Young Brits Love a Biccy Dunk More Than Boomers – And We’ve Got the Stats

It’s official – the best biscuit for dunking isn’t some artisanal, oat-infused, small-batch number. No, it’s the humble, golden, cream-filled stalwart of British cupboards everywhere: the custard cream.

That’s according to a new nationwide study by Aldi, which polled Brits to settle once and for all the age-old question of what biscuit belongs in your brew.

And dunking, it turns out, is far from a dying art. In fact, the ritual is alive, well, and making a roaring comeback, especially among Gen Z.

Yes, those screen-addicted, TikTok-savvy youths have declared their allegiance to tea and biscuits, with 70% of 18- to 29-year-olds admitting they’re partial to a dunk – far out-steeping the 52% of over-60s who perhaps think the whole thing has gone soggy.

The best biscuit for dunking earned its title through pure public affection. The custard cream secured 29% of the vote, edging out the chocolate digestive and Rich Tea (both at 28%) in a photo finish that likely caused chaos in kitchens nationwide. Bourbons (26%), Malted Milk (24%), and the ever-reliable Hob Nob (22%) rounded out the crumbly contenders.

Historically speaking, dunking goes back further than your nan’s biscuit tin. Back in the 1500s, Royal Navy sailors softened their jaw-cracking “hard tack” biscuits in beer – because water, of course, was not to be trusted. Fast-forward 500 years and we’ve swapped beer for tea, and cannonballs for kettles.

Speaking of kettles, Aldi’s timing is no coincidence. The supermarket has just launched its new Smart Kettle, priced at a sensible £29.99 – engineered, they claim, to brew the perfect cuppa.

According to the data, that cuppa starts with English Breakfast tea (favoured by 67%), with hot water hitting the bag first, then left to stew for a patient two minutes. Only then do half of Brits (49%) add a splash of semi-skimmed milk, cooling the drink to the sacred 57°C – science’s answer to “not too hot, not too cold.”

As Jo Bryant, etiquette consultant and professional guardian of good manners, put it: “It’s clear that tea remains a very important part of our lives, with the average Brit consuming a staggering 1,460 cups a year, and each tea-drinker having their own particulars about how they have their tea.”

Naturally, the perfect cuppa is incomplete without the perfect mug. 40% of Brits confess to having a designated mug that apparently makes their tea taste just right.

The nation’s kettle flicks on most commonly at 7am – the official start of tea o’clock – but with 48% admitting they often have to re-boil due to distractions, you wonder how many of those cuppas go cold before the first sip.

And when it comes to workplace etiquette? Well, don’t hold your breath. The survey revealed that 45% of people think their colleagues are the worst at making tea. Either they don’t stir, they don’t steep, or they commit the cardinal sin of “milk first.” Shocking.

Regionally, Swansea tops the biscuit dunking leaderboard, with a whopping 76% of residents embracing the tradition. Norfolk, on the other hand, might need a dunking revival – just 54% there indulge in a tea-soaked treat.

So whether you’re a Rich Tea purist or a Bourbon rebel, the message is clear: dust off your biscuit tin, warm up your favourite mug, and for goodness’ sake, let it steep. Long live the dunk.