15 Things You Didn’t Know About The Oreo In Honor Of National Oreo Cookie Day
Get a glass of milk, because March 6th is National Oreo Cookie Day!
- Since its introduction in 1912, Oreo has been the best-selling cookie in the U.S.
The Oreo cookie has been dominating the cookie world since its debut in March of 1912. More than 450 billion of those chocolaty disks filled with sweet cream has been sold since the National Biscuit Company (what’s now known as Nabisco) first developed and produced the “Oreo Biscuit.”
- There is an “Oreo Way”
Baking companies came together in 1898 to create the National Biscuit Company, or Nabisco. They opened a bakery between 15th and 16th street in New York at the Chelsea Market Building, which now celebrates its status as the birthplace of the famous Oreo cookie. Hence, 15th Street at Ninth Avenue is officially known as, “Oreo Way.”
- No one really knows how the Oreo got its name
Although there are a few rumors floating around, no one truly knows how the Oreo got its name. Some believe that the cookie was named after the French word for gold, “or” (the original packaging for the cookie used to be gold).
- The Oreo is, sadly, a knock-off
The Oreo is unfortunately a knock-off. Hydrox cookies – which were basically the exact same thing as an Oreo – were invented by a company called Sunshine in 1908.
- Oreos were once made with lard
A lot of things used to be made with lard, including the filing of Oreo cookies. It wasn’t until the 90s that Nabisco decided to switch to vegetable oil.
- The cookie-to-cream ratio is a serious thing
Each Oreo cookie-to-cream ratio is perfectly crafted to be 71 percent to 29 percent.
- The Nabisco mail boy is the genius behind the design printed on each cookie
Nabisco denies this, but rumor has it that a mail boy (William Turnier) created the embossed design on the Oreo. According to Delish, William’s son, Bill Turnier, has an original blueprint of the modern Oreo design up on his wall, and written on the back is his father’s name and the date “7/17/52” – two years before the design ended up on the Oreos.
- Men and women eat Oreos differently
This probably isn’t too much of a surprise, but it has been discovered that 84 percent of men eat Oreos whole, while 41 percent of women twist the cookie in half.
- The very first Oreo was sold on March 6, 1912 in Hoboken, New Jersey
It would be pretty awesome to be the very first person to sink your teeth into a delicious cream filled Oreo.
- Oreos were once sold by weight
Oreos used to cost 30 cents per pound.
- The original Oreo had a co-pilot
When the Oreo first hit the shelves in 1912, a lemon meringue flavor was sold with it. But, due to its unpopularity, it was discontinued in the 1920s.
- Oreo went through an identity crisis
In 1912, it was known as the Oreo Biscuit, and in 1921 it was the Oreo Sandwich. Then in 1937, it was the Oreo Crème Sandwich. Then finally in 1974, it became the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie.
- The first Oreo slogan was created in 1950
The “Oh! Oh! Oreo!” advertisement slogan came out in 1950.
- It takes 59 minutes to make an Oreo
While it may only take 59 seconds to eat one, it takes an entire 59 minutes to make just one cookie.
- China sells interesting flavored Oreos
Like, green tea ice cream flavored Oreos.
[Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images]
