For many Brits, a cup of tea just isn’t complete without a delicious biscuit to dunk in it.
But if your go–to is a Gingernut, Custard Cream, or Chocolate Digestive, we have bad news for you.
These treats have been deemed the worst biscuits for dunking in a new taste test.
For the test, experts from Buzz Bingo analysed the durability of 10 popular biscuits when dunked into cups of tea with both semi–skimmed cow’s milk and oat milk.
Their analysis revealed that the shortbread biscuit reigns supreme when it comes to dunkability.
This classic kept its form for 4 minutes 56 seconds after a dunk in the semi–skimmed cuppa, and a whopping 5 minutes 30 seconds after the oat milk version.
‘The results of our study show that the nation’s favourite biscuits and classic dunkers are actually not the most durable for dunking!’ said Mark Fletcher, Head of Brand at Buzz Bingo.
‘Even jaffa cakes were able to hold together longer than the go–to digestives, custard creams and hobnobs.’
For the test, experts from Buzz Bingo analysed the durability of 10 popular biscuits when dunked into cups of tea with both semi–skimmed cow’s milk and oat milk
For the study, the researchers tested the durability of 10 of the UK’s favourite biscuits.
Two of each biscuit was included in the test – one dunked into a cup of tea with semi–skimmed milk, and the other into a cup of tea with oat milk.
As soon as the biscuit had been dunked, the timer was started, to check how long it kept its form.
Across the board, using oat milk meant that biscuits lasted an average of 45 seconds longer before breaking.
For example, Pink Wafers kept their form for five minutes in oat milk, compared to just 3 minutes 3 seconds in semi–skimmed.
However, the most significant change for oat milk came from Chocolate Malted Milks.
These lasted an impressive 161 seconds longer when dunked in an oat milk cup of tea, as opposed to cow’s milk.
Unfortunately, several fan favourites didn’t fare well in either beverage.
For the study, the researchers tested the durability of 10 of the UK’s favourite biscuits (stock image)
Gingernuts disintegrated the most quickly (34 seconds in both drinks), ahead of Custard Creams (36 seconds in cow’s milk and 45 seconds in oat milk), and Chocolate Digestives (39 seconds in cow’s milk and 41 seconds in oat milk).
The news comes shortly after scientists from Oxford University revealed the perfect way to eat a Chocolate Digestive.
According to the experts, you should pick up the biscuits with the chocolate side up, but flip them over before eating them.
This allows the brain to register the chocolate coating, while flipping them before eating maximises the ‘oral–somatosensory experience’ of the chocolate melting on the tongue.
‘Which side up a half–coated chocolate biscuit should be eaten is a topic that’s been hotly debated, which is why we wanted to get to the bottom of the million dollar question,’ said Professor Charles Spence.
‘My research suggested that whilst there are merits in both ways, holding the biscuit chocolate side up first to maximise the visual experience and then switching it over as the biscuit is brought toward the mouth provides the best multi–sensory experience.’
The best way to eat a Chocolate Digestive biscuit
1. Remove the biscuit from the packet at room temperature
2. Bring it towards your mouth with the chocolate side facing up
3. As you go to take a bite, turn the biscuit over so the chocolate is facing down
4. Take a substantial bite with the chocolate directly hitting the tongue first
5. If you’re by yourself, eat initially with the mouth open to hear the crunching of the biscuit which makes the taste sensation more memorable
6. Chew slowly after the first few mouthfuls to maximise the full taste experience
