Ah, the humble British snack. It’s a world away from the flashy, over-the-top treats our American cousins are used to, but that’s precisely what makes it special. Our snacks are steeped in history, packed with quirky flavours, and often come with a hefty dose of nostalgia. Every year at Christmas, I do a snack swap with one of my American buddies. We set ourselves a budget and send a big box full of snacks and cool stuff the other person can’t get easily in their country. It’s super fun! Although a lot of the American stuff I’ve tried is not pleasing to my English palate!
While the Americans might have their Twinkies and Cheetos, we’ve got a treasure trove of munchies that would make their taste buds dance a jig. From crisp sandwiches to tea-dunking biscuits, our snack game is strong, diverse, and downright delicious. So, grab a cuppa and join us as we explore 14 iconic British snacks that have our American friends green with envy.
Jaffa Cakes
Is it a cake? Is it a biscuit? The debate rages on, but one thing’s for sure – Jaffa Cakes are delicious. These circular treats consist of a sponge base, a layer of orange-flavoured jelly, and a coating of chocolate. They’re perfect for dunking in tea, if you’re quick enough to avoid a soggy disaster. In 1991, a VAT tribunal officially ruled that Jaffa Cakes are indeed cakes, not biscuits, due to their tendency to go hard when stale rather than soft like biscuits.
Monster Munch
These crunchy, monster-shaped corn snacks come in flavours that would make a Yank’s head spin. Pickled Onion, Roast Beef, and Flamin’ Hot are just a few of the options. They’re big, bold, and leave your fingers covered in flavourful dust – the hallmark of any great crisp. Each piece is shaped like a monster’s foot, complete with toes, adding a fun element to snacking.
Hobnobs
Hobnobs are the sturdy workhorses of the biscuit world. Made from oats and wheat flour, they’re robust enough to withstand multiple dunkings in your brew. The chocolate-covered variety adds an extra layer of indulgence, making them irresistible to biscuit lovers everywhere. Hobnobs were first introduced in 1985 and quickly became a national favourite, with over 1 billion consumed annually in the UK.
Twiglets
These knobbly, stick-shaped snacks are an acquired taste, but once you’re hooked, there’s no going back. Made from wheat flour and yeast extract, Twiglets have a distinctive Marmite-like flavour that’s both savoury and slightly bitter. They’re the perfect nibble for a night down the pub. Twiglets were originally created in 1929 by a Peek Freans employee as a way to use up leftover pastry dough.
Custard Creams
A true British classic, Custard Creams have been gracing tea tables since the 1900s. These sandwich biscuits feature a creamy, custard-flavoured filling between two ornately patterned biscuit layers. They’re a staple of office biscuit tins across the nation. The distinctive baroque-style design on the biscuit is said to have been inspired by Victorian era embroidery patterns.
Quavers
These curly, melt-in-your-mouth cheese-flavoured snacks are a lighter alternative to traditional crisps. Their unique texture and tangy taste make them a favourite among kids and adults alike. They’re so light, it’s easy to polish off a whole bag without realising it. Quavers were first introduced in 1968 and have remained largely unchanged since, though they’ve experimented with flavours like Prawn Cocktail and Salt & Vinegar over the years.
Jammie Dodgers
Named after the Beano comic book character Roger the Dodger, these shortbread biscuits with a jammie heart have been a teatime favourite since the 1960s. The combination of crumbly biscuit and sweet raspberry jam is simply irresistible. They’re perfect for dunking, if you can resist eating them straight out of the packet. In recent years, Jammie Dodgers have introduced seasonal varieties, including Lemon & Lime, Toffee, and Banoffee flavours.
Branston Pickle
While not a snack on its own, Branston Pickle is a crucial component of that British classic – the cheese and pickle sandwich. This chunky, tangy relish made from various diced vegetables has been adding zing to sandwiches since 1922. It’s also great with cold meats or as part of a ploughman’s lunch. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, but it’s known to contain carrots, rutabaga, onions, and cauliflower.
Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps
Walkers might sound American, but these crisps are as British as they come. The Cheese and Onion flavour, in particular, is a national favourite. The balance of sharp cheese and tangy onion is perfect, making these crisps dangerously moreish. Interestingly, Walkers packages its Cheese and Onion crisps in blue bags, while most other brands use green, leading to frequent confusion among crisp eaters.
Cadbury Flake
This crumbly chocolate bar is made from thinly folded milk chocolate, giving it a unique texture that melts in your mouth. It’s famously difficult to eat without making a mess, but that’s part of its charm. The Flake is also a popular addition to soft-serve ice cream, known as a ’99’. The Flake’s unique texture is achieved by pouring excess chocolate from moulds back into the storage tank, creating thin layers of chocolate.
Scotch Eggs
A hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried – what’s not to love? Scotch eggs are a picnic staple and a popular pub snack. They’re delicious hot or cold and make for a hearty bite any time of day. Despite their name, Scotch Eggs are believed to have been invented by the London department store Fortnum & Mason in 1738.
Pork Scratchings
These crunchy, salty snacks made from fried pork rind are the ultimate pub grub. They’re not for the faint-hearted (or the health-conscious), but their rich, meaty flavour is unbeatable. They’re the perfect accompaniment to a pint of bitter. Pork scratchings have been enjoyed in the UK since the 1800s, originally as a way to use up every part of the pig in thrifty households.
Cornish Pasty
While more of a meal than a snack, the Cornish pasty deserves a mention. This handheld pastry filled with meat, potatoes, and vegetables was originally created for tin miners. Today, it’s enjoyed all over the country as a hearty snack or light meal. In 2011, the Cornish pasty was granted Protected Geographical Indication status by the European Union, meaning only pasties made in Cornwall can be called “Cornish pasties”.
Tunnock’s Tea Cakes
These chocolate-covered marshmallow treats on a biscuit base are a Scottish favourite that’s gained popularity across the UK. They’re gooey, sweet, and perfectly sized for a quick snack. Just be careful when you bite into them – the marshmallow has a tendency to escape! Tunnock’s produces over 10 million Tea Cakes each week, and they’ve been a family-run business since 1890.
16 American Foods Brits Can’t Stand
Food preferences can vary wildly across cultures, and what’s considered a delicacy in one country might be seen as downright bizarre in another. This cultural divide is particularly evident when comparing American and British cuisines. While the two nations share a common language, their tastes in food can be worlds apart. From overly sweet concoctions to processed cheese products, there are certain American foods that many Brits find hard to stomach.
Read More: 16 American Foods Brits Can’t Stand
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
