# Marie biscuit

A Marie biscuit is a type of biscuit similar to a rich tea biscuit. It is also known (in various languages) as María, Mariebon and Marietta, amongst other names.

## Description

The biscuit is round and usually has the name embossed upon its top surface, the edges of which are also embossed with an intricate design. It is made with wheat flour, sugar, palm oil or sunflower seed oil and, unlike the rich tea biscuit, is typically vanilla-flavoured.

## History

The Marie biscuit was created by the London bakery Peek Freans in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh. It became popular throughout Europe, particularly in Portugal and Spain where, following the Civil War, the biscuit became a symbol of the country's economic recovery after bakeries produced mass quantities to consume a surplus of wheat. Marie biscuits became popular in South Africa after going into production by Bakers Biscuits in 1898.

## Consumption

Many consider that the plain flavour of Maries makes them, like rich tea biscuits, particularly suitable for dunking in tea. Other popular methods of consuming the biscuit include using two to make a sandwich with butter and Marmite or condensed milk spread in between; covering it with golden syrup; or crumbling it up in custard and jelly (gelatin dessert). Marie biscuits are also a common ingredient in home-baking recipes.
In Spain, natillas custard is typically served with a Maria biscuit on top.
In Uruguay, they are served filled with dulce de leche and sprinkled with shredded coconut. In Brazil, they are soaked in milk and then stacked in layers of chocolate and vanilla-flavoured custard cream, with whipped cream and crushed cashew nuts on top to make pavê, a popular Brazilian dessert. In Ireland, the biscuits are known as Marietta and manufactured by Jacob's. In Malaysia, people use them mainly for making batik cake. In India, they are commonly eaten plain with tea or sold in bakeries after coating with chocolate and wrapped in foil.

## Manufacturers

The major international manufacturers (initially sorted by country name):
| Country/Region | Producer | Brands |
| Argentina | Arcor | Maná |
| Argentina | Arcor | Vocación |
| Australia | Arnott's Biscuits Holdings | Marie |
| Belarus | Slodych, confectionery factory | Marierta |
| Belarus | Confectionary Factory Spartak | Mariya (Мария) |
| Belgium | Delacre | Maria |
| Bolivia | La Suprema | María Bonita |
| Brazil | Fábrica Fortaleza | Maria |
| Brazil | Piraquê | Maria |
| Brazil | Richester | Maria |
| Brazil | Vitarella | Maria |
| Canada | President's Choice | Maria |
| Costa Rica | Pozuelo | Maria |
| Denmark | KelsenBisca | Mariekiks |
| Ecuador | Nestlé Ecuador S.A. | María |
| Egypt | Biscomisr | Marie |
| Finland | Kantolan (Made in the Netherlands for Orkla Confectionary & Snacks Finland) | Kulta Marie |
| Germany | Patisserie Gunz | Maria |
| Hong Kong | The Garden Company Limited | Marie Biscuits |
| India | Disha Foods | Treff |
| India | Bonn Food Industries | Mariebon |
| India | Britannia Industries | Marie Gold, Vita Marie |
| India | Parle Products | Marie |
| India | ITC Limited | Marie Light |
| India | DK Bakings Kolkata | Nutribake Morning Marie |
| Indonesia | CV Jaya Abadi | Marie Regal Biscuits |
| Indonesia | Mayora | Roma Marie Gold, Roma Marie Susu |
| Ireland | Jacob's | Marietta |
| Japan | Morinaga & Company | Marie (マリー) |
| Jordan | Universal Industries Co. Ltd. Zalloum Group | Marie or ماري |
| Kenya | Manji Food Industries Ltd. | Marie |
| Kuwait | Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Co. | Marie ماري |
| Libya | Muhab Food Co. Benghazi | Marie Biscuits |
| Lebanon | Ghandour Food | Marie Biscuits, Lucky 555 |
| Malaysia | Hup Seng Perusahaan Makanan (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Ping Pong Marie |
| Malaysia | Hwa Tai Industries Bhd. | Hwa Tai Marie |
| Malaysia | Munchy Food Industries Sdn. Bhd. | Munchy's Marie |
| Malaysia | Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Julie's Marie |
| Mauritius | Esko & Co ltd. | Marie |
| Mexico | Gamesa | Galletas Maria |
| Mexico | Goya | Marias |
| Norway | First Price (NorgesGruppen) | Mariekjeks |
| Norway | Sætre AS | Marie |
| Netherlands | Pally Holland | Mariakaakje, Marie |
| Netherlands | Verkade | Maria |
| Panama | Productos Alimenticios Pascual S. A. | Maria |
| Pakistan | English Biscuit Manufacturers | Marie |
| Philippines | Comfoods | Fibisco Marie Biscuits |
| Philippines | Rebisco | Marie Biscuit, Marie Time, Marie Munch, Marie Gold |
| Portugal | Cuétara, Moaçor, Triunfo, Vieira de Castro | Bolacha Maria, Bolacha Maria Oro |
| Saudi Arabia | United Food Industries Corp. Ltd. Co. | DeemaH Marie |
| Singapore | Khong Guan Biscuit Factory (S) Pte. Ltd. | Marie Biscuits, Small Marie Biscuits |
| South Africa | Bakers Blue Label | Marie Biscuits, Cappuccino Marie Biscuits |
| South Africa | Baumann's | Marie Biscuits |
| South Africa | Casa-Mia | Traditional Marie, Marie Toffee |
| South Africa | Bisco Plus | Henro Marie |
| South Africa | Continental Brands | Risi Marie, Risi Petit Marie, Cuétara Maria Cookie 0% |
| South Africa | Unity Food Products | Marie |
| Spain | Gullón | María Leche, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada |
| Spain | Grupo Siro | María Clásica, María Dorada, María Hojaldrada, Mini María |
| Spain | Cuétara | María, María Oro, María Hojaldrada |
| Spain | Fontaneda (Mondelez International) | La Buena María |
| Spain | Marbú (Artiach) | Marbú Dorada |
| Sri Lanka | CBL (Munchee) | Tikiri Marie, Marie Light, Rice Marie, Chocolate Marie |
| Sri Lanka | Cargills (Ceylon) PLC | Kist Marie |
| Sri Lanka | Daintee Ltd | Daintee Marie |
| Sri Lanka | Luckyland | Luckyland Marie |
| Sri Lanka | Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited | Gold Marie, Light Marie, Chocolate Marie, Premium Marie |
| Sri Lanka | Manchester Foods Pvt Ltd (Bisma) | Ceylon Marie |
| South Korea | Orion | Marie |
| Sweden | Göteborgs Kex | Guld Marie |
| Syria | Katalina Foods | |
| Thailand | Laemthong Food Industries Co. Ltd. | Laemthong Marie |
| Turkey | Şimşek Biscuits & Foods | Gorona |
| Turkey | ANI Biscuits & Foods | Marie |
| Ukraine | Zhytomyr Confectionary Factory ZhL | Mariya (Марія) |
| Ukraine | Yarych Confectionary Factory | Mariya (Марія) |
| Ukraine | Kharkiv Biscuit Factory | Mariya (Марія) |
| United Kingdom | Crawford's | Marie |
| United Kingdom | McVitie's | Marie |
| United States | Iberia, Goya | Maria cookies |
| Uruguay | Kraft Foods | Maria de Famosa |
| Uruguay | El Trigal | Maria Rika |
| Venezuela | C.A. Sucesora de Jose Puig & CIA | Maria Puig |
| Vietnam | Kinh Do Corporation | Cosy Marie |
| Yemen | Yemen Company for Industry and Commerce | Marie |
| Zimbabwe | Lebena | Marie |
| Zimbabwe | Lobels | Marie |
| Zimbabwe | Arenel | Marie |