Episode 1: Marie Biscuit

In our podcast's 1st episode, Jos Vast & Jacob van Kogelenberg, two biscuit experts, discuss the Marie Biscuit - a household name and cult classic in the biscuit world.

As a staple since 1874, the Marie Biscuit was the industry standard before the Oreo's arrival.

"Before Oreo entered the market, Marie was one of the biggest standards in biscuit manufacturing meaning everyone had a goal to make a simple biscuit that should look like Marie biscuit", said Jos.

However, is the Marie Biscuit still the same as it was 50 years ago? The answer is no. With the mass production of these biscuits, there have been changes to the recipe and the manufacturing process.

Palm oil, glucose syrup, and whey permeate are now commonly used. Ammonia carbonate, an ingredient that extends the shelf life, is no longer popular due to its harmful nitrogen emissions during production.

“They developed this biscuit in such a way that we have a strong dough, and a strong dough means that we are trying to develop gluten but still having enough fat and sugar to be tasteful”, said Jos.

The main goal of these types of biscuits is to not fall apart when dipping them into either milk or tea, that is where the dough becomes the key ingredient of the biscuit.

“In the crisis of supplying materials, nitrogen is one of the key issues,” added Jacob.

The manufacturing process and ingredients have evolved due to the sheer volume of production. Even with the traditional recipe, manufacturers aim to produce 400 packs per minute. The color consistency and texture are significant challenges due to the equipment used and the experience of the staff.

Packaging is crucial in maintaining the biscuit's freshness and texture. The traditional packaging works well and is convenient, keeping the biscuit fresh.

"What I like about this packaging is that it is very traditional. It’s convenient and it works”, said Jacob.

If you want to learn more about the evolution of the Marie Biscuit and the challenges faced by manufacturers in producing this household staple, check out our first podcast episode!

Our guests provide insights into the biscuit-making process, sensory analysis, and the changes in ingredients and production methods.

Tune in to the podcast to learn more about The Marie Biscuit and the fascinating world of biscuit manufacturing!