Galletas Maria

Maria biscuits (Galletas Maria in Spanish) are a type of sweet biscuit similar to a rich tea biscuit. They were originally created by the London bakery Peek Freans in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh.

While the brand originated in the United Kingdom, it became an iconic staple in Spain and Latin America after the Spanish Civil War, when it was produced in mass quantities to consume a surplus of wheat. Today, they are produced by numerous different food conglomerates across the globe, including Mondelēz International, Nestlé, and various local brands like Cuétara, Gullón, and Gamesa. Because 'Maria' is a generic style of biscuit rather than a single trademarked brand, the manufacturing and ultimate ownership depend entirely on the specific manufacturer of the package purchased.