COLCHESTER could be the proud home of the biscuit which inspired the world-famous Hobnob.

Food festival organiser Don Quinn plans to celebrate the historic town’s link to the popular oat biscuit, which, he says, was inspired by an original Colchester-based recipe.

While researching possible deserts for inclusion in the forthcoming Colchester Food and Drink Festival, he stumbled across reference to the Colchester Priory Biscuit.

“It was created by two Colchester bakers in the 1800s whose names have sadly disappeared over time,” said Mr Quinn.

“The original recipe probably dates back to when sugar became popular and cheap in Britain.

“The figures are astonishing.

“Britain’s annual per capita consumption of sugar was 4lbs in 1704, 18lbs in 1800, 90lbs in 1901 – a 22-fold increase to the point where Britons had the highest sugar intake in Europe.

“Our Colchester Priory Biscuit has a lot of sugar which gives it a crunch and a sweet taste.”

He added: “It is believed that this original recipe morphed into the Abbey Crunch - a McVities biscuit referred to as ‘the original oat biscuit’.

“This in turn morphed into the famous and much-loved Hobnob.

“The only real difference between Abbey Crunch, the Hobnob and the Colchester Priory Biscuit is the inclusion of more sweetness via golden syrup."

The Colchester recipe will be celebrated at the annual food and drink festival, which will be held across June 23 and 24 in Lower Castle Park, by way of a competition.

Participants can enter six biscuits across two classifications, one using the original Colchester Priory recipe and another using the original recipe with further twists and additions.

Entries must be submitted to the Colchester Rose Show Marque by noon on Sunday June 24.

A recipe crafted especially for the festival will combine the historic biscuit with gin.

The spirit has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity and Mr Quinn says gin also has a firm place in Colchester’s history.

“Back in 1812, Bawtree and Savill had a very substantial distillery for gin in Old Heath on Distillery Lane,” he said.

“Colchester, once famous for its gin, no longer makes this quintessentially British spirit.

“We will be using one of the local artisanal gins which have recently made such a welcome comeback.

“We now have a recipe for the Colchester Priory Gin Biscuit.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate two things which have a great history in Colchester - the humble oat biscuit and gin.”

The gin biscuit will be available to try at the festival, with the recipe included in an upcoming festival booklet produced by the Gazette.

For a chance to try out the recipe for the Colchester Priory Biscuit, go to foodanddrinkfestivalsuk.co.uk for more information.