Tim Tam
$4.99 at IGA
Country: Australia
What it is: Of all the things Australia has bestowed upon us — a place to exile British convicts, Bon Scott-era AC/DC, the phrase “a dingo ate my baby” — arguably Down Under’s greatest gift to modern civilization has been Arnott’s Tim Tam. The popular Aussie treat was first introduced in 1964 and based on Britain’s Penguin biscuit. Lore has it the name Tim Tam came from Ross Arnott, who attended the 1958 Kentucky Derby and decided the winning horse, Tim Tam, was the perfect name for his company’s new line of chocolate-covered goodies. Other potential biscuit names taking part in the race included Silky Sullivan, Warren G. and Ebony Pearl.
Made with two malted biscuits separated by cream filling and coated in chocolate, Tim Tams are comparable to Twix but with more wafer. Experienced consumers have been known to partake in an ancient ritual known as the Tim Tam Slam, where one bites off the ends of the biscuit and uses it as a “straw” to drink warm beverages. Tim Tam comes in three flavours in Canada: Tim Tam Original, Tim Tam Chewy Caramel and Tim Tam Classic Dark. Another fun fact: A young Cate Blanchett once starred in a Tim Tam commercial in the 1990s and was known at “the Tim Tam Girl.”
Verdict: Not as sweet or guilt-ridden as a chocolate bar but more indulgent than a cookie, there’s a reason why Australians consume nearly 45 million packages of these babies a year. Then again, they are also responsible for ’80s soft rock balladeers Air Supply, so take that into consideration before you plow into your second tray of Tim Tams in one sitting.
