View source for Twiglets

== History ==
[[File:Twiglets ad.jpg|thumb|1930s advertisement for Twiglets featuring a caricature of the inventor, J. Rondalin]]
Twiglets were invented in 1929<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/biscuits.html|title=A History of Biscuits|website=www.localhistories.org|access-date=2017-08-25}}</ref> by a French [[Baker|biscuit maker]] J. Rondalin,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foodsofengland.info/twiglets.html|title=The Foods of England - Twiglets|website=www.foodsofengland.info|access-date=2025-04-21}}</ref> a technical manager at [[Peek Freans]]' [[Bermondsey]] factory, who added [[Saccharomyces cerevisiae|brewer's yeast]] to a leftover batch of [[Ryvita|Vitawheat]] dough.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBMLFM305MEC&dq=rondalin+twiglets&pg=PA370|title=Food Britannia|last=Webb|first=Andrew|date=2012-08-31|publisher=[[Random House]]|isbn=9781409022220|language=en}}</ref> They were first launched onto the consumer market in 1932 by [[Peek Freans]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5016440.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} England {{!}} London {{!}} Twiglet's home honoured by plaque|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=26 May 2006 |access-date=2017-08-25}}</ref> Today, Twiglets are manufactured in [[Aintree]] by [[United Biscuits]] subsidiary [[Jacob's]].

During the [[Christmas]] season, Twiglets were traditionally sold in drum-shaped tin boxes as a high-class [[cocktail]] accompaniment from the 1930s<ref name=":0" /> until the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huntleyandpalmers.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=huntley&f=generic_objectrecord_postsearch.htm&_IXFIRST_=461&_IXMAXHITS_=1&m=quick_sform&tc1=i&partner=huntley&tc2=e&s=HUBvODPyiti|title=Twiglets, 1969-1973|last=known|first=Not|website=www.huntleyandpalmers.org.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826033018/http://www.huntleyandpalmers.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=huntley&f=generic_objectrecord_postsearch.htm&_IXFIRST_=461&_IXMAXHITS_=1&m=quick_sform&tc1=i&partner=huntley&tc2=e&s=HUBvODPyiti|url-status=dead}}</ref> In modern times, the tin boxes have been substituted with large cardboard tubes decorated with seasonal themes.

In the early 1990s, a range of tangy [[Worcestershire sauce]] Twiglets were introduced.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2007/aug/15/giveusbackourcrisps|title=Give us back our crisps|last=Holliday|first=Graham|date=2007-08-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Jacobs also released a [[curry]] flavoured edition from 1999 to 2001, in collaboration with several [[Indian cuisine|Indian restaurant]] chains in [[Northern England]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2001-06-01|title=A hot idea for Twiglets.(Jacob's Curry Twiglets)(Brief Article)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-75818718.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825225224/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-75818718.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-08-25}}</ref> From 2010 until 2012, Tangy Twiglets were briefly re-released as a limited edition to commemorate Twiglets' 80th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vendinginternational-online.com/saucy-twiglets-are-here-to-stay/|title=Vending International {{!}} Saucy Twiglets are here to stay!|website=www.vendinginternational-online.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-25}}</ref>

Twiglets used to be manufactured partly from grain prepared using hammer milling machinery located at the Parker Brothers Lark Roller Mills in Mildenhall. The machinery was powered by water turbines fed by water from the river Lark and this process created the broken grains that give Twiglets their crunchy irregular shape and texture. This water-powered mill operated until the last decade of the 20th century in this capacity.

To celebrate the 85th anniversary of Twiglets in August 2014, United Biscuits hosted an event known as Camp Twiglet on the [[Cotswolds]] farm of [[Blur (band)|Blur]]'s [[Alex James (bassist)|Alex James]]. This included three [[wigwam]]s made from Twiglets which were attributed to a local artist named Mrs Cakehead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.totalswindon.com/entertainment/twiglets-to-celebrate-85th-birthday-with-edible-experience/#.WXeAlrpFzIU|title=Twiglets to celebrate 85th birthday with edible experience|website=www.totalswindon.com|access-date=2017-08-25}}</ref>