What's a hobnob anyway?

Students! Be forewarned! It is with great likelihood that you will return from your time in London addicted to this little, round, oat biscuit, the "national biscuit" of London, which is served every week at the London Center's COFFEE TALK.

Hobnob: to associate familiarly. Hobnobbed, hobnobbing.

Hobnob comes from an eariler phrase, to hob or nob, meaning "to drink together, taking turns toasting one another," probably from Middle English habbe "to have" and nabbe, a contraction of ne + habbe, "to have not," hence, "to have and have not, to give and take."

Hobnobbing in Great Britain has come to take on it's own meaning, whereby people come together to socialize, drink tea or coffee and eat biscuits. In time, an entire class of oat biscuit has become known as the hobnob. In recent times, the hobnob biscuit has, like many modern commodities, been branded by certain manufacturers and now comes in several styles. Nevertheless, hobnobs are an important part of British life, as can be attested by a simple internet search for "hobnobs", which brings to light many conversations about this national cuisine, including an experiment whereby people have tested which style of hobnob has the best tea absorption rate, and the following comment:

"I'd just like all your readers to know that HobNobs are not only the king of biscuits, they're also an important part of the running of Britain's infrastructure. I am a cop and I get to drink a lot of tea in old ladies houses. Needless to say, I'm often presented with an array of biscuits and consider myself an amateur connoisseur. I know many colleagues in similar positions and HobNobs are always the biscuit of choice. I was overjoyed when McVities produced the Chocolate HobNob, many years ago now, and a shift wouldn't pass without me and my colleagues sitting around dunking and munching Chocolate HobNobs. Had it not been for a Chocolate HobNob, I wouldn't have caught a nasty burglar escaping an old dear's house. I genuinely believe that the extra calories in that very biscuit gave me the energy burst to catch the naughty villain.

Most weekends, especially on night shifts, I have to visit the local hospital to see road accident or assault victims. I usually manage to sneak a pot of tea with the pretty nurses and, I know this may come of no surprise to you now, they too favour HobNobs. Many of my colleagues are ex-military, some from special forces. They all swear that the HobNob plays a very important part of military life and is the choice of most regiments. After all, the HobNob is the marine of biscuits!
Do you see where I'm going with this?? I could evidence my argument with more witnesses, however I chose to rest my case at this point. The HobNob is vital to the running of the country, so lets give it the respect it deserves." - Sidders (taken from www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com)

You, as a London Center student will be properly exposed to hobnobbing and the hobnob in the form of weekly COFFEE TALKS, hosted by none other than the London Center director himself. Coffee Talk is an invaluable time in the week whereby students can come together in an informal setting to discuss any and all matters.