Weetabix
4050061
224876250
2008-07-10T20:19:00Z
WBOSITG
5019622
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.144.213.12|86.144.213.12]] to last version by Lots42 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Unreferenced|date=March 2007}}
{{otheruses4|the breakfast cereal known as "Weetabix"|the company which produces it|Weetabix Limited}}
[[Image:Weetabix.PNG|right|Logo]]
'''Weetabix''' is a [[wheat]]-based [[breakfast cereal]] produced by [[Weetabix Limited]]. It comes in the form of relatively large [[Biscuit#British English meaning|biscuits]]. These are similar to the [[Antipodean#Regional usage|Antipodean]] [[Weet-Bix]]; their generic counterparts are typically sold under the name "Wheat Biscuits". Variants include organic and '''Weetabix Minis''' (bite-sized) versions.<ref name="varieties">{{cite web |url=http://www.weetabix.co.uk/brands/weetabix/ |title=Weetabix Range |accessdate=2007-07-02 |publisher=Weetabix Ltd. |quote=''there's now an even bigger range of Weetabix cereals for you to try, including Weetabix, Weetabix Gold, Weetabix Minis and Weetabix Organic.''}}</ref> The cereal is manufactured in [[Burton Latimer]].
The biscuits are sometimes eaten "as is" or topped with [[butter]] or with [[jam]].
In the United Kingdom Weetabix are more typically served with milk (hot usually via the microwave or cold) in a bowl, as with any other breakfast cereal, yet sometimes with hot water, and often with fruit (bananas, etc). They are very light and absorbent and when soaked in milk can take on the texture of a light [[porridge]]. However, they retain a certain crunchiness for a while. The original Aussie Weet Bix remains crunchy far longer, mainly due to the larger size of the flakes that form the biscuits.
The [[Organic farming|organic]] version of Weetabix is increasingly seen on American [[supermarket]] shelves as an alternative to traditional brands offered in the US.
In the 1980s, a notable series of Weetabix advertisements featured a gang of animated Weetabix biscuits, in [[Doc Martens]], white T-shirts and denims, battling the "titchy breakfasts" (cereals which came in flakes or "crispies"). Their slogan was "Make it neat wheat, if you know what's good for you", the double meaning being emphasised by their tough, [[bovver boy]] appearance.
Weetabix is also high in [[Dietary fiber|fibre]], with 3.8g of fibre
in a 37.5g serving (2 biscuits).
==Variants==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Wgold.png|thumb|Weetabix Gold]] -->
===Weetabix Minis===
'''Weetabix Minis''' are essentially a sweeter 'bite-size' version of the standard Weetabix biscuits, with various additions depending upon the variety- '[[chocolate]]', '[[banana]]', '[[fruit]] & [[Nut (fruit)|nut]]' and '[[honey]] & nut'.
The cereal has been relaunched and renamed at least twice in a relatively short period of time following their launch. Previously, they were known as '''Fruitibix''', '''Bananabix''' and '''Chocobix''' (depending upon the additions), then as '''Minibix'''.
===Weetabix Gold===
'''Weetabix Gold''' are essentially the same as Weetabix, however finer wheat is used in Gold with a more delicate taste and a lighter texture, Gold was launched in 2006.
"It's that same great taste, but with Cream Elements infused," was the slogan for the product in the mid 80s.
===Other===
* Organic versions of Weetabix are sold in various countries.
* [[Oatibix]] is similar to Weetabix, but is based on oats instead of wheat.
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=May 2008}}
* Weetabix has in recent years become a verb in sporting circles, as in: "The goalkeeper made a game attempt at parrying the spot-kick, but completely Weetabixed it." This usage derives from a 1980s [[Great Britain|British]] advertisement for Weetabix, involving a goalkeeper in a [[football (soccer)|football]] match diving over the top of the ball, allowing it to pass underneath him. The term is also used in [[cricket]], when a [[Fielding (cricket)|fielder]] fails to prevent a ball from disappearing under his body on the way towards the boundary. This was explained by cricketer [[Graham Gooch]] during an edition of [[Test Match Special]], broadcast on 7 August, 2006.
* The phrase '(to have) had one's Weetabix' is also used in Britain. The idea behind the phrase is that Weetabix, being made of wholegrain wheat, is considered a relatively healthy breakfast cereal, and appropriate eating for someone who leads an active lifestyle. A person who is visibly chipper or athletic, for instance, may be described by someone as 'having had their Weetabix', in a similar way that such a person in the U.S. might be described as having 'eaten their [[Wheaties]]'. This term was even used to promote the cereal on television, featuring, among others, [[Robin Hood]] and his Merry Men fleeing at the sight of the Sheriff of Nottingham in possession of a box of Weetabix. The song that accompanied this ad was a parody of the one sung in the TV classic ''[[The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)|The Adventures of Robin Hood]]'':
::::''"Robin Hood, Robin Hood,<br>''
::::''Could be in a fix.<br>''
::::''Robin Hood, Robin Hood,<br>''
::::''Spies the Weetabix.<br>''
::::''Does he retreat<br>''
::::''Back to Sherwood?<br>''
::::''Course he should!<br>''
::::''Course he should!<br>''
::::''Course he should!"''
* During the ''Buffy'' episode "[[Hush (Buffy episode)|Hush]]", Spike reveals that he is quite fond of crumbling Weetabix up into blood (for texture), so much so that he ends up eating all of Giles' Weetabix repeatedly and hassles him to go and get more.
* In the 1970s Weetabix was advertised with the slogan "Weetabix is unbeatabix".
* [[John Lennon]] was fond of Weetabix growing up, and once used a stack of empty boxes to pull a classroom prank, as boyhood friend [[Peter Shotton]] recalled in ''The Beatles, Lennon and Me''.
* During the episode of ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'' entitled "Charlie", we find out [[Noel Fielding]]'s character, Vince, puts his 'novel' "Charlie" in packets of Weetabix at the supermarket, as a means of publishing them.
* Due to its porridgey texture when left in milk, in the UK Weetabix is a popular first-solid-food for babies.
In the blooper reel of Shotimes' The Tudors, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is being spoon-fed a cookie mixture to make it look like he is spitting out mud on camera. When joking with the crew member helping him, he says, "Come on, you've done Weetabix for the kids before!"
==See also==
* [[Oatibix]] - an oat based cereal that is similar to Weetabix.
* [[Shredded Wheat]] - another wheat-based biscuit cereal.
==External links==
* [http://www.weetabix.co.uk Weetabix Limited corporate website]
* [http://www.cereal.com/Breakfast-Cereals/weetabix.htm More weetabix]
[[Category:Breakfast cereals]]
[[Category:British cuisine]]
[[Category:British brands]]
[[Category:1936 introductions]]
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