It turns out you may have been eating one of Britain’s most quintessential sweet-treats all wrong.
Beloved for its soft cake-like base and sweet orange filling, the Jaffa Cake was first introduced to Britain in 1927 and has since become a confectionary staple – found across kitchen cupboards and shop shelves nationwide. However, the innocent treat has also been the subject of several intense debates.
The argument over whether the Jaffa Cake is a cake or a biscuit has been waged for years, with no clear winner. But a new, equally controversial, revelation has taken hold: apparently many of us have been eating them the wrong way.
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The Jaffa Cake’s legal classification as a “cake” was proven in a 1991 court case to avoid a UK tax on biscuits. McVitie’s, the company which produces it, successfully argued that the product has the properties of a cake, which hardens when stale, rather than a biscuit, which softens.
However, what many Jaffa Cake fans have missed is that the brand also famously confirmed that the chocolate is actually on the bottom.
It might seem counterintuitive, as many naturally assume that the treat is meant to be held at its soft, spongy base, with the soft chocolate layer on top. But McVitie’s have revealed that it’s the other way around.
Richard Price, a grocery expert at Brit Superstore says: “It’s a very British dilemma. We’ve all been holding it upside down all along. Naturally, we see the chocolate and assume it goes on top, but the official way is actually to eat it with the sponge side up. The chocolate is meant to be the base, not the topping.”
According to McVitie’s, the Jaffa Cake passes through a “reservoir of chocolate” on the production line, which means the chocolate is officially the base. This means the correct way to eat it is with the sponge side facing down, so the chocolate hits your tongue first.”
Richard adds: “For years, people have debated their own complex methods, from nibbling the edges off to eating the jelly first. But McVitie’s has now made it official.”
Extra tips for Jaffa Cake lovers
If you’re wondering how to get even more enjoyment out of your Jaffa Cake, Brit Superstore have shared some expert culinary tips on how best to store, eat and serve the biscuit.
- The Jaffa Cake is a cake, not a biscuit, so never dunk it in tea, as it will go soggy.
- Try putting them in the fridge for a firmer jelly and a satisfying snap from the chocolate.
- Pair them with a glass of milk to balance the orange flavour.