Dec 07, 2009 05:05 PM
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(Updated Dec 07, 2009 08:55 PM)
What is in Biscuit? - Does it sound to be "Latin"? Bis means Twice and Coctus means Baked. Hence “Biscotti” transformed to Biscuit. You may call it cookie, sweety / salty thin flour wafer etc. Just like the cast / creed, sects existing among human beings, you will come across blonde, dark, brown, salty, sour and sweet and another zillion varieties of biscuits across the globe.
At times, it carries the dollop of gooey and syrupy cream or at times it will manifest as in a raw form of baked flour without any taste or odour. It is a unique food item that will be served to you and your doggie. In short, there is a bit of biscuit in everyone’s life. When Roman Chef Apicus invented the forefather of the modern day biscuit, he might not have even thought of the metamorphic and cataclysmic mutation that is going to happen to his brain child.
Why 50-50
How to choose a biscuit? Well, answer is very simple. Choose what is good for you and do not worry much about the ingredients. Obsessive compulsive calorie consciousness could be a stumbling block while exploring variety but still some general principle I follow –
Diet Friendly
It shall not kill the appetite. Some biscuits can derail your metabolic activity that might trigger the acidic imbalance and finally you will skip your meal. Side effects and long term health hazards are many. As we are all having a unique biological system, trial and error is the best method to arrive at your decision. Anything carrying nut, cream, chocolate etc. could be detrimental to me.
Value for Money
Do not pay for the packing but for the content. You can spend Rs.110/- for the Honey and Oats Biscuit from Cafe Coffee Day and own the fancy cylindrical shaped tin. Well, it is not your main course or it is not vital or essential food and hence do choose the one which will offer you best and diet friendly product
Well, I got the answer in 1993. At first it was “Little Hearts” from Britannia came in pouch packs. It has got multiple utilities also like presenting a little heart to the girl next door can be the most docile way of expressing your puppy love. But again it melted so fast and the syrupy taste was not appealing for long. Well, still “Dil Sab ka actually sweet hai”
Finally I got acquainted with 50-50 from the same brand. It came in a simple and humble pack and never professed to offer anything more. It melts with a gentle speed but provide a taste that last for a while. We feel like having a biscuit but it never fill your stomach. You can have four to five but still have a peaceful life without acidity or vociferous burps.
Revolution in Cracker Family
There could be more reasons why this INR 5 pack of biscuit became my best packaged food for long. I had a couple of biscuits belonging to cracker family (50-50 is belonging to this variety of biscuits which is simple in composition, mostly flour, water and any sweetening agent. It is inexpensive and long lasting and is usually used by those who are engaged in expedition, military troop in action, sailors). All of them were good enough but in our country, the real revolution happened when a value added cracker product is introduced which appeals to mass. In a way, this product silently eradicated the stigma associated with an “inexpensive” product. No wonder, they still hold one third of the market share in this segment in the country
Product Stability
Of course, they have ventured into a niche market of hardtack variety which is considered to be down market. But for the last sixteen years, this is one product where in the company did not have to venture into product modification or marketing strategy. In the year 2001, they have come up with the first variant “Maska Chaska” and even this was widely accepted. Again, it is not a major variation from the existing vintage product. Here you can find the “cracker” having some features of “cookie”
Taste
I tried to read the ingredients description in the packet and came to know that they used to add sesame seed and pepper along with sweetening agent, diary components etc. It melts so soon but still in a moment’s time, you will get to feel the sweet, salt and the taste of some herb (that is filling the docking-hole of the biscuit). It is not like any other variety that offers a uniform taste. It is so gentle but distinct.
To sum up, you shall not be an analytical champion when it comes to choose a biscuit. At times, familiarity can breed contempt. It is like "know biscuit and no biscuit". But often the gut churns when we identify something unique and appealing. I am having a penchant towards earthy and simple stuffs and here I got this companion. So, what are you waiting for, let us have a cup of tea and cracker!
