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The ontology of the Twix — it’s an issue more controversial than Brexit, and one that has been debated widely. From Richard Osman, a leading mind in the field to Mumsnet and Reddit. It is therefore in the public interest to settle this hotly contested argument once and for all.
So when does a chocolate biscuit stop being a chocolate biscuit and become a chocolate bar? Does the involvement of caramel change things? What role do other factors, such as shape, size and packing play in how we define such a thing?
There are a few things we need to consider; what defines a biscuit? Who came up with the difference between a chocolate bar and a biscuit? Who has the final say?
VAT Status
In the eyes of the law in the UK, biscuits are necessities and are VAT zero rated. However, chocolate-covered biscuits are not regarded as a necessity, which means the full rate of VAT is payable. Although HMRC defines a Twix as confectionary — so, neither a biscuit nor a chocolate bar, in a tribunal they did use the phrase ‘chocolate covered biscuit’ meaning it is charged at 20% VAT.
Ratios
Does the crunch to chocolate ratio mean that the Twix is actually a biscuit? MumsNet users suggest that when the biscuit to chocolate ratio is 50% biscuit or more, then it is in fact a biscuit, but once the 50% threshold is reached it becomes a chocolate bar.
So, let’s look at the numbers.
A Twix contains only 35% chocolate, whereas the famous Fox’s chocolate round (clearly described as a biscuit) contains a whopping 71% chocolate. Meaning that if we went by the Mumsnet definition, a Twix is in fact a biscuit whereas a Fox’s chocolate round would be classed as a chocolate bar.
Another interesting case is the Choco Leibnitz, which contains 63% chocolate, but is also clearly described as a biscuit. However, anyone who has ever eaten one will know that it is basically a slab of pure chocolate with a tiny bit of biscuit stuck in the middle.
A very similar argument surrounds the world renowned KitKat, however Kitkat responded to my request for a comment on the issue with the following.
“We actually can be classed as both a chocolate bar and biscuit! Either way, we’re delicious!” — KitKat
One Reddit User, ‘lamby’ , made the following comment.
“It starts as a chocolate bar, then when you’ve eaten the top bit off it turns into a biscuit.”
First of all, what sort of sorcery is this. Who on earth eats the top of a Twix first? Secondly, you can’t just change the classification half-way through eating it.
Size and weight
Mumsnet users had a lot to say on the issue of size.
“The normal 2 or 4 finger KitKat’s are a biscuit. The KitKat chunky are bars. Wagon Wheels would be in the middle because to me they are not a biscuit and not a bar, they are also larger than a biscuit.” — Neurotransmittens
Could the debate be solved by the question of how many it is acceptable to consume in a single sitting? For example, a normal person would eat one chocolate bar but 2 to 3 biscuits? However, the rest of us don’t put a limit on these things and a whole pack could easily be demolished in one sitting, especially in 2020.
A multipack of single finger Twix’s contains 9 bars at 23 grams each. UK favourite biscuits, the Chocolate Hobnob and Jammy dodger both weigh just over 18 grams (Tesco, 2020) whereas proper chocolate bars, such as the Mars and Double Decker weigh 51g and 54.5g, considerably more than the feeble Twix.
If we’re going on size and weight, then the Twix is definitely a biscuit.
Shape
So is a chocolate bar in the shape of a bar, whereas a biscuit must be round?
What about the Penguin which is very clearly defined as a biscuit?
Analysis from A nice cup of tea and a sit down shows that the three defining points of a biscuit are as follows;
- They come in packets
- They have two sides
- You could dunk them in tea
However, many of the UK’s classics have more than two sides; the Bourbon, the Custard Cream, the Pink Wafer, and not forgetting the Gingerbread man? Therefore, this concept doesn’t align with British tradition.
Packaging and shop placement
Is the defining point of chocolate bars the individual wrapping? Or which aisle it is displayed on in Tescos?
What about Lyons Viscount? They are also individually wrapped, but clearly labelled a biscuit.
Twix bars can be found amongst the chocolate in shops as single items, however the multipacks can also be found in the biscuit section — so, yet again we have inconclusive evidence.
Also, we can’t forget that Jaffa Cakes are found in the biscuit section, and we all know how that one ended up.
Public opinion
Public opinion was split widely between the different social media platforms, and then again amongst age groups.
On Instagram, 26.1% of voters thought the Twix was a biscuit, and 73.9% thought it was a chocolate bar.
100% of the biscuit voters were under the age of 25, with 74% of the chocolate bar voters being over 25, which shows a stark generational divide.
On Facebook results were slightly different, with the biscuit getting 54.5% of the votes compared to the chocolate bars 45.5%
It is worth noting that both Facebook and Instagram were small sample sizes (n=64), whereas the Twitter Poll had a much bigger sample size(n= 910) .
On Twitter the chocolate bar won 73.3% of the vote, with the biscuit getting a mere 26.7%, a resounding result. Unfortunately Twitter doesn’t offer any voter details, so we cannot analyse the demographics of the voters.
The overall feeling on Facebook and Instagram amongst young people was that the Twix is in fact a biscuit, whilst for the over 25’s, it is a chocolate bar.
This begs the question, do over 25’s expect less from their chocolate bars than younger generations?
How would you eat a Twix?
According to Reddit User ‘spinynorman1846’
“A Twix is a chocolate bar. It’s not about their content, but how you eat them. You’d never keep Twix’s in a biscuit barrel and you buy them and eat them the way you would a Mars bar.”
Does spinynorman1846 have a point? I wouldn’t keep my Twix’s in the biscuit barrel, but in 2020, does anyone still have a biscuit barrel?
If someone handed me a cuppa and asked me if I wanted a biscuit, then came back with a Twix, I’d be overjoyed; the ultimate dunking device.
Here in Yorkshire at least, you can dip a Twix in your cup of tea, much like a biscuit. However, I wouldn’t do the same with a Snickers, Mars bar or Crunchie.
Whilst public opinion was overwhelmingly one sided, there is one thing we still need to take into consideration.
If you google ‘homemade Twix’ you essentially get a millionaires shortbread recipe. Think about it; the ingredients are exactly the same and a millionaire’s shortbread is definitely not a chocolate bar. They come individually wrapped but also in multipacks.
Problem solved.
However, for those of you who passionately believe that a Twix is in fact a chocolate bar, the minimal amounts of chocolate mean that if it is, it is in fact a very poor one.
Some of the more optimistic Twitter users believe that we should always look on the optimistic side of these life-altering questions.
“I’m an optimist so I think it’s best described as a good biscuit rather than a disappointing chocolate bar. #twix” — @megabrow12
Let’s face it, in 2020 we need as much optimism as we can get and we shouldn’t be putting a limit on the Twix’s potential
One final thought to take away from the debate, comes from Faye Greaves, a passionate believer in the Twix’s ability to succeed as a chocolate bar.
“There is too much ambiguity in how we develop words and language. We need clear definitions, we are playing fast and loose with words and definitions, what’s the point?’” — Faye Greaves
In conclusion, the Twix is simply a glorified millionaires shortbread. Neither a chocolate bar or a biscuit. It would be a terrible chocolate bar, but it would outclass all of the other biscuits.
Where does this leave the Wagon Wheel?
Get involved in the debate on Twitter using @h_green21
References
A nice cup of tea and a sit down: Taxonomy of Biscuits (www.nicecupofteaandsitdown.com)
Cadbury (2020) Cadbury Chocolate Bars
HMRC (2016) Excepted items: Confectionery: The bounds of confectionery, sweets, chocolates, chocolate biscuits, cakes and biscuits: The borderline between cakes and biscuits.
Morgan Jones (2011) HMRC’s War On Confectionery VAT, Morgan Jones and Co Accountants MumsNet (2018) When is it a chocolate bar and when is it a biscuit?
Reddit (2018) So let’s settle this… Is a Twix a biscuit or a chocolate bar?
Tesco (2020) Biscuits and Cereal Bars
