to eat when you need a quick break?
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. By the time you finish reading this fact, around 8,000 people across the world would have already eaten Parle-G.
The British “biscuit” is a flat and crispy pastry, ideal for applying decorations. The dough is stiff, perfect for cutting out different shapes, and less sweet than its American equivalent. The American “biscuit,” however, is a sweet, leavened bread similar to the British scone.
Argentina led the list with the highest consumption, with individuals averaging 12.44 kilograms annually.
Evolution: Most platforms show a warm, classic chocolate chip cookie. But fun fact — Samsung once used… saltine crackers 😅 (until 2018, when they joined the chocolate chip club). Usage Example: 📱 Text to a friend having a rough day: "Sending you virtual hugs and 🍪" Because sometimes, cookies speak louder than words.
On the other hand, what Brits consider to be “biscuits” Americans would probably call cookies or crackers. Typically flat in shape, they can be either sweet or savory, as long as they're crunchy (not chewy) in texture — and they are particularly delicious when dipped in a cup of tea.
The highest amount of production belongs to Germany within the EU countries. Germany is followed by Italy, the UK, Spain and France. At the same time, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Mexico are the most important exporter countries.
The Definitive British Biscuit Ranking (According to an American)