Discover the surprising truth about how to enjoy chocolate digestives, a beloved treat that has been debated for nearly a century.
The Great Chocolate Digestive Debate: Separating Fact from Fiction
About 80 million packets of McVitie’s chocolate digestives are made each year at their factories across Stockport and London. While it may seem like a trivial matter, the debate over whether to eat them with the chocolate on top or bottom has been raging for nearly a century.
The Origins of a Timeless Treat
The factory opened in 1917, with the chocolate digestive launched eight years later. The plain variety, which was inspired by the baking powder in the recipe, was meant to be eaten as is, while the ‘chocolate-coated version’ was designed to be enjoyed with the chocolate side facing down. However, it appears that over time, people have developed a habit of eating them incorrectly.
McVitie's is a British biscuit manufacturer founded in 1830 by William McVitie.
The company started as a bakery in Scotland and quickly gained popularity for its high-quality biscuits.
In the early 20th century, McVitie's introduced its iconic Digestive biscuit, which remains one of the brand's best-selling products.
Today, McVitie's is part of the Pladis group and operates globally with a wide range of biscuit brands.
A Simple yet Misunderstood Process
According to McVitie’s manager Anthony Coulson, the plain biscuits pass through a ‘chocolate reservoir’ where the chocolate coats the underside of it. This means that technically, the correct way to eat a chocolate digestive is with the chocolate side facing down. Mr. Coulson admits that he is a chocolate-on-top man himself, but emphasizes that it makes sense to eat them the other way around.
A Legacy of Quality
Despite the debate over how to enjoy them, McVitie’s has remained committed to producing high-quality biscuits. Lynn Loftus, who has worked at the factory for 36 years, calls the chocolate digestive a ‘timeless’ product that will continue to be popular for many years to come. Craig Leech, who started working there 21 years ago, agrees that it is still a great product despite the controversy surrounding its consumption.
A Product of Its Time
The chocolate digestive was launched during a time when traditional medicine believed that baking powder could help with digestion. The name ‘digestive’ was chosen to reflect this supposed health benefit. While the idea behind the biscuit may have been rooted in ‘pseudoscience’, it remains a beloved treat for many people around the world.
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