Have you ever wondered where the concept for Oreo cookies came from, or why they’ve reached an almost cult-like status? With more than 450 billion Oreo cookies sold since their inception in 1912, it’s safe to say they’ve earned the “America’s Favorite Cookie” moniker.
But, it’s not just the US who prefers to twist, lick, and dunk their cookies. Oreo cookies can be found in 100 countries worldwide and is the best-selling cookie brand of the 21st century. Pour yourself a glass of ice-cold milk and digest some “Wonderfilled” facts about this iconic sandwich cookie.
The Oreo cookie has gone through some name changes over the past 105 years. When they were first introduced in 1912, they were known simply as the Oreo Biscuit (we’ll get to why a bit later). Then in 1921, the cookie embraced its shape and was renamed the Oreo Sandwich. In 1937, the name was changed again. This time they took a high-brow turn and assumed the name, Oreo Crème Sandwich. Well, they certainly sound fancier, right? The final name change (for now) came in 1974 when the cookie became known as the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie, Oreo for short.
The scattering of name changes isn’t the only inconsistency with the iconic brand. The rumors surrounding the actual name are also a jumble. According to a Time article, it’s possible the name Oreo came from “or” the French word for gold, and coincidentally the original package color. Thought Co also sheds some light on the naming process. They say “Oreo” is Greek for mountain, the original shape of the cookie, or that it’s as simple as combining “re” from cream and the two “os” in chocolate.
While Oreo cookies may have been the inspiration of other well-known sandwich cookies, like Joe Joe’s and Newman-O’s, the Oreo was actually not an original concept. In 1908, four years prior to the launch of Oreos, Sunshine Biscuits released a sandwich cookie called Hydrox. Unfortunately for Hydrox cookies, it got lost among the buying and selling of its parent companies, and the marketing genius of Oreos, leading them to disappear from store shelves. Now thanks to Leaf Brands, LLC, the Hydrox is back and are ready to defend their “America’s Original” title.
Have you ever looked closely at an Oreo? The seal has been the subject of a major debate. See the two-bar cross at the top? That’s said to be a Cross of Lorraine, a cross related to the Crusader’s cross, a symbol associated with Joan of Arc. However, Nabisco swears it’s just “an early European symbol for quality.”
And the flower-like pattern around the edges? It could be a symbol of the Knights Templar, or you can believe what most consumers see — a four-leaf clover.
What we do know is that a man named William Turnier worked at Nabisco at the time of the redesign, and while the company acknowledges he worked there, they simply refer to him as a design engineer. According to his son, Turnier’s father was a Mason, yet he was not, nor was he interested in “Masonic stuff.” The family does claim to have the original blueprints of the Oreo, though. We can keep on speculating but alas, the truth of the design may never be fully known.
source: Mashed.
via: INFORMATION NIGERIA
No comments
Post a Comment