Chocolate fans have only just realised that Blue Riband has been the correct name for their favourite wafer biscuit bar for the last 80 or so years
Chocolate lovers have been scratching their heads in confusion after learning the true pronunciation of a much-loved wafer biscuit bar. For ages, enthusiasts assumed that Nestle’s Blue Riband was said like ‘Blue Ribbon’. Meanwhile, there’s been a fierce debate on whether it should sound like ‘Ribbund’ or ‘Ri-band’.
An old TV advert from 1985 settled the argument by declaring the bar should be called Blue ‘Ribbund’, avoiding the ‘band’ pronunciation in the famous confectionery’s name. Originally released in 1936 by Gray Dunn and later taken over by Rowntree’s, the brand was snapped up by Nestle in 1988.
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It has since become a staple in households due to its tasty combination of four layers of thin wafer with a sumptuous praline filling, all enrobed in velvety milk chocolate.
Nonetheless, numerous individuals are adamant that the treat used to go by Blue ‘Ribbon’. Social media has been abuzz as people air their astonishment regarding the bar’s proper name.
One Reddit post went viral when a user exclaimed: “Wait a minute… they aren’t called ‘Blue Ribbons’?” The replies were swift, with one correcting: “Nope, they’re not. They’ve been called Blue Riband for about 80 odd years.”
A fellow poster joined in, saying, “I’ve always called them Blue Ribbons, you are not alone,” A third admitted, “Had me fooled for 18 years,” joining a chorus of bemused consumers.
Brittany Miller, a TikTok sensation with 2.4 million followers, was left gobsmacked by the actual name of a popular chocolate bar during her latest grocery haul. One follower reacted to her discovery, saying: “I thought they were blue ribbon as well!”.
“Literally has this discussion the other day they where defo called blue ribbon,” another chimed in. Another added their voice to the mix: “Yes blue ribbon! I also thought it was that!”.
On X, someone else expressed their astonishment: “I’m shook. For years I thought the lunchbox biscuit was called ‘Blue Ribbon’ when in actual fact it’s ‘Blue Riband’.
“Nearly 18 and I never knew until today that it’s Blue Riband not a Blue Ribbon. I’m shell shocked.” However, those who got the name wrong aren’t entirely to blame, as ‘riband’ actually means ‘a ribbon’.
Name aside, the chocolate remains beloved, and Nestle has just upped the ante by introducing a new Blue Riband flavour – a hazelnut bar.
It’s essentially the classic Blue Riband, known for its wafer layers enveloped in milk chocolate, but now with a creamy hazelnut filling to boot.