by Peggy
Robin
In times
like these you may feel a need to distance yourself –if only for a short time—from
all the important things going on around you, and take refuge in the
inconsequential, the silly, the divertingly amusing. Sort of like an amuse bouche
before you get down to the real nourishment of a meal. So here's a little amuse-bouche of
a column, served up on a Triscuit.
Have you
ever wondered where the name Triscuit came from?
There’s
a Twitter discussion thread on this topic that now has over 314 tweets -- and a surprisingly well-researched answer.
If you
would like to follow the entire thread, a long rabbit hole begins at this link:
I
present the highlights below, with the answer early on – and some appreciative
comments for the detective work! (This is the short rabbit-hole version. Note: I have cleaned up typos in some of the Tweets):
OK, buckle up. I wanna talk to you about Triscuit.
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
Several
years ago I was at a party (BRAG!), and I spotted a box of Triscuits. I asked
everyone, "What does the word 'Triscuit' mean? It's clearly based on the
word "BISCUIT," but what does the "TRI" mean?" (I'm
great at parties.)
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
The
consensus was that "TRI" means three. Maybe "three layers"
or "three ingredients." No one knew for sure, though, so I Googled
it. But here's the thing -- Google didn't seem to have an official answer,
either. Just more guesses.
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
So we
went straight to the source. We emailed Nabisco. And the response we got a few
days later shook us to the core. Here it is:
[Screenshot
of reply to Sage Boggs from Nabisco]
Thank
you for your interest in our Triscuit crackers.
No business records survived which specifically
explain the origins or inspiration for the name Triscuit. But we do know the
name was chosen as a fun derivation of the word “biscuit.” The “TRI” does not
mean 3.
If you haven’t done so already, please add
our site to your favorites and visit us again soon!
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
"The "TRI" does not mean 3." How...
how do they know what it DOESN'T mean, but NOT know what it DOES mean? HOW??
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
Also, "No business records survived"? What the
HELL happened at the Triscuit factory? Did the building explode? Did someone
run out of the doors and yell "It doesn't mean THREE!" right before
perishing in a giant blaze?
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
I was baffled. And I couldn't stand not knowing. So I did
a little sleuthing online, and stumbled on some early Triscuit advertisements.
Take a look at these bad boys:
[View
the tweet with the image of an original TRISCUIT advertisement at the link
below]
TRISCUIT
BAKED BY ELECTRICITY
By The Natural Food Co.
Niagara Falls, U.S.A.
Triscuit is the newest and perhaps the best creation of the Natural Food Co. of Nicaraga Falls, N.Y., makers also of the Celebrated Wheat Biscuits.
Triscuits are best eaten with cream, fruit juices, as toast
with eggs, and a thousand and one other ways, each of which is fully and
comprehensively explained in the neat little booklet which accompanies each package
of genuine Triscuits.
Triscuit is baked by electricity, the only food on the
market prepared by this 1903 process.
In neat packages, each 15 cents. If you buy two they cost 25
cents
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
In the early 1900's, Triscuit was [located in] Niagara
Falls. And their big selling point? Being "baked by electricity."
They were "the only food on the market prepared by this 1903
process." Look at the lightning bolts! And that's when it clicked—
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs
Elec-TRI-city Biscuit
TRISCUIT MEANS "ELECTRICITY BISCUIT"
TRISCUIT MEANS "ELECTRICITY BISCUIT"
And the story was confirmed by @realTriscuit – so Sage
Boggs reported/retweeted:
We did it, folks. WE DID IT.
Quote Triscuit@TheRealTriscuit
We had to go all the way up the ladder but we CAN confirm
Now for
some of the flood of reactions to this amazing revelation:
Mar 26
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
I can honestly say that as a man who has eaten thousands
of Triscuits, I am forever changed by this.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
First of all, I can’t believe they’ve been around since
1903. Of course, I did find an open box in my pantry from 2003.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Thank you for this fascinating thread, from someone who
qualifies as a fangirl.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Damn, the way this year is going I was expecting this to
involve Nazis.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
You single handedly made Triscuits the most interesting
thing on Twitter today - In the thick of a pandemic, to boot. Well done, sir.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Congratulations this made the local ABC news broadcast in
Philadelphia today
Replying to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Nabisco lied to you. TRISCUIT obviously derives from the
TRI (three) in TRISCUIT vs. the BI (two) in biscuit. The original Triscuit was
made from THREE ingredients: whole wheat
flour, vegetable oil and salt. Traditional BISCUITS are made from TWO ingredients: flour and cream.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
This is the hard hitting journalism I need right now.
MFer even got Triscuit to add a lightning bolt
to their name. But seriously: I
need that booklet with over 1000 ways to enjoy this futuristic cracker.
to their name. But seriously: I
need that booklet with over 1000 ways to enjoy this futuristic cracker.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
The
electric logo seems to back up the assumption that tri is for electricity - is
there other times tri is used instead of electric historically - like why not
elecruit?
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Oh my God I'm going to call them electric biscuits
forever, you have made my night
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Fascinating. They still taste like a block of hay, though
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
There were 1004 ways to eat Triscuits (they list three
and say there are "a thousand and one more" that were all detailed in
a booklet that came with them? I am not a *great* cook, but 1004 ways to use
Triscuits seems excessive.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
It's nice that the booklet fully and comprehensively
explains how to eat them. I hate partial explanations of what to eat on a
cracker.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
This was a journey, but my favorite part is that they
used to include a booklet on how to eat Triscuits. I've just been an idiot my
whole life, buying new snacks and just shoving them in my mouth without
wondering if there was a better way.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
"Should always be heated in an oven before
serving" well butter my Triscuit
and call me Judy.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
I love this story because I too cannot let things go.
That said, original Triscuits are the only good Triscuits. Flavored ones can go
straight to hell.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Yeah, ok but the unanswered question remains.
What happened at Triscuits that NO RECORDS SURVIVED?!?
And that letter! How could they know what it ISN’T but
not what it IS?!?
You have buried the lede here
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
I’m in isolation in New York and I need answers!
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
And love the typo: Nicaraga Falls
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
this was remarkable. Next do a deep dive into who changed
the box to this monstrosity from the simple yellow one
Sage
Boggs @sageboggs:
I'm on the case
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Is this all an undercover sponsored ad for Triscuit?
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Wait. Niagara Falls. Begin of the 20th century. New
electricity. Does that mean we can thank/blame Nikola Tesla for Triscuits?!
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Wait so why were all the records lost?? Electrical fire?
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Historic sleuths:
Sherlock Holmes, Allan Pinkerton, Miss Marple, Columbo, William J.
Burns, Jessica Fletcher, to name a few. You, @sageboggs, have earned your place on this list.
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Round of applause and a life time supply of electricity
biscuits for you. Don't be shocked!
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Well. Now all I want is a Triscuit and I’m quarantined
with a bunch of Wheat Thins! Weary face
Replying
to Sage Boggs @sageboggs
Day 11: read an entire thread behind the name of Triscuits
-------------Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
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