First created in 1912, the Oreo™ is a sandwich style biscuit comprising cream filling between two biscuits. They were created by the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) as an imitation of another similar biscuit called Hydrox. Over time, Oreo™ became extremely popular and their sales and brand presence overtook that of Hydrox. Eventually the public came to think that Hydrox was in fact an Oreo™ knock-off, rather than the contrary. Oreo™ is now the best-selling cookie in the USA and production of Hydrox was discontinued in 1999.
There are several theories surrounding the origins of the name ‘Oreo™’ but our favourite comes from Wikipedia, who suggest that the name is derived from the Latin Oreodaphne which is a plant which comes from the laurel family. Some have suggested that the design that is stamped on the Oreo™ biscuit resembles a laurel wreath. This theory does have some relevance, considering that several of Nabisco’s other biscuit brands of the era were also named after botanical species’.
Oreo’s were originally produced in a factory located in Chelsea, a borough of Manhatten. The factory where they were made no longer stands but is now replaced by the Chelsea Market complex. As a tribute to the national biscuit, the block on which the factory stood is now named ‘Oreo Way’.
How to eat an Oreo
It might seem obvious – surely there’s only one way to eat an Oreo. But there’s actually a lot of contention around the ‘correct’ way to eat an Oreo™ cookie. There are bloggers who actually make videos with instructions on how best to eat them! Here’s some of our favourite suggested ways to eat an Oreo™.
- You might prefer to twist your Oreo™ apart, eat one side and then the other. Most devotees prefer to save the cream-coated side for last.
- Try scraping the cream filling off the biscuits one at a time with your teeth and then enjoying the crunchy biscuits.
- Dunk your Oreo™ in milk or drop it in completely to flavour the milk. Enjoy the yummy biscuit surprise at the bottom of the glass once finished.
- How about using your Oreo™ as an edible spoon to eat ice cream? Scoop up the ice cream and then enjoy ice cream and cookie all in one bite!
- You could also crush an Oreo™ and sprinkle it over the top of a bowl of ice cream or add to your favourite milkshake or thick shake.
Hastings Coffee Co. at The Westport Club will be serving up Oreo Super shakes on Oreo Day, 6 March for you to try! Check out our Super shake below. They look delicious and we can’t wait to try one.
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More ways to enjoy
- This one is a bit indulgent, but have you heard that you can batter and deep fry your Oreo™? Yes, there are takeaway shops who sell these!
- Dip your Oreo™ in melted chocolate or whipped cream.
- Incorporate your Oreos into another recipe, like this no bake Oreo™ Cheesecake below!
We’ll be treating our customers to two different types of Oreo Cheesecake on Oreo Day. You can try our take on a traditional Oreo Cheesecake at Hastings Coffee Co., or a deconstructed Oreo Cheesecake at Aqua Restaurant!
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- Crumble your Oreos and turn them into a Cookies and Cream co*cktail! We will be making our own version of this cookie lover’s dream on 6 March to celebrate Oreo Day. Come in to Jimmy’s Bar and Lounge to try one for yourself!
Oreo™ Trivia
Some fun facts about Oreos…
- Today’s Oreo™ cookie was developed by a food scientist named Sam Porcello.
- Oreo™ cookies can be popular with people who follow certain eating regimes. For example, they do not include animal products so have a strong Vegan fan base.
- In 2012, Oreo™ launched an advertising campaign featuring an Oreo™ cookie with rainbow-coloured cream, commemorating Gay Pride Month.
- During different seasons, Oreo launches special themed cookies such as Orange for Halloween, Red or Green for Christmas and Yellow for Spring.
Flavour variations
Some of the many limited-edition flavour variations that Oreo™ have released over the years include:
- Blueberry pie
- Red Velvet Cupcake
- Mint
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
- Birthday Cake
- Gingerbread
- Neopolitan
- Fruit Punch
- Caramel Apple
And many more!
OREO DAY AT THE WESTPORT CLUB
FAQs
A long time ago, two brothers disliked each other.
Jacob and Joseph Loose ran two competing bakeries in Kansas City, Missouri. Jacob invented the Hydrox cookie. It was a chocolate cookie with vanilla creme filling. Joseph copied his brother and created Oreo, but he struggled to build a successful company.
What is the Oreo success story? ›
Overall, Oreo's Daily Twist campaign was successful because it effectively combined cultural relevance, creativity, real-time marketing, multi-platform distribution, audience engagement, consistency, and measurable results to create a compelling and memorable brand experience that resonated with consumers worldwide.
What cookie was Oreo a knockoff of? ›
Oreo was created in 1912 as an imitation of Hydrox. Oreo eventually surpassed Hydrox in popularity, which resulted in the Hydrox cookies being perceived by many as an Oreo off-brand, despite the opposite being the case.
What is the history of the Oreo cookie? ›
The name Oreo was trademarked on March 14, 1912. It was launched as an imitation of the original Hydrox cookie manufactured by Sunshine company, which was introduced in 1908. The original design on the face of the Oreo featured a wreath around the edge of the cookie and the name "OREO" in the center.
Who owns Oreo now? ›
The Oreo brand has been owned by Mondelez International since 2012. According to Mondelez, it takes two hours to make and bake one Oreo cookie. The company operates factories in 18 countries around the world that produce 40 billion cookies per year.
How old is Oreo? ›
Introduced: 1912
First introduced in the U.S. in 1912, Oreo has become the world's top selling cookie and is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. In markets around the world, Oreo comes in surprising local flavors, like blueberry and green tea ice cream, and fun shapes and forms.
What does Oreo stand for? ›
The most common version asserts that Oreo derives from or, French for "gold" and supposedly the color of the original packaging. Others say it stands for "orexigenic," a medical term for substances that stimulate the appetite (including cannabis).
What is the mystery Oreo? ›
Here's how the corresponding contest worked: If you guessed the correct flavor, you were entered to win $50,000. Easy money, right? Well, time to take your detective hats off, because after months of suffering guessing, Oreo finally revealed that the creme is churro-flavored (...and the winner was notified).
Who fried the first Oreo? ›
Turns out the creator was Charlie Boghosian, an Armenian living in Los Angeles. He was only 16 years old at the time, but had already built a reputation as “The Man Who Fries Everything.” He debuted Deep Fried Oreos at the LA County Fair in 2001, and the world has never looked back.
What is Oreos rival? ›
Its rival Oreo would become the definitive creme-cookie sandwich, while Hydrox would languish in obscurity, eventually being discontinued until revived, discontinued again, and brought back. Hydrox isn't a causality of any major misstep; it simply lost out in the cutthroat world of snacks.
Pokemon Mew Oreo Cookie - Ultra Rare.
Which Oreo is healthiest? ›
In keeping with Double Stuf Oreos being healthier than classic Oreos, so too are Golden Double Stufs the better choice over regular Golden Oreos, when you are considering the nutritional values. Oreo goes for approximately 53 calories per cookie.
Was Oreo or Hydrox first? ›
Hydrox aren't a knockoff — they're the original sandwich cookie. Hydrox debuted in 1908, a full four years before Oreo came out, and they were revolutionary at the time.
Why is Oreo America's favorite cookie? ›
What makes Oreo so popular? First and foremost, how good the cookies taste. But we'll also give credit to some great advertising, and Oreo's willingness to experiment with new flavors like birthday cake, mint, and, most recently, red velvet.
What flavor is Oreo? ›
The Oreo flavor does have a hint of cocoa flavor, a bit of chocolateyness and bitterness, but the flavor of the salt and the alkaline baking soda in them is at least as strong. If you taste carefully, you can also taste the Oreos from the last batch they mixed in. (This is a common industry practice.)
Why did Hydrox sue Oreo? ›
The company and its CEO Ellia Kassoff claim the Oreo manufacturer is intimidating retailers and instructing workers who restock its creme-filled chocolate cookies in stores to hide, misplace or move Hydrox to less desirable locations. “I'm going to be pursuing a lawsuit against them,” Kassoff said in an interview.
What was the mystery Oreo? ›
According to PEOPLE, Oreo first introduced the churro-flavored cookies back in 2019. Per the publication, the flavor came in the form of a "mystery cookie" which came in white packaging, with the cookies looking identical to regular Oreos.
Are Hydrox cookies still available? ›
Kellogg's removed Droxies® from the market in 2003. Leaf® Brands is proud to bring back the original sandwich cookie, Hydrox®!
Is Hydrox better than Oreo? ›
Oreos are slightly sweeter. And the Hydrox chocolate biscuits are a little harder, standing up to a milk dunk a little better. But the biggest difference between Oreos and Hydrox was that Oreos had a better name and Nabisco marketed the heck out of them.
