People just realising what pattern on custard creams actually is

Many Brits are only now uncovering the true story behind the intricate patterns embossed on custard cream biscuits. The much-loved treat, which first emerged in Britain in 1908, boasts an elaborate baroque design that has baffled tea-time fans for generations. While millions have dunked the biscuits into their cuppas over the years, very few have ever stopped to question the origins of the distinctive pattern decorating the top layer. That was until a history expert recently revealed the surprising truth, leaving social media users utterly gobsmacked. Bryony, who works at the Manchester Museum, shared the eye-opening explanation on Instagram . In a viral clip, she explained: "Between the 1840s and 1890s in the UK there was a craze that was bigger than Pokémon cards. It was called the fern madness, Pteridomania. "When trains and the train lines started to come to the UK, going to remote places became fashionable and so people would try and find things that were in those remote, cold places, things like ferns. It became a symbol of friendship, of good times, and intelligence of course. "And that's why you see fern patterns on things like Victorian architecture, on birthday cards, and also the pattern on custard creams. They're some ferns unfurling." The bombshell discovery prompted a wave of reactions from astonished followers. One said: "Fascinating! I always thought it was some design overhang from the art nouveau period." Another wrote. "Oh I'd always thought they were wrought iron. Thank you". Biscuit lovers may be fascinated to discover that traditional custard creams are crafted using custard powder, rather than egg. The creation of custard powder is attributed to Alfred Bird, who developed it for his wife owing to her egg allergy. Food historian and author Lizzie Collingham spoke to the BBC about the groundbreaking addition of custard to biscuits, saying: "It was seen as a modern, exciting thing to make a food. "Biscuits were the first industrial food, the first food stuff to be produced by a machine; form mixing, kneading, rolling out, cutting out, baking, it could all be done with minimal intervention from people. To put custard powder in a biscuit... it brought together two things which represented industrial progress."