Wit and wisdom in a biscuit from Northern Ireland!

A Northern Irish artisan business has come up with a new twist on the traditional Fortune Cookie, a long-term and popular feature of Chinese restaurants around the world.

Grace's Irish Foods, based in Bangor, county Down, has developed the first Irish Fortune Cookie using a traditional Irish butter shortbread biscuit individually wrapped with examples of Irish good wishes and humour and available in a box of ten.

Just launched, the boxes retail for around £2.50.

The new product is the latest from thefamily run company which specialises in a small range of designer artisanal food, including Titanic jam, and drink brands.

William Bullock, the founder and managing director of the business, says: "Irish humour is appreciated worldwide and it seemed logical to combine this with our famous butter shortbread.

"We use traditional biscuit recipes that have been passed down through generations in attractive and contemporary packaging. An obvious target for the new biscuits is the tourism sector which has been growing rapidly in Northern Ireland. But we also plan to develop sales in markets outside Northern Ireland, where people enjoy a bit of Irish humour, wit and wisdom," he adds.

By working closely with local farmers whose families have worked the land for hundreds of years Grace's developed award winning biscuits of the highest quality and with an emphasis on great flavour.

"Our traditional and distinctive shamrock shaped biscuits have become quickly established as a leading brand and our oatmeal variety was awarded 'best new product by a small company in the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards. The oatmeal biscuits have also won a UK Great Taste Award."