If you've ever snacked on a Triscuit and wondered how it got its name, Twitter user Sage Boggs has all the answers. The New Yorker explained the rather fascinating story behind Triscuits—and it's not what you think.
Boggs attended a party a few years back at which he saw a box of Triscuits and proceeded to ask partygoers what the word "Triscuit" actually meant. He knew it was probably rooted in "biscuit," but what about the prefix "tri-"?
Several years ago I was at a party (BRAG!), and I spotted a box of Triscuits. I asked everyone, "What does the word 'Triscuit' mean? It's clearly based on the word "BISCUIT," but what does the "TRI" mean?" (I'm great at parties.)
— Sage Boggs (@sageboggs) March 26, 2020
Boggs was told by most that "tri" simply referenced three ingredients, three layers, or something within that family, but nobody could say for sure. Even after a thorough Google search, Boggs came up empty-handed. He then decided to email Nabisco, at which point he was bestowed with some shocking information.
So we went straight to the source. We emailed Nabisco. And the response we got a few days later shook us to the core. Here it is: pic.twitter.com/Ks1gmaIQXj
— Sage Boggs (@sageboggs) March 26, 2020
Boggs, still unsatisfied, did "a little sleuthing online" to discover something interesting...
In the early 1900's, Triscuit was run out of Niagara Falls. And their big selling point? Being "baked by electricity." They were "the only food on the market prepared by this 1903 process." Look at the lightning bolts! And that's when it clicked--
— Sage Boggs (@sageboggs) March 26, 2020
Elec-TRI-city Biscuit
— Sage Boggs (@sageboggs) March 26, 2020
TRISCUIT MEANS "ELECTRICITY BISCUIT"
Boggs discovered, much to his surprise, that Triiscuits didn't have anything to do with groups of three. In fact, the "tri" in Triscuits stood for something much more surprising: electricity!