The Daily Chocolate Indulgence That Traveled Everywhere
What if I told you the Queen of England had a secret obsession that followed her to every palace, castle, and royal engagement? According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, “This chocolate biscuit cake is Her Royal Majesty the Queen’s favorite afternoon tea cake by far” and “This cake is probably the only one that is sent into the royal dining room again and again until it has all gone.” The Queen loved this cake so much that “If there is anything left when she has it at Buckingham Palace, it then goes to Windsor Castle so she can finish it there” and McGrady would actually “travel on the train from London to Windsor Castle with the biscuit cake in a tin on my knee.”
This wasn’t just any ordinary cake – the Queen reportedly had a slice of it every day with her afternoon tea and “even traveled with the cake.” The dessert was truly “the absolute favorite” and “She was so fond of it that any leftovers would travel with her from one residence to another.”
A Morning Ritual Steeped in Tradition
Earl Grey tea was the Queen’s beverage of choice, though she was also partial to Darjeeling or Assam, with her favorite brand being Twinings & Co., a company founded in 1706 (over 300 years old) that has held a Royal Warrant since the reign of Queen Victoria. The Queen took her Earl Grey with a splash of milk and no sweetener, preferring it “made with tea leaves in a teapot and poured into a fine bone china teacup.”
The day always started with tea, specifically “a classic Earl Grey from a famous, long-standing British tea company that holds a Royal Warrant – a prestigious seal of approval for supplying the royal household” and “it was brewed the proper, old-school way.” Her daily ritual began in the morning with Earl Grey tea without milk or sugar and a few biscuits.
The Childhood Snack She Never Outgrew
These simple treats called “jam pennies” were a lifetime favorite, with Chef McGrady stating that she enjoyed them regularly from childhood, with McGrady noting they were a lifelong favorite. Named for their diminutive size and circular shape that reminds people of old English pennies, “there’s nothing particularly fancy about them” – they’re simply “a jam sandwich – bread, a bit of butter, and jam, cut into small circles.”
Strawberry jam was her preference, especially when made from the fresh, seasonal strawberries that grow at Balmoral, the Scottish castle that serves as the royal family’s summer home. Even when cutting back on sweet foods, she’d eat ‘Jam Pennies’ at least once a week, with McGrady noting “We’d make the jam at Balmoral Castle with gorgeous Scottish strawberries from the gardens.”
Simple Lunches That Surprised Everyone
This lunchtime staple was another favorite of Queen Elizabeth II – the tuna salad sandwich, known as tuna mayo in the UK, with her favorite combination being “tuna and mayonnaise, with thin slices of cucumber and a dash of pepper” and importantly, “the bread must be buttered.” Her majesty enjoyed teatime and was a big fan of tea sandwiches, always with the crusts removed, with her favorite filling being “smoked salmon and cream cheese.”
According to former chef McGrady, “the queen is not a foodie” but “like anyone, there are a few things Her Majesty requests regularly.” Her daily diet was structured around four main meals, each with its own set of traditions and preferences, as revealed by former royal chefs, and “The Queen started her day simply.”
The Unexpected Love for Chocolate Mousse
While Queen Elizabeth often ate quite simple fare on a daily basis, she did have a weakness for chocolate treats, with one of her favorites being chocolate mousse, which was reportedly enjoyed by the royal family according to palace sources.
Dark chocolate was her preference, “the richer and bitterer, the better” with “Brands like Bendicks Bittermints” reportedly among her favorites. As McGrady told Food and Wine during her reign, “The Queen is a total chocaholic” with “Chocolate biscuit cake [made with McVitie’s Rich Tea biscuits] is her favourite,” adding that sometimes a whole cake would be eaten in a day, and “The Queen didn’t love milk or white chocolate” preferring bars that were “60% cacao or higher.”
