Brewing up a cup of tea is an essential part of a relaxing day, but it can quickly become frustrating if your biscuit ruins it! We've all had that moment when our rich tea crumbles away in the mug or our digestive disintegrates after just a few seconds of dunk. But never fear, science is here to save the day!
Researchers at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff have tested four common biscuits -- shorties, Rich Teas, Digestives and oat biscuits -- to discover which one is most suitable for dunking. They put each biscuit through its paces with a standard cup of tea containing 40 ml of water and measured results across six tests.
The oat biscuit came out on top as the most reliable dunking companion, losing only 15% of its crunchiness after being immersed in the tea. It also took 34 seconds to break apart when lifted from the mug. Rich Teas were found to be the worst across all six tests, with three penalty points for crumbling before it was even lifted out. A digestive was second best, but lost 22% of its crunchiness after being dunked.
So if you want a biscuit that stays in one piece and provides a good crunch, an oat biscuit like Hobnob is your best choice. This study shows us not only why enjoying a cup of tea should be encouraged -- it can also improve the mood and performance of healthcare workers -- but also how to make sure that tea break is as perfect as possible. So put on the kettle and get dunking!
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