Brand · Hovis

Hovis

Hovis is a bread name first, built on the wheatgerm flour the miller Richard 'Stoney' Smith developed in 1886, and the Hovis Digestive Biscuits we stock carry wheatgerm in the dough and are packed under the Jacob's name. They are here because this is one of the few biscuits that works both ways, sweet enough on its own and plain enough for a slice of cheese.

Multi-origin
In stock at teas.co.uk · 1 product
In stock at teas.co.uk 1 product
Chosen before it earns its place
About Hovis

Hovis is a bread name first, built on the wheatgerm flour the miller Richard 'Stoney' Smith developed in 1886, and the Hovis Digestive Biscuits we stock carry wheatgerm in the dough and are packed under the Jacob's name. They are here because this is one of the few biscuits that works both ways, sweet enough on its own and plain enough for a slice of cheese.

About Hovis

Hovis is the British bread and flour brand that began with the miller Richard "Stoney" Smith, who in 1886 developed a milling process for a wheatgerm flour, registered as Smith's Patent Process Germ Flour in 1887. The name came from a national competition in 1890, won by Herbert Grime with Hovis, from the Latin hominis vis, the strength of man. Hovis is a bread business first, and the Hovis digestive is sold under the Jacob's name. In July 2026 Associated British Foods completed its purchase of Hovis Group, which now trades with Allied Bakeries as Hovis Bakeries.

The Hovis digestive is for the person who finds most biscuits too sweet for the afternoon. Try it with a wedge of Wensleydale or a mild Cheddar alongside a mug of English Breakfast, or dunk it in a milky tea. It earns a place on a cheese board too.

Key facts

Wheatgerm in the recipe The ingredient the whole Hovis name was built on.
A bread name on a biscuit Hovis is a bread brand, and the biscuit is sold under Jacob's.
Since 1886 When Stoney Smith developed his wheatgerm flour process.
Sweet or savoury As good with a slice of cheese as dunked in a mug.
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Hovis Digestive Biscuits, 250g, front of pack, available at teas.co.uk
Hovis Digestive Biscuits, 250g

Hovis Digestive Biscuits is a 250g pack of the plain semi-sweet wheat biscuit that anchors the British biscuit tin, picked into the teas.co.uk curator selection as the everyday dunker rather than the…

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Hovis Hovis Digestive Biscuits, 250g Afternoon · Nutty · Sweet
£3.00 £2.40
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teas.co.uk stocks 1 Hovis products, with live prices and stock shown on this page. UK delivery is free over £35.

Hovis is the British bread and flour brand that began with the miller Richard "Stoney" Smith, who in 1886 developed a milling process for a wheatgerm flour, registered as Smith's Patent Process Germ Flour in 1887. The name came from a national competition in 1890, won by Herbert Grime with Hovis, from the Latin hominis vis, the strength of man. Hovis is a bread business first, and the Hovis digestive is sold under the Jacob's name. In July 2026 Associated British Foods completed its purchase of Hovis Group, which now trades with Allied Bakeries as Hovis Bakeries.