From a small kitchen to award-winning biscotti stocked across the world – here’s the story behind Great British Biscotti.
I do love discovering the stories behind Dorset’s independent food businesses, and Great British Biscotti is a pretty impressive one. The business started back in March 2016 in a small kitchen and, after outgrowing two premises, moved to its current location in Christchurch in November that same year. Now that’s what I call impressive!
I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the bakery and got to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes, from mixing the ingredients right through to the biscotti cooling ready to be packed. It was also the first time I’ve ever had to walk into a kitchen wearing full-on protective gear. Let’s just say…I definitely rocked the hairnet!
From mix to biscotti
Everything starts with the ingredients being mixed together in a rather impressive industrial mixer. Once the mixture is ready, it’s rolled by hand and placed into tins before going into the oven for the first bake. The baked biscotti are then taken out and cut by hand before heading back into the oven for their second bake. Finally, they’re placed onto racks to cool before being packaged and sent out. It’s quite a process, and seeing it all happening first-hand really made me appreciate just how much work goes into each batch.
So, what’s different about them?
Great British Biscotti make their biscotti thinner than the traditional Italian version, which makes them much easier to eat. And let’s be honest, anything that makes enjoying biscotti a little kinder to your teeth gets a thumbs up from me! With around 20 flavours in the range, there’s plenty of choice too. You’ll find everything from sweet flavours to more unusual savoury combinations, including their award-winning Parmesan & Fennel and Jalapeño & Cheddar. Their biscotti have also picked up a number of awards over the years, including Great Taste Awards and Food Talks Gold, which is pretty impressive for a business that started in such a small kitchen.
From Dorset to the world
What started as a small local business has grown considerably, with Great British Biscotti supplying farm shops, delis and hotels, including the famous Chewton Glen. They’re also now shipping their biscotti internationally to places including Canada, America and Hong Kong. How exciting is that?! It’s always brilliant seeing a Dorset business grow while still keeping that independent feel and passion for what they produce.
If you’re a biscotti fan—or fancy trying something a little different—I’d definitely recommend giving Great British Biscotti a try. You can find out more about their flavours, stockists and products at www.greatbritishbiscotti.co.uk.
Have you tried Great British Biscotti before? And more importantly…which flavour would you go for first?
