|
In April 2007, I got my first fan/hate mail for this page. A reader in one of the provinces of the former USSR seemed to have suffered a blow to his national pride after reading my reviews. His point, as far as I could discern it, was that my taste in Marias reflects the relative ease and lack of challenge in my lifestyle. That is, people who live where life is hard and flavorless are more appreciative of hard flavorless Marias. I didn't save it because the guy was kind of a jerk but not enough to be funny or interesting. Of course I regret it now. I believe that everyone deserves to enjoy a delicious cookie, and nobody should have to eat cookies that they don't like. If I don't like cookies made in your country, it doesn't mean I don't like your country, or you. I LOVE candies and cheeses from the former Soviet Union, I just don't have a page for those. I repeat: These are my personal opinions, and yours may be different. Send your fan/hate mail to me at ken (at) kennethjdevries.com and if you have something interesting to say, or have a question I am capable of answering, it will show up here.
Mariangel shares this Maria Knowledge with us: I am a Spaniard living in US and I've been looking for Maria biscuits since I came here. I've found Goya Marias in several international food stores in the Midwest. Where I live now, I sometimes see Gamesas in the grocery store. I don't like them that much, their flavor is different to the Spanish Marias and so it wasn't was I was looking for. So now I usually order the Goya ones online. Goya is not a Spanish brand, but the biscuits are made in Spain and I guess relabeled for distribution in US. I wonder what company makes them. You cite in your page Cuetara and Grupo Siro (that makes Rio, a brand I knew, and Berta, one I didn't). In case you are interested, other famous Spanish brands are Fontaneda (this was the main brand in the 70's and 80's, in the 90's it was bought by Nabisco and decreased production, but is is still making Marias) and Gullon, which apart from Marias, also makes other very good types of biscuits. Marias can be dunked when they are new and crispy, and this is how I eat them. I dunk on plain milk or milk with Colacao, a delicious Spanish cocoa. When I was a kid, I would directly break 6 biscuits in a bowl of milk (or colacao) and eat them with a spoon. This was my breakfast, merienda, and dessert after lunch and dinner, every day. By the way, Argentinian friends have told me that they call them "galletas de agua" (water biscuits) because of their plain flavor. Thanks for writing, Mariangel, and I hope others will share their knowledge and experience with us! (Letters below appear in order from oldest to most recent) MAY 19, 2007 - LarryG writes: "Although only tangentially related to your love of Maria's, do you have any recipes for made at home Maria's cookies?" I believe that a modern Maria cookie can only be created in a large factory, preferably in a far-off foreign land. The absolute uniformity of each company's product, and the differences between different brands - sometimes only very slight, sometimes startlingly extreme, are what made me create this, the world's first Review of Maria Cookies Website. As an experienced baker myself, I would not even begin to try to create a Maria cookie at home because nothing I make is ever the same twice in a row, and it is the mysterious sameness of the Maria cookie that I most admire. Plus I would never be able to make that little pattern around the edge or print MARIA across the center. April 14, 2008 - Gifford Sykes writes: "We have always bought Maria's tea biscuits (cookies). Now we go to the same store and there is no Maria cookies. Do you know what the problem is?" I suspect that you weren't buying enough of them. When you find a place to buy Marias, buy lots and lots of them! Perhaps if you ask the store manager they might carry them again. JULY 16 2008 - Jan G writes: "One would never want to give up eating Marias just as they come out of the package. However, once in a while, something with more . . . taste, I guess, is nice. I mean, one of the charms of a good Maria cookie is that it doesn't have a lot of taste. The taste it has is very pleasant, for sure, but it's a subtle pleasure. For more of a wallop, I sometimes put a few sections of a Hershey's milk chocolate bar on top of my Maria. Oh, my. (In a pinch, an entire Hershey's kiss can be balanced on top, but it's harder to eat just a bite at a time this way.) Proportions are endlessly adjustable for those who prefer more Maria/less chocolate or more chocolate/less Maria." I myself have only rarely eaten Marias in other than their natural state, since my interest in them is a reflection of my ascetic tastes. I was introduced to the concept of the Plain Cookie, in the form of the oddly named Peak Freans tea biscuits, many years ago. Since then I have searched the globe for a cookie which is as plain as it can be and still be edible - a delicate balance. As related on the review page, there was a variety which I found was only edible with the addition of other substances. Usually if they are inedible, nothing can make them less so. Marias are, in my experience, undunkable and their dry crispy nature does not seem a good combination with jams or preserves, but chocolate would definitely enhance their finer qualities. I am certain that many readers have found new and interesting ways to eat Marias, and I am always happy to learn of them. AUGUST 7 2008 - Sumaya D writes: "please try Bakers Marie Biscuits from South Africa ive only tasted Marie from Malaysia (not so good) and one from portugal which i bought in France (pretty good) i will surely taste the ones you rated 4.7 from Spain but so far for me Marie from SA is Very Good! Thanks for letting me know of an African Maria! I may not have an opportunity to enjoy them, because one of the strict criteria I maintain for the Review of Maria Cookies is that they should be products available in stores here in Portland Oregon USA. Thus the reviews reflect the state of global commerce and the international availability of product. With the appearance of an African variety that leaves only Australia and Antarctica unrepresented as creators of the Queen of All Cookies! OCT 28 2008 - Michael writes: "I just stumbled across your Marie biscuit review page and you sure brought back alot of memories. We do have Marie biscuits in Australia - they are manufactured by Arnotts who make most of our decent biscuits. I havnt actually had any for years but recall sneaking a handfull of them when I was growing up and enjoying my mothers recipe of Marie biscuits covered in homeade custard with peaches then warmed up in the oven. Very yummy" DEC 2 2008 - I have heard from Lauren and Steph who sadly miss Marie Lu cookies, which have vanished since the closing of their manufacturer. I wish I could magically bring them back, so we could all enjoy them again, but I cannot. Let's look back on those happy days and remember how good they were. Jan 13 2009 - Jamie writes:I stumbled upon your page while frantically searching for a way to buy my favorites, Marie Lu. I was so saddened to read your comment that "...the manufacturer of Marie Lu biscuits has gone out of business, and they are no longer being manufactured". Now I know why I haven't been able to find them in any of my area stores for the last 6 months or so. Of the varieties that you have listed, which one would you say tastes closest to the Marie Lu's? I have tried Alidoro Maria and was disappointed. I thought they had a funny aftertaste. Maybe they are not as sweet as the Marie Lu's? Anyhow, if you have a recommendation, I would love to hear it. I regret to say I have never had anything that quite compares with Marie Lu. As I said in my review they transcended the Maria Cookie genre by being far more flavorful and substantial than any true Maria. As we travel through life, we must lose many things we love. I think we must let go of Marie Lu, and try to look back on our time together with fond remembrance. |