- Water biscuit
A water biscuit is a type of biscuit or cracker. Water biscuits are baked using only flour and water, without
shortening or other fats usually used in biscuit production. They are thin, hard and brittle, and usually served with cheese or wine. Originally produced in the 19th Century as a version of the ship's biscuit, water biscuits continue to be popular in theUnited Kingdom , with the leading brands (Carr's , Crawfords andJacob's ) selling over seventy million packets a year.Carr's water biscuits are sold as "table water crackers" in the
United States . Several varieties are available.In 1801 Josiah Bent began a baking operation in
Milton, Massachusetts , selling "water crackers" or biscuits made of flour and water that would not deteriorate during long sea voyages from the port of Boston. The crackling sound occurred during baking, hence the name. This is where the American term "cracker" originated. His company later sold the originalhardtack crackers used by troops during theAmerican Civil War . These were commercial versions/refinements of the hardtack biscuits which had long been used by the British Royal Navy and other European navies.Several versions of water crackers exist in ex-British colonies, such as
Jamaica , where "Excelsior" brand water crackers are a popular breakfast/snack staple. They are often served with a spread, including a spicy pepper-and-herring paste calledSalmagundi .External links
* [http://www.bentscookiefactory.com/ Website of Bent's Cookie Factory in Milton, MA, U.S.A., purveyors of "water crackers" and hardtack during the American Civil War]
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