ANZAC biscuit

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ANZAC biscuits, made without coconut.

ANZAC Biscuits are a sweet biscuit popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, bicarbonate of soda and boiling water. Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I. The biscuits were often sent to loved ones abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.[1] Today, ANZAC Biscuits are manufactured commercially for retail sale and are popular in Australia and New Zealand.

Biscuits issued to soldiers by the Army referred to as "Anzac tiles" or "Anzac wafers" differ from the popular Anzac biscuit. Anzac tiles and wafers were hard tack, a bread substitute, which had a long shelf life and was very hard.[2]

Contents

[edit] Origins

There are a number of theories surrounding the true origins of Anzac biscuits, but what is certain is that they came about during WWI, around 1914-15.[citation needed] While some believe the biscuits were first made by the troops in the trenches with provisions they had at hand to relieve the boredom of their battle rations, the most widely accepted belief is that the biscuits were created by Australian and New Zealand women endeavouring to create a treat for their loved ones that would survive the long journey to the front. It has also been suggested that the biscuit is a variation of Scottish oat cakes[citation needed], resulting from the Scottish influence in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand.[3]

In a speech to the East Otago Federation of Women’s Institutes, Professor Helen Leach, of the Archaeology Department of the University of Otago in New Zealand, stated that the first published use of the name Anzac in a recipe was in an advertisement in the 7th edition of St Andrew's Cookery Book (Dunedin, 1915) - but it was for a cake, not a biscuit, and there were no mixing instructions. A recipe for "Anzac Biscuits" appeared in the War Chest Cookery Book (Sydney, 1917) but was for a different biscuit altogether; the same publication included a prototype of today's Anzac biscuit, but called Rolled Oats Biscuits. The combination of the name Anzac and the recipe now associated with it first appeared in the 9th edition of St Andrew's Cookery Book (Dunedin, 1921) under the name "Anzac Crispies"; subsequent editions renamed this to "Anzac Biscuits" and Australian cookery books followed suit. Professor Leach later qualified her remarks by saying that further research might reveal earlier references to the name and recipe in either Australia or New Zealand.[4]

[edit] Current Popularity

Today, ANZAC Biscuits are manufactured commercially for retail sale. Because of their military connection with the ANZACs and ANZAC Day, these biscuits are often used as a fundraising item for the Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association (RSA) and the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL). A British (though still Australian-produced) version of the ANZAC biscuit, supporting the Royal British Legion, is available in several major supermarket chains in the UK.[5][dead link]

ANZAC biscuits are still issued to Canadian soldiers at Christmas during foreign deployments.

ANZAC Biscuits made using today's recipe are also carried by bush walkers (hikers) because of their tough constitution and good keeping properties, enabling the biscuits to survive many days of rough travel.[citation needed] Tararua Biscuits are similarly baked for tramping (hiking/bush walking) in New Zealand since WWI.

[edit] Legal issues

The term ANZAC is protected under Australian law[6] and therefore the word should not be used without permission from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs;[7] misuse can be legally enforced particularly for commercial purposes. Likewise similar restrictions on naming[8] are enshrined in New Zealand law[9] where the Governor General can elect to enforce naming legislation. There is a general exemption granted for ANZAC Biscuits, as long as these biscuits remain basically true to the original recipe and are both referred to and sold as ANZAC Biscuits and never as cookies.[10]

This restriction resulted in the Subway chain of restaurants dropping the biscuit from their menu in September, 2008. After being ordered by the Department of Veteran's Affairs to bake the biscuits according to the original recipe, Subway decided not to continue to offer the biscuit, as they found that their supplier was unable to develop a cost-effective means of duplicating the recipe.[11]

[edit] Recipes

One notable omission from any ANZAC biscuit recipe is that of eggs, mostly because of the scarcity of eggs during the First World War (after most poultry farmers joining the war effort).[12] Additionally, no Anzac biscuit recipe included coconut until 1927.[citation needed]

Search Wikibooks Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on

[edit] References

  1. ^ "ANZAC biscuits". anzacday.org.au website. http://www.anzacday.org.au/miscellaneous/bikkies.html. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 
  2. ^ "ANZAC biscuits the origin and recipe (Australian War Memorial)". Australian War Memorial website. http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac/biscuit/recipe.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  3. ^ "Anzac Biscuits Recipe & Story". Aussie Slang. 2000. http://www.aussieslang.com/features/anzac-biscuits.asp. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
  4. ^ "The Anzac Biscuit Myth". eCook website. http://www.ecook.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/featurearticles/pi_articleid/57. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  5. ^ "Tesco boosts Poppy Pound with Aussie Biscuits". British Legion website. 26 January 2007. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsdetail&asset_id=516234. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  6. ^ "Protection of word word ANZAC - List of Regulations". Australian Government: Attorney General's Department website. http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pastereg/0/127/top.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  7. ^ "Protecting the Word Anzac". Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs website. http://www.dva.gov.au/commemorations/protection_of_Anzac/. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  8. ^ "Anzac Traditions and Rituals". New Zealand Government: Ministry for Culture and Heritage mini-site. http://www.anzac.govt.nz/significance/traditions.html. Retrieved 2009-11-26. 
  9. ^ "Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 No 47, section 17". New Zealand Government: Parliamentary Council Office Legislation website. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0047/latest/DLM52224.html. Retrieved 2009-11-26. 
  10. ^ "Uses Allowed under the Regulations". Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs website. http://www.dva.gov.au/COMMEMS_OAWG/COMMEMORATIONS/PROTECTION_OF_ANZAC/Pages/acceptable%20uses.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-12. 
  11. ^ Fewster, Sean (22 September 2008). "Subway drops ANZAC biscuit from menu". The Advertiser. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24379915-2682,00.html. Retrieved 2008-09-23. 
  12. ^ "ANZAC Biscuits The history & recipe". Digger History website. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-food/anzac-biscuits.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 

[edit] External links

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