A Brief History of Tea Cakes (2024)

Tea cakes can trace their origin back to Great Britain where “afternoon tea” is still a part of everyday life. Afternoon tea began in the 1840s as a tradition of having a tea in the afternoons as a way to stave off hunger until the dinner meal was served. Along with quality tea, “tea cakes" were served with all kinds of appetizers that included mini sandwiches and other pastries as well.

Originally, tea cakes weren’t even cakes at all. They were, in fact, sweet buns with dried fruit, akin to a muffin. During British colonization, the tradition of afternoon tea carried on to more and more places where each culture changed the recipe to suit their needs. Therefore, tea cakes can be anything fromactual cakes in countries such as India and Australia, to chocolate-coated marshmallows in Scotland, according to Wikipedia.

In the States, tea cakes became part of the tradition from Britain that carried on. According to The Local Palate, these cakes are most associated with the people of the South. Most are off-white cookies that are soft when chewed. They can be somewhat plain if one is accustomed to different flavors and textures when promised a cake.

Dating back to the nineteenth- and twentieth century, there are cookbooks that include their own spin and special ingredients for tea cake recipes, proving they have been in American cuisine for at least generations. Tea cakes were served for many gatherings and special occasions throughout history such as Prohibition, political gatherings, religious events such as baptisms, and even at funerals. As far back as October 25, 1774, an Edenton resident, Penelope Baker used tea cakes in her protest against the British Tea Act of 1773. While she served no tea, the cakes were used in the gathering to entertain the guests while they signed a petition in protest of the aforementioned act. Although this is of small significance to some, it was actually one of the earliest recorded organized political events by women, according to NorthCarolinaHistory.org. We are proud that tea cakes were part of this moment.

Today, everyone has their own take on tea cakes that has come to encompass any bite-sized treat. Ours are packed with flavor because we add three layers of cake and two layers of butter cream. We don’t stop there. We also add layers of naturally flavored fillings, all topped with chocolate in our signature colors. Each cake is ornately decorated. Dragonfly Tea Cakes are little cakes to celebrate life's big moments.

A Brief History of Tea Cakes (2024)

FAQs

A Brief History of Tea Cakes? ›

Tea cakes can trace their origin back to Great Britain where “afternoon tea” is still a part of everyday life. Afternoon tea began in the 1840s as a tradition of having a tea in the afternoons as a way to stave off hunger until the dinner meal was served.

What is the history of Tea Cake? ›

Tea cakes are most associated with the enslaved people of the South who baked them for slaveholders—and for their own families, too. When many of them left the South after the Civil War, they took their recipes with them; tea cakes have been baked and talked about in African American kitchens for generations.

What is the background of Tea Cake? ›

History of the Tea Cake

In fact, one of America's earliest tea cakes were the Edenton Tea Party Cakes. They were served in 1774 by a group of women protesting the British tax on imported tea. They've historically been called Jackson Jumbles and Democratic Tea Cakes.

What is Tea Cake's real name in their eyes were watching God? ›

Vergible Woods, known as Tea Cake, is the third husband of Janie Crawford, the protagonist of Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937).

What is the black history of the Tea Cake? ›

In enslaved households, molasses and other ingredients took the place of sugar and white flour in teacakes, and each family developed its own closely guarded recipe. Over time, teacakes become inextricably linked with Southern African American culture.

What happened to Tea Cake before he died? ›

Janie and Tea Cake shot at the same time, and Janie shot and killed Tea Cake. Janie held Tea Cake in her arms and wept and silently thanked him for the time they had together. Tea Cake bit her on the arm just before he died. The doctor testified that Janie had acted in self-defense.

What is the meaning of Tea Cake? ›

/ˈtiː.keɪk/ a small, round, sweet cake containing dried fruit, often cut open, heated, and eaten with butter: toasted teacakes.

How old was Tea Cake? ›

Answer and Explanation: Janie is in her late thirties when she meets Vergible 'Tea Cake' Woods. He is around 12 years younger than Janie. This means that he is approximately 24 to 27 years old.

Is Tea Cake white or black? ›

In the Southeastern United States, a teacake is a traditional dense large cookie, made with sugar, butter, eggs, flour, milk, and flavoring. They are particularly associated with the African-American community and were originally developed as an analog of the pastries served to guests by white women when entertaining.

What do we learn about Tea Cake? ›

Tea Cake's pride comes from self-confidence, just as did Joe's. Tea Cake knows he is a good gambler. He knows he is a competent worker on the muck. He knows he can provide for his wife, and he knows that he will be faithful to her.

Did Janie truly love Tea Cake? ›

They are able to resolve these class differences when Janie reveals to Tea Cake that she wants to be with him, no matter where he is or who his friends are. Yet again, Janie realizes her powerful love for Tea Cake, especially after his absence and his injuries. She feels a "self-crushing" love for her husband.

Did Tea Cake bite Janie? ›

Tea Cake falls forward and buries his teeth in Janie's forearm, as she catches him. Later, Janie must endure a brief trial, but she is freed. Afterward, she must arrange his funeral.

What was Tea Cake's illness? ›

Tea Cake's case of rabies is an extension of the force of nature that victimized him and Janie (and other humans) during the hurricane. After contracting the disease, Tea Cake loses his physical strength, and, by extension, his sense of command over himself, Janie, and the rest of the world.

Why did Tea Cake go crazy? ›

Tea Cake's health deteriorates and the rabies warp his mind, filling him with delusional, paranoid thoughts. Janie doesn't tell him about the doctor's diagnosis. When she sneaks off to see if the medicine has arrived, Tea Cake accuses her of sneaking off to see Mrs.

Why doesn't Janie wear mourning clothes anymore? ›

Janie doesn't feel the need to wear mourning clothes because she is no longer grieving for Joe.

Who invented the Tea Cake? ›

Teacakes. The Tunnock's Teacake is a sweet food often served with a cup of tea or coffee. It was developed by Sir Boyd Tunnock in 1956.

What does Tea Cake symbolize? ›

Janie is drawn to Tea Cake because Tea Cake represents the life that she has not been allowed to live, and seems to offer the promise of that life to her. Another thing that Tea Cake represents to Janie is freedom.

Is Tea Cake black in their eyes were watching God? ›

She loves whiteness and argues that Black people are lazy and foolish and that they should try to “lighten up de race.” She dislikes the dark-skinned Tea Cake and wants Janie to marry her light-skinned brother.

Why is Tea Cake important? ›

Tea Cake functions as the catalyst that helps drive Janie toward her goals. Like all of the other men in Janie's life, he plays only a supporting role. Before his arrival, Janie has already begun to find her own voice, as is demonstrated when she finally stands up to Jody.

How old is Tea Cake in their eyes were watching God? ›

Answer and Explanation: Janie is in her late thirties when she meets Vergible 'Tea Cake' Woods. He is around 12 years younger than Janie. This means that he is approximately 24 to 27 years old.

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