The best rich tea biscuit for your tea-time dunking

An oldie but a goodie, the rich tea biscuit has been around since the 17th century as an upper-class nibble between light courses.

However, its sophisticated linage goes much deeper and if this classic biccie is among your favourite you’re in royal company.

According to a report by McVities, alongside a pot of Early Grey, the rich tea is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s biscuits of choice.

Such an avid fan of the light, crunchy treat, her chef of 11 years (Darren McCrady) reveals it is a key ingredient in her beloved chocolate biscuit cake. The English classic is said to give the cake its “lovely, crunchy texture.”

We tasted six rich tea biscuits looking for the best.

How we test:

From a selection of biscuits from brands and supermarket own labels we tried and tested six rich tea biscuits, assessing each product on appearance, aroma, taste and texture. We looked for ones that were gently balanced in sweetness and that had a light crunch.

Overall score 74/100

This satisfyingly crunchy biscuit has a robust wheat-y aroma with subtle sweet notes.

Testers loved its malty flavour and gentle sweetness. It’s perfect for dunking or as a crumbly cheesecake base.

BUY NOW £0.29 for 300g

Overall score 74/100

Though subtle, this crunchy biscuit has an enticing savoury aroma, with testers praising its wheat-y buttery scent and mild sweetness.

The flavour of the biscuit develops on the palate, we enjoyed its malty taste, milky undertones and gentle sweet notes.

BUY NOW £0.30 for 300g

Overall score 72/100

Well-rounded in taste, this biscuit has a sweetness which builds. Its malty notes are complimented by the hint of milkiness.

Mellow in aroma but our panel still enjoyed the mild savoury scent and light salty-sweet undertones.

Though initially firm the biscuit becomes wonderfully light and crispy for a pleasing crunch.

BUY NOW £1.19 for 300g

Overall score 72/100

This biscuit has a lovely bite and subtle sweetness followed by a light buttery aroma.

Its enjoyably oat-y scent was likened to cereal. We couldn’t get enough of the robust well-baked taste which gave the biscuit an intensely wheat-y flavour complimented by a hint of sweetness.

Available in store only £0.29 for 300g

Overall score 71/100

Despite its inexpensive price tag these biscuits have a premium style about them which our testers adore.

Not the typical circular shape, these finger style biscuits were decorated with a printed design around the gorgeous fluted edges.

It has a slightly sweet otherwise subtle malty aroma. We loved its light, crunchy bite and initially sweet, milky flavour which builds in maltiness but craved a deeper, sweeter flavour.

BUY NOW £0.65 for 250g

Overall score 65/100

Though we enjoyed its gentle wheat-y aroma, with a touch of vanilla and its buttery, oat-y taste, the biscuit lacked sweetness.

Testers were also disappointed with the texture, though light and crunchy many found it drying.

BUY NOW £0.30 for 300g