Why aren't Digestives and Chocolate Digestives the same size?

at least a serious topic for consideration. i didnt know this, so some research is necessary

Sugar tax?

https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2023/02/02/shrinkflation-mcvities-biscuit/

Haven't choccy digestives always been a bit smaller? I assumed it was a weight per biscuit thing?....

I think they have been smaller for a while. Not sure about the off-brand Lidl/Aldi ones though so I might also have to do some research. (Although unexpectedly Neos are smaller than Oreos...).

I’m pretty sure Chocolate Digestives used to be as big as their non-chocolate counterpart.

When did this size shift happen?

Decades ago I think....

And would have happend pretty quickly as the boxes they are shipped in are are also completely different sizes. So it prob happened when they expanded the range to include caramel and choc hobnobs.

Choc digestives are also made in a completely different factory so prob when they moved to or opened that factory. Also pack sizes have got smaller this year, but biscuit size has stayed the same.

They've been different sizes as long as I can remember

dont do non choc digestives, but i'd guess, to keep the calorie content and/or price down..

It's to help visually impaired people identify the biccies by the shape and size of the packet. Hence bourbons are long and thin, custard creams are rectangular etc.

Packets of biscuits are ~400gms. If you slap choccy on it's either fewer biccies or smaller biccies.

non-chocolate counterpart.

That's just like saying "what?....there's a magazine as well as the forum?????"

Given that a packet is gone pretty much as soon as they're opened, I've not really thought about the size. Only that dark chocolate rules.
It's absolutely a good thing they aren't any bigger though, because then I would be too.

Packets of biscuits are ~400gms. If you slap choccy on it’s either fewer biccies or smaller biccies.

Reg digestive are 360g

Chocolate digestive are 266g

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Normal digestives are a 700c with a 35mm tyre.</span>

Chocolate digestives are designed like 650b with a 50mm tyre to get same diameter.

The problem isn’t the size of the biscuit-they just haven’t put enough chocolate on it to compensate.

If that blows your fuzzy little mind, wait until I tell you that the chocolate is on the bottom of the biscuit - and it's intentional.

So they can make a same length packet across types for lower chocolate cost.

If that blows your fuzzy little mind, wait until I tell you that the chocolate is on the bottom of the biscuit – and it’s intentional.

A problem overcome by eating them two at a time, with the chocolate bits in the middle

So they can make a same length packet across types for lower chocolate cost.

We'll, at least with Mcvities, reg plain digestives have their own box size unique to the range - they also are made in a different factory apparently. However the box size and packet sizes are the same across the chocolate and caramel digestives.

I don't know about 'always' but about 30osh years ago when I was at school one of the guy's in my class could get a chocolate digestive or TUC cracker in his mouth vertically but not a regular digestive.
His jaw opening was massive and just the right size to demonstrate the difference.

If that blows your fuzzy little mind, wait until I tell you that the chocolate is on the bottom of the biscuit – and it’s intentional.

Why?

Having had some thought on this is in my shop I think I know partially some of the rather dull answer....

Reg Digestives are 0% vat come in a slightly larger pack.

Choc digestives (along with all chocolate coated biscuits) are 20% vat as HMRC says that they are a luxury item.

So my guess is that to get the same or similar profit margin the choc digestive has to be a smaller biscuit and smaller pack size.

That coupled probably with the quirks of the machines that coat the chocolate or manufacturers the biscuits would determine what size the slightly smaller chocolate digestive has to be to fit within the margins of manufacturing.

Regards vat this is also why Jaffa cakes are cakes (because cakes are an essential, not a luxury!) and chocolate cookies like Maryland are charged at 0% so are generally quite a cheap biscuit when compared to a chocolate digestive.

If that blows your fuzzy little mind, wait until I tell you that the chocolate is on the bottom of the biscuit – and it’s intentional.

Why?

On a plain digestive, the waffle pattern is on the bottom with the mcvities branding on the top.

On the chocolate version, you see chocolate or the mcvities branding, ergo, the chocolate covers the waffle pattern and is on the bottom.

Now, this is actually correct because your tongue is better at recognising and appreciating the chocolate rather than the roof of your mouth.

We need to talk about wagon wheels

My grandad loved normal digestives to counter act the dryness of them he spread a thick layer of butter on top. It does work well. #biscuithack

It's all a bit irrelevant though. Chocolate digestives are a bit meh.  If you want a chocolate biscuit, then Bahlsen Choco Leibniz are a far, far superior product.  There. I've said it....

I don’t know about the size relevance, but I can say digestive biscuits are inedible to me after eating a fresh one off the line. So much better.

The vastly superior chocolate digestives get the rippled chocolate pattern from the conveyor belt thingy.

I’m unsure at what point crack cocaine is added to the process when making the plain chocolate digestive.

McVities choc digestives are full size (unless changed in last 3 years). All supermarket digestives (made by either McVities or Burtons with slightly less chocolate on them than branded) are a smaller diameter.

Reason the chocolate is on the bum rather than the top is they are run on a conveyor through the chocolate rather than enrobed like a Mars Bar would be.

Thanks all - some more investigation required lol

Are Hob Nobs & Choc Hob Nobs the same size?

If you want a chocolate biscuit, then Bahlsen Choco Leibniz are a far, far superior product

Choco Leibniz are lovely - no arguments there. But their weakness is that they are not a good dunker - far too much (and too thick) chocolate for dunking - so I'd argue that the (dark) chocolate digestive is a better biscuit to have with a brew. And as its statistically proven that 99.2% of biscuits are consumed with a hot drink in hand, the (dark) chocolate digestive still wins

On the rare occasion that I'm presented with a plate of biscuits without an accompanying drink I'd take Leibniz over a digestive, but I'd take the M&S milk dark & white chocolate biscuit selection over both.

We need to talk about wagon wheels

Hideous things. Whatever it is they are covered in, it doesn't taste like chocolate, and wtf is that gunge in the middle? Also, since they aren't digestives, they're OT.

far too much (and too thick) chocolate

😕 Say what?

So I can get a whole dark chocolate one in my mouth in one go.

Say what?

Specifically in reference to dunking - a well dunked chocolate digestive has slightly softened both biscuit and chocolate - with a leibniz you either soften the biscuit and still have hard chocolate, or soften the chocolate and have a biscuit gone to mush.

Edit - I'm more than happy to carry out extensive research into this topic if needed.

Posh biscuits are a victim of their own success - you have to fanny around making poncy coffee to go with them.

That's the attraction of choc hobnobs and a mug of tea.

Are Hob Nobs & Choc Hob Nobs the same size?

Chocolate hob nobs must be at least half the size, as a packet in our house, only lasts half as long as regular hobnobs

You can't get dark chocolate hobnobs, which must surely indicate some massive strategic failure at McVities.

Specifically in reference to dunking – a well dunked chocolate digestive has slightly softened both biscuit and chocolate – with a leibniz you either soften the biscuit and still have hard chocolate, or soften the chocolate and have a biscuit gone to mush.

Edit – I’m more than happy to carry out extensive research into this topic if needed.

I see where you are coming from, but whilst I'm not averse to dunking, it's not compulsory. I will concede that having a brew with your biscuit is the law, but the two don't always have to get jiggy with each other.  Slightly inferior biscuits which don't quite have the presence to be enjoyed solely on their own merits may benefit from a short swim, but a higher quality biscuit is best enjoyed unmolested by hot beverage imo. Though cleansing your palate with a quick slug of builders first is acceptable.

Hideous things. Whatever it is they are covered in, it doesn’t taste like chocolate, and wtf is that gunge in the middle? Also, since they aren’t digestives, they’re OT.

Username checks out

Best digestive type biscuit is a Hovis. Great with butter or cheese.

Best digestive type biscuit is a Hovis. Great with butter or cheese.

What? How are you supposed to dunk that - the cheese will fall off........

You can’t get dark chocolate hobnobs

Sometimes I'm genuinely happy to be the person that gets to change someone's life:

Sometimes I’m genuinely happy to be the person that gets to change someone’s life:

Exciting! I shall seek some out and report back

I am surprised no one has blamed communism or Brexit yet.

It's Nigel Farage's fault!