The Century-old Conundrum

Anthony Coulson,general manager at McVitie’s chocolate refinery and bakery in Stockport,England,suggests that the correct way to eat the iconic biscuit is with the chocolate side facing down. The Stockport factory opened in 1917 and has been producing chocolate digestives since 1925.

“It’s the world’s most amazing debate, whether you have the chocolate on the top or the chocolate on the bottom,” said Coulson, who personally prefers to eat his digestives with the chocolate on top. McVitie’s sells more than 70 million packs each year, so there are a lot of people with a preferred orientation.

A Biscuit’s History: From Scotland to Global Phenomenon

McVitie’s, which started as a small shop on Edinburgh’s Rose Street in 1839, developed the recipe for its digestive biscuits in 1892. Alexander Grant, an employee, is credited with the recipe. The name “digestive” came from the belief that baking powder could aid digestion, as highlighted in an 1851 issue of The Lancet medical journal. McVitie’s introduced the chocolate digestive more than a quarter of a century later.

Not the First Flip-Flop

This isn’t the first time McVitie’s has stirred the pot regarding how its iconic biscuit is consumed. In 2014,an email purportedly from a United Biscuits spokesperson circulated on social media,stating: “For your details … the biscuits go through a reservoir of chocolate which enrobes them so the chocolate is actually on the bottom of the biscuits and not on the top.”

At the time, a McVitie’s spokesperson told news outlets that “The McVitie’s stamp is on the other side, which is the top of the biscuit.”

American Biscuit Preferences and the Digestive’s Place

In the United States, the chocolate digestive faces stiff competition from other beloved cookies like Oreos, Chips Ahoy!, and various regional favorites. However, the McVitie’s biscuit has carved out a niche following among Anglophiles, expatriates, and those seeking a less intensely sweet treat. While specific sales figures for chocolate digestives in the U.S. are not publicly available, anecdotal evidence suggests a growing interest in international snack foods.

The debate over the “correct” way to eat a chocolate digestive highlights the subjective nature of culinary enjoyment. While Coulson suggests chocolate-down, ultimately, personal preference reigns supreme, and American consumers are free to enjoy their biscuits however they please.

Beyond Taste: The Cultural Significance

The enduring popularity of the chocolate digestive speaks to the broader cultural significance of biscuits and cookies as comfort foods and symbols of home. For many, the ritual of enjoying a biscuit with a cup of tea or coffee is a cherished tradition, regardless of which side the chocolate faces.

As Lynn Loftus, who has worked at the Stockport factory for 36 years, puts it, the biscuit is “timeless.” Alix Knagg, who has worked there for six months, agrees that the chocolate digestive is “still a great product 100 years on”.

The Counterargument: Does It Realy Matter?

While McVitie’s playful suggestion has generated buzz,some argue that the “correct” way to eat a chocolate digestive is simply the way that brings the most enjoyment. For many, the textural contrast between the smooth chocolate and the slightly crumbly biscuit is enhanced by having the chocolate on the tongue first. Others may prefer the biscuit side down to better control the melting chocolate. Ultimately, there’s no definitive answer, and the debate remains a lighthearted matter of personal taste.

FAQ: Chocolate Digestive Dilemmas, Answered