Jaffa Cakes

[tragabigzanda]

from the ashes of tonkotsu

[Anders]

That’s not true.

McVitie’s had been making Jaffa Cakes since 1927. But they were challenged for labelling their chocolate orange treats as ‘cakes’ in 1991 by Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise.

It was accepted under UK law that biscuits were a luxury item and the full VAT would be levied. But cakes, on the other hand, have been regarded as a staple food — so were zero-rated for the purposes of VAT.

Customs and Excise decided to rule Jaffa Cakes to be biscuits, partly covered in chocolate, and therefore standard-rate. But the cake manufacturers appealed against the decision and the matter went to court.

The arguments for Jaffa Cakes being a biscuit included: their size, as they were more like biscuits than cakes; packaging, as it was similar to biscuits; and marketing, as they were generally displayed for sale with biscuits rather than cakes. It was also put to the court that they were eaten as a snack, with the fingers, whereas a cake may be expected to be eaten with a fork.

But the key turning point was when McVitie’s QC highlighted how cakes harden when they go stale, biscuits go soggy. A Jaffa goes hard. The case was proven.

During the court battle between Mcvitie’s and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, Mcvitie’s baked a giant Jaffa Cake to prove that Jaffa cakes were really cakes and not biscuits.

It was a long and costly dispute, but McVities finally tasted sweet success and Jaffa Cakes were finally recognised as chocolate covered cakes.

Now the £1.19billion Jaffa Cakes made every year are free of the consumer tax.

Spoiler: show

"I shouldn't be talking like this," said McVitie. "But truthfully, if you want my honest opinion, if you want to know where I truly stand on the how and why of it all... a biscuit is just a little cake."

Very surprised by that quote.

[Anders]

Didn't Jorge start a thread about these before?

Either way, I love them. They were my first exposure to the joy of orange and chocolate together. As a Brit my preferred brand is Jacobs.

Why do you prefer Jacob’s over other brands (especially McVitie’s)?

[Anders]

i cannot recall having eaten them but i will

i will find some

and eat them

and then report back here

[JuanHamm]

Didn't Jorge start a thread about these before?

Either way, I love them. They were my first exposure to the joy of orange and chocolate together. As a Brit my preferred brand is Jacobs.

Why do you prefer Jacob’s over other brands (especially McVitie’s)?

Just familiarity. Those are the ones we had in the pantry growing up and are the ones your most likely to find in Michigan.

[96583UP]

That’s not true.

McVitie’s had been making Jaffa Cakes since 1927. But they were challenged for labelling their chocolate orange treats as ‘cakes’ in 1991 by Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise.

It was accepted under UK law that biscuits were a luxury item and the full VAT would be levied. But cakes, on the other hand, have been regarded as a staple food — so were zero-rated for the purposes of VAT.

Customs and Excise decided to rule Jaffa Cakes to be biscuits, partly covered in chocolate, and therefore standard-rate. But the cake manufacturers appealed against the decision and the matter went to court.

The arguments for Jaffa Cakes being a biscuit included: their size, as they were more like biscuits than cakes; packaging, as it was similar to biscuits; and marketing, as they were generally displayed for sale with biscuits rather than cakes. It was also put to the court that they were eaten as a snack, with the fingers, whereas a cake may be expected to be eaten with a fork.

But the key turning point was when McVitie’s QC highlighted how cakes harden when they go stale, biscuits go soggy. A Jaffa goes hard. The case was proven.

During the court battle between Mcvitie’s and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, Mcvitie’s baked a giant Jaffa Cake to prove that Jaffa cakes were really cakes and not biscuits.

It was a long and costly dispute, but McVities finally tasted sweet success and Jaffa Cakes were finally recognised as chocolate covered cakes.

Now the £1.19billion Jaffa Cakes made every year are free of the consumer tax.

this makes my blood boil red, white, and blue for Jaffa Cakes

[Anders]

It should be the official cake of RM.

[washing machine]

I cap off every Aldi shopping list with a box of Deutsche Küche label orange jaffas

[Anders]

Never heard of the brand, but they do look fine.

[Anders]

Didn't Jorge start a thread about these before?

Either way, I love them. They were my first exposure to the joy of orange and chocolate together. As a Brit my preferred brand is Jacobs.

Why do you prefer Jacob’s over other brands (especially McVitie’s)?

Just familiarity. Those are the ones we had in the pantry growing up and are the ones your most likely to find in Michigan.

[spike]

Just a bunch of grown ass men talking about cookies.

[dad]

cookies rule no matter how grown you are.

[JuanHamm]

Just a bunch of grown ass men talking about cookies.

They're Jaffa Cakes, not Jaffa cookies, spike.

[spike]

Cakes. Sure.

[Anders]

Spike, have you tried any?

[spike]

I’m a man of the world, so probably.