Abernethy biscuit facts for kids
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Created by | John Abernethy |
| Main ingredients | Hardtack, sugar, caraway seeds |
The Abernethy biscuit is a special kind of biscuit (like a cookie) that was invented a long time ago. It was created in the 1700s by a doctor named John Abernethy. He designed it to help people with their digestion and stay healthy.
Contents
Why the Abernethy Biscuit Was Invented
Dr. Abernethy believed that many health problems came from issues with digestion. So, he wanted to create a food that would help. The Abernethy biscuit is a type of digestive biscuit. These biscuits were first made to support healthy digestion.
Dr. Abernethy wasn't the only one thinking this way! Other doctors also created special biscuits. For example, William Oliver from England made the Bath Oliver biscuit. And in America, a nutrition expert named Sylvester Graham created the Graham cracker.
What's in an Abernethy Biscuit?
The Abernethy biscuit is a bit like a plain "captain's biscuit" or hardtack, which is a very simple, hard biscuit. But Dr. Abernethy added some extra ingredients to make it better for digestion.
- Sugar: This was added to give people energy.
- Caraway seeds: These seeds were included because they were thought to help prevent gas and bloating. This effect is called "carminative."
The biscuit itself is a mix between a butter biscuit and a shortcake. It gets its light texture from a special ingredient called ammonium bicarbonate, which helps it rise when baked. The story goes that a baker at a shop where Dr. Abernethy often ate lunch helped him create this new biscuit. The baker then named it after him!
Where are Abernethy Biscuits Popular Today?
Even today, Abernethy biscuits are still quite popular, especially in Scotland. Several bakeries there make them. Some of these include Simmers in Edinburgh, Browns Bakery in the Orkney Islands, Walls Bakeries in the Shetland Islands, and Stag Bakeries on the Isle of Lewis.
Ingredients You Might Find
Here are some ingredients often used to make Abernethy biscuits:
- Plain flour
- Caster sugar (or granulated sugar)
- Butter
- Baking powder
- Caraway seeds
- Milk
- Egg
- Salt
The Biscuit in History
The Abernethy biscuit has appeared in some interesting historical moments and stories:
- In the 1840s, a famous British politician named William Gladstone was a government official. His lunch often included just one Abernethy biscuit, brought to him by his wife!
- In a funny opera called Princess Toto (written in 1876 by W. S. Gilbert), the king pretends to be an Abernethy Biscuit!
- In Charles Dickens' first novel, The Pickwick Papers, a character named Mr. Solomon Pell is described eating an Abernethy biscuit along with a saveloy (a type of sausage).
