National Biscuit Day – May 29, 2027

History of National Biscuit Day

The need for nutritious and long-lasting foods that could easily be transported on long journeys, particularly at sea, was initially solved by taking live food along with a cook. However, depending on the mode of transportation at the time, which was either horses or small ships, this would require additional space. This would eventually lead to the baking of processed cereals (including the production of flour), providing a more reliable source of food.

In earlier times, most physicians believed that most health problems were related to digestion, and ‌it was considered and recommended that biscuits be eaten daily for sustenance and to avoid illnesses. Because hard biscuits soften with age, early bakers attempted to create the hardest possible biscuits. When baked hard, biscuits could be stored for years without spoiling as long as they were kept dry. As the supply of sugar increased, as did the refinement and supply of flour, and so did the ability to sample more leisurely foods, including sweet biscuits.

The British biscuit business established market dominance with new products and visually appealing packaging. In 1831, the British company Huntley & Palmers invented the decorative biscuit tin, which resulted in biscuits being exported around the world. By 1900, Huntley & Palmers biscuits had been sold in 172 countries, demonstrating their global reach. Because of the historical importance of this type of food, many regions of the world now have their own distinct style of biscuit.