Marie biscuit facts for kids
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| Type | Biscuit |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| 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 |
A Marie biscuit is a simple, round, and slightly sweet biscuit. It's a popular snack around the world, known by different names like María or Marietta. These biscuits are often eaten with tea or used in many delicious desserts.
Contents
What is a Marie Biscuit?
A Marie biscuit is round and usually has its name pressed into the top. The edges often have a fancy design. It's made from wheat flour, sugar, and palm oil or sunflower seed oil. Unlike some other plain biscuits, it usually has a nice vanilla flavour.
The History of Marie Biscuits
How the Marie Biscuit Began
The first Marie biscuit was made in London by a bakery called Peek Freans. This happened in 1874. It was created to celebrate a special event: the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Marie Biscuits Around the World
These biscuits quickly became very popular across Europe. They were especially loved in Portugal and Spain. After the Spanish Civil War, Marie biscuits became a symbol of Spain's recovery. Bakeries made huge amounts of them to use up extra wheat. This helped the country's economy get back on track. Marie biscuits also became popular in South Africa, where they have been made by Bakers Biscuits since 1898.
Fun Ways to Eat Marie Biscuits
Many people think Marie biscuits are perfect for dunking in tea. Their plain flavour makes them great for soaking up drinks. Here are some other popular ways to enjoy them:
- Make a sandwich: Use two biscuits with butter and Marmite or condensed milk spread in between.
- Add golden syrup: Cover a biscuit with this sweet syrup.
- Crumble them: Break them up into custard and jelly (a gelatin dessert).
Marie biscuits are often given to children. Babies sometimes eat them softened in milk as one of their first solid foods. They are also a common ingredient in many home-baking recipes. In India, people love to dunk Marie biscuits in hot tea.
Marie Biscuits in Different Countries
- In Spain, a dessert called natillas (a type of custard) often has a Maria biscuit placed on top.
- In Uruguay, Marie biscuits are filled with sweet dulce de leche and sprinkled with shredded coconut.
- In Brazil, they are used to make pavê, a popular dessert. The biscuits are soaked in milk, then layered with chocolate and vanilla custard, whipped cream, and crushed cashew nuts.
- In Ireland, these biscuits are known as Marietta and are made by Jacob's.
- In Malaysia, Marie biscuits are mainly used to make a special dessert called batik cake.
Who Makes Marie Biscuits?
Many companies around the world make Marie biscuits. Here are some of the major manufacturers and their brands:
| Country/Region | Producer | Brands |
|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Arcor | Maná, Vocación |
 Australia |
Arnott's Biscuits Holdings | Marie |
 Belarus |
Slodych, confectionery factory, Confectionary Factory Spartak | Marierta, Mariya (Мария) |
 Belgium |
Delacre | Maria |
 Bolivia |
La Suprema | María Bonita |
 Brazil |
Fábrica Fortaleza, Piraquê, Richester, Vitarella | Maria |
 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, Bonn Food Industries, Britannia Industries, Parle Products, ITC Limited, DK Bakings Kolkata | Treff, Mariebon, Marie Gold, Vita Marie, Marie Light, Nutribake Morning Marie |
 Indonesia |
CV Jaya Abadi, Mayora | Marie Regal Biscuits, Roma Marie Gold, Roma Marie Susu |
 Ireland |
Jacob's | Marietta |
 Japan |
Morinaga & Company | Marie (マリー) |
 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., Hwa Tai Industries Bhd., Munchy Food Industries Sdn. Bhd., Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Ping Pong Marie, Hwa Tai Marie, Munchy's Marie, Julie's Marie |
 Mauritius |
Esko & Co ltd. | Marie |
 Mexico |
Gamesa, Goya | Galletas Maria, Marias |
 Norway |
First Price (NorgesGruppen), Sætre AS | Mariekjeks, Marie |
 Netherlands |
Pally Holland, Verkade | Mariakaakje, 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 |
 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, Baumann's | Marie Biscuits, Cappuccino Marie Biscuits |
 Spain |
Gullón, Grupo Siro, Cuétara, Fontaneda (Mondelēz International), Marbú (Artiach) | María Leche, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada, María Clásica, Mini María, María Oro, La Buena María, Marbú Dorada |
 Sri Lanka |
CBL (Munchee), Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, Daintee Ltd, Luckyland, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited, Manchester Foods Pvt Ltd (Bisma) | Tikiri Marie, Marie Light, Rice Marie, Chocolate Marie, Kist Marie, Daintee Marie, Luckyland Marie, Gold Marie, Premium Marie, Ceylon Marie |
 Sweden |
Göteborgs Kex | Guld Marie |
 Syria |
Katalina Foods | |
 Thailand |
Laemthong Food Industries Co. Ltd. | Laemthong Marie |
 Turkey |
Şimşek Biscuits & Foods, ANI Biscuits & Foods | Gorona, Marie |
 Ukraine |
Zhytomyr Confectionary Factory ZhL, Yarych Confectionary Factory, Kharkiv Biscuit Factory | Mariya (Марія) |
 United Kingdom |
Crawford's, McVitie's | Marie |
 United States |
Iberia, Goya | Maria cookies |
 Uruguay |
Kraft Foods, El Trigal | Maria de Famosa, Maria Rika |
 Venezuela |
C.A. Sucesora de Jose Puig & CIA | Maria Puig |
 Vietnam |
Kinh Do Corporation | Cosy Marie |
 Yemen |
Yemen Company for Industry and Commerce | Marie |
 Zimbabwe |
Lebena, Lobels, Arenel | Marie |
See also
In Spanish: Galleta maría para niños
