The Garibaldi biscuit consists of
currants squashed and sandwiched between two thin oblongs of biscuit dough before baking. The biscuits are similar to
Eccles cake.
Popular with British consumers as a snack for over 150 years, the Garibaldi biscuit is conventionally consumed with tea or coffee. The biscuits also exist under different names in other countries, including Australia (with the name "Full O'Fruit")
and New Zealand (with the name "Fruitli Golden Fruit").
In The Netherlands, a similar biscuit, called Sultana, has been produced since 1935 by Verkade.
or the Golden Fruit Raisin Biscuits, once made by Sunshine Biscuits in the US.
Appearance
When bought in supermarkets in the UK (under several brands, all very similar), Garibaldi biscuits usually come in four strips of five biscuits each. They have a golden brown, glazed exterior and a moderately sweet pastry, but their defining characteristic is the layer of squashed fruit which gives rise to the colloquial names ''fly sandwiches'', ''flies' graveyards'', ''dead fly biscuits'', ''squashed fly biscuits'', or in New Zealand, ''fly traps'', because the squashed fruit resemble squashed flies.
History
The Garibaldi biscuit was named after
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as (). In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as () or (). 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, revolutionary and republican. H ...
, the famous Italian general, revolutionary and leader of the struggle to
unify the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...
, which finally was achieved in 1861. Garibaldi made a popular visit to
South Shields
South Shields () is a coastal town in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England; it is on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne. The town was once known in Roman Britain, Roman times as ''Arbeia'' and as ''Caer Urfa'' by the Early Middle Ag ...
in England in 1854, legend has it that he sat on two biscuits when meeting
Joseph Cowen on this visit.
However, it is more likely it was first manufactured by the
Bermondsey
Bermondsey ( ) is a district in southeast London, part of the London Borough of Southwark, England, southeast of Charing Cross. To the west of Bermondsey lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe and Deptford, to the south Walworth and Peckham, ...
biscuit company
Peek Freans in 1861 following the recruitment of Jonathan Carr, one of the great biscuit makers of
Carlisle
Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England.
Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...
.
In the United States, the
Sunshine Biscuit Company for many years made a popular version of the Garibaldi with
raisin
A raisin is a Dried fruit, dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Afri ...
s which it called "Golden Fruit". Sunshine was bought out by the
Keebler Company
The Keebler Company is an American cookie and former cracker manufacturer. Founded in 1853, it has produced numerous baked snacks, advertised with the Keebler Elves. Keebler had marketed its brands such as Cheez-It (which bear the Sunshine Biscu ...
which briefly expanded the line to include versions filled with other fruits. The entire Golden Fruit product line was discontinued when the Keebler company became a division of
Kellogg's
Kellanova, formerly known as the Kellogg Company and commonly known as Kellogg's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational food manufacturing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, US. Kellanova produces and markets con ...
in 2001.
Varieties covered with plain or milk chocolate have also been marketed in the past, but appear not to have been available for many years.
See also
*
Flies' graveyard
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garibaldi Biscuit
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Biscuits
1861 introductions