A Marie biscuit is a type of biscuit similar to a rich tea biscuit. It is also known (in various languages) as María, Mariebon and Marietta, amongst other names.
Description The biscuit is round and usually has the name embossed upon its top surface, the edges of which are also embossed with an intricate design. It is made with wheat flour, sugar, palm oil or sunflower seed oil and, unlike the rich tea biscuit, is typically vanilla-flavoured.
History The Marie biscuit was created by the London bakery Peek Freans in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh. It became popular throughout Europe, particularly in Portugal and Spain where, following the Civil War, the biscuit became a symbol of the country's economic recovery after bakeries produced mass quantities to consume a surplus of wheat. Marie biscuits became popular in South Africa and Namibia after going into production by Bakers Biscuits in 1898.
Consumption
Many consider that the plain flavour of Maries makes them, like rich tea biscuits, particularly suitable for dunking in tea. Other popular methods of consuming the biscuit include using two to make a sandwich with butter and Marmite or condensed milk spread in between; covering it with golden syrup; or crumbling it up in custard and jelly (gelatin dessert). Marie biscuits are also a common ingredient in home-baking recipes.
In Spain, natillas custard is typically served with a Maria biscuit on top. They are also an essential component of the Portuguese dessert known as serradura. In Uruguay, they are served filled with dulce de leche and sprinkled with shredded coconut. In Brazil, they are soaked in milk and then stacked in layers of chocolate and vanilla-flavoured custard cream, with whipped cream and crushed cashew nuts on top to make pavê, a popular Brazilian dessert. In Ireland, the biscuits are known as Marietta and manufactured by Jacob's. In Malaysia, people use them mainly for making batik cake. In India, they are commonly eaten plain with tea or sold in bakeries after coating with chocolate and wrapped in foil.
Manufacturers
The major international manufacturers (initially sorted by country name): Country/Region Producer Brands Arcor Maná Arcor Vocación Arnott's Biscuits Holdings Marie Slodych, confectionery factory Marierta Confectionary Factory Spartak Mariya (Мария) Delacre Maria La Suprema María Bonita Fábrica Fortaleza Maria Piraquê Maria Richester Maria Vitarella Maria President's Choice Maria Pozuelo Maria KelsenBisca Mariekiks Nestlé Ecuador S.A. María Biscomisr Marie Kantolan (Made in Latvia for Orkla Suomi Finland Oy Ab) Kulta Marie Patisserie Gunz Maria The Garden Company Limited Marie Biscuits Disha Foods Treff Bonn Food Industries Mariebon Britannia Industries Marie Gold, Vita Marie Parle Products Marie ITC Limited Marie Light DK Bakings Kolkata Nutribake Morning Marie CV Jaya Abadi Marie Regal Biscuits Mayora Roma Marie Gold, Roma Marie Susu Jacob's Marietta Morinaga & Company Marie (マリー) Universal Industries Co. Ltd. Zalloum Group Marie or ماري Manji Food Industries Ltd. Marie Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Co. Marie ماري Muhab Food Co. Benghazi Marie Biscuits Ghandour Food Marie Biscuits, Lucky 555 Hup Seng Perusahaan Makanan (M) Sdn. Bhd. Ping Pong Marie Hwa Tai Industries Bhd. Hwa Tai Marie Munchy Food Industries Sdn. Bhd. Munchy's Marie Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn. Bhd. Julie's Marie Esko & Co ltd. Marie Gamesa Galletas Maria Goya Marias First Price (NorgesGruppen) Mariekjeks AS Marie Pally Holland Mariakaakje, Marie Verkade Maria Productos Alimenticios Pascual S. A. Maria English Biscuit Manufacturers Marie Comfoods Fibisco Marie Biscuits Rebisco Marie Biscuit, Marie Time, Marie Munch, Marie Gold Cuétara, Moaçor, Triunfo, Vieira de Castro Bolacha Maria, Bolacha Maria Oro United Food Industries Corp. Ltd. Co. DeemaH Marie Khong Guan Biscuit Factory (S) Pte. Ltd. Marie Biscuits, Small Marie Biscuits Bakers Blue Label Marie Biscuits, Cappuccino Marie Biscuits Baumann's Marie Biscuits Casa-Mia Traditional Marie, Marie Toffee Bisco Plus Henro Marie Continental Brands Risi Marie, Risi Petit Marie, Cuétara Maria Cookie 0% Unity Food Products Marie Gullón María Leche, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada Grupo Siro María Clásica, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada, Mini María Cuétara María, María Oro, María Hojaldrada Fontaneda (Mondelez International) La Buena María Marbú (Artiach) Marbú Dorada CBL (Munchee) Tikiri Marie, Marie Light, Rice Marie, Chocolate Marie Cargills (Ceylon) PLC Kist Marie Daintee Ltd Daintee Marie Luckyland Luckyland Marie Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited Gold Marie, Light Marie, Chocolate Marie, Premium Marie Manchester Foods Pvt Ltd (Bisma) Ceylon Marie Orion Marie Guld Marie Katalina Foods Laemthong Food Industries Co. Ltd. Laemthong Marie Biscuits & Foods Gorona Biscuits & Foods Marie Zhytomyr Confectionary Factory ZhL Mariya (Марія) Yarych Confectionary Factory Mariya (Марія) Kharkiv Biscuit Factory Mariya (Марія) Crawford's Marie McVitie's Marie Iberia, Goya Maria cookies Kraft Foods Maria de Famosa El Trigal Maria Rika C.A. Sucesora de Jose Puig & CIA Maria Puig Kinh Do Corporation Cosy MarieYemen Company for Industry and CommerceMarie Lebena Marie Lobels Marie Arenel Marie
References
External links Biscuit of the Week, a review at Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down Review of Maria Cookies, reviews of various international brands Photos of Marie biscuits from various countries