Australia’s favourite Arnott’s biscuit – and the state-by-state favourites – have been named, but I’m having doubts about it.
For starters, I’ve only seen the information in the Daily Mail and I can’t find anything on the Arnott’s website. The findings are supposedly based on sales data collected between January and October this year.
The most popular biscuit? Across Australia, it’s the Jatz cracker. Really? It’s not even technically a biscuit!
Jatz crackers came out on top in all states apart from Tasmania, where Barbecue Shapes reigned supreme, and in Victoria, where it was the Savoy.
Full declaration, I’m from Victoria and Jatz occupy a dusty corner while Savoys (supposedly Jatz rebranded but they’re definitely different) take up a couple of feet of shelf space over two levels, so Jatz’s popularity makes no sense to me.
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Also, it’s beyond belief that Tim Tams aren’t top in at least one state.
It’s simply unfeasible. There are more types of Tim Tams than there are days of the month.
Apparently, they separated the Tim Tams into each variety, which may be cheating a little bit.
Under those rules, only Tim Tams originals makes it, coming in at third favourite in almost every state except for NSW where it’s second, and South Australia, where Barbecue Shapes come in second and Tim Tams original are relegated to a lowly fourth with Shapes Chicken Crimpy in third.
What’s wrong with you South Australia?
Anyway, the great divide between Savoy in Victoria and Jatz crackers in most of the rest of Australia can perhaps be explained by the fact that Savoys were introduced into Victoria long before the Jatz cracker and established a firm foothold before the Jatz could get a look in.
Also, Jatz get soggy with a topping much more quickly than a Savoy and the rest of the country doesn’t know what it’s missing in a delicious crispy snack.
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This week’s best deals
Aldi
Sensible: Dairy Fine Melting Snowman, $2.99. More bonkers products from Aldi – it never seems to disappoint. You pop these frankly creepy-looking chocolate snowmen into a warm cup of milk and they melt, simultaneously releasing chocolate chips and marshmallows while creating a hot chocolate. An Australian summer is probably not the best time to launch this product, but I predict kids will be crazy for it.
Indulgence: Christmas gin crackers, six pack, $39.99. Tired of plastic rubbish, a bad joke and paper hat (full confession, the Christmas paper hat is never going out of fashion in our house), well Aldi has a gin cracker pack, which is, well, a cracker.
See the catalogue here.
IGA
Sensible: MasterFoods Tomato or Barbecue Sauce, 475g, $2, save $1.20. Let’s face it, we are knee deep in barbecue season, don’t be un-Australian and run out of sauce. It sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. Buy a couple and keep them in the pantry as an alternative to social suicide.
Indulgence: Boned and rolled pork shoulder roast, $7.49. Great price and a great one for entertaining. Can be done in the oven, slow cooker or kettle barbecue. Give it an Asian kick and add a little Chinese five spice to the salt before rubbing it into the scoring.
See the catalogue here.
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Woolworths
Sensible: Finish Ultimate Pro Dishwasher Tablets, half price $24. Yet another product you should never pay full price. This line is regularly on a massive discount or half price. Finish is also one of the most manufacturer-recommended brands, so you are doing your dishwasher a favour by not handwashing.
Indulgence: Woolworths Half Leg Ham, $8.50kg. Don’t wait until the last moment to get your ham on, snap up this award-winning ham right now, one less tiresome task before Christmas. We’ve had a pre-Christmas ham already and have been eating like kings.
See the catalogue here.
Coles
Sensible: Honey Gold Mangoes, $2.50 each. Two things say summer for me, mangoes and basil. Combine them both in a mango salsa for chicken, shellfish or fish.
Indulgence: Tassal Sliced Smoked Salmon, 250g, $14, save $3. I read somewhere about salmon being over-supplied in Australia due to all those farms down in Tasmania, but I’m yet to see any evidence of that given smoked salmon is regularly priced at $80-$100 a kilo. This special comes in at $56 a kilo and keeps for a while, so you can have it Christmas day if you so wish.
See the catalogue here.
What’s your favourite Arnott’s biscuit? Are you a Jatz fan? Why not share your favourite – and why – in the comments section below?
Arnott’s is an American company.
Buy Australian.
The “State by State” chart?? For those who might not be aware, the Northern Territory is also part of Australia.