Five Things You Didn’t Know About Teacakes (2024)

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Teacakes (1)

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Teacakes

There is nothing better than a toasted teacake, filled with juicy currants and sultanas, covered in butter and served with a cup of tea or coffee. A sweet treat that is synonymous with English Afternoon Tea, they are much more versatile that you might think – and an ideal upsell with a drink for most casual dining outlets.

But first – the team at Schulstad Bakery Solutions investigated to find out five things you might not have known about the humble teacake.

1. Teacakes and Hot Cross Buns are different – There are some striking differences between the two – and we don’t just mean the decorative cross. Teacakes are often larger and flatter with a slightly harder consistency, meaning they can be enjoyed with a range of condiments, including jams and marmalades. A Hot Cross Bun is softer, with more spices baked in, so is often just enjoyed with butter.

2. Increased demand for fruited teacakes during the pandemic - It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in home baking. Teacakes have become a popular choice for those looking to indulge in some home baking, as they are relatively easy to make and require only a few basic ingredients. With this surge in consumer popularity, now is the time to add them to your menu.

3. The perfect partner to another British tradition - Teacakes are often enjoyed toasted and slavered in jam, marmalade or butter. But, as well as being eaten on their own, many also enjoy them with a very British cup of tea. In fact, according to a recent survey, teacakes are the second most popular accompaniment to a cup of tea, behind only biscuits2. The warmth and sweetness of the teacake make it the perfect comfort food to accompany a lovely cuppa.

4. Teacakes are not just for tea - While fruited teacakes are a classic accompaniment to a hot drink, they can be enjoyed in many different ways. For example, they can be used as a base for a delicious dessert, such as a teacake and butter pudding. They can also be served as a sweet breakfast option, topped with jam or honey.

5. The history of the teacake - While the exact origins of the teacake are uncertain, it is believed to have roots in the North of England from hundreds of years ago. Over time, different regions have put their own spin on the teacake, resulting in a variety of different recipes and flavour combinations.

References

1https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/lockdown-baking-drives-20-rise-in-sales-of-dried-fruit/604841.article

2Yorkshire Tea, 2020, What Brits Really Drink With Their Tea

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Teacakes (2)

5" Fruited Teacake

An English classic sweet, round fruited teacake, filled with juicy currants and sultanas. Fully baked, fully sliced and approximately 5 inches in diameter. Traditionally served toasted and buttered and served with a hot drink.

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Five Things You Didn’t Know About Teacakes (2024)

FAQs

What is special about tea cake? ›

Tea cakes are soft roll-out cookies that are tender, chewy and pleasantly dense. They are a cookie with a cake-like texture. The ingredients are very simple (flour, sugar, butter, milk, nutmeg, and eggs), and the gentle flavor of nutmeg is what makes these so special.

How did tea cakes get their name? ›

Tea cakes originated in Britain and were served, as the name implies, with afternoon tea. But in the South, the cookies evolved into a special snack. In some families they were served only on holidays.

Why is a teacake called a teacake? ›

Outside the South, the words “tea cake” mean any cake served with tea. But to Southerners, tea cakes are more than that. They are the nostalgic cookies—crispy and golden around the edges, soft and cake-like inside—that are perfect for tea, or just about anything else you choose to drink.

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 is tea cake's real name? ›

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).

When was the Tea Cake invented? ›

Boyd Tunnock, Archie's younger son was given the task of developing a new product. Boyd did a lot of market research and further developed the idea of using Italian meringue. He made a biscuit base, hand piped the mallow onto the base and covered in milk chocolate. The Teacake made its first appearance in 1956.

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.

What is another name for Tea Cake? ›

Although they are widely known, tea cakes have not always gone by this name. They are referred to as currant buns or spiced buns in some regions of the UK. Similar baked goods have different names in other nations.

How old is Tea Cake? ›

He is around 12 years younger than Janie. This means that he is approximately 24 to 27 years old. Tea Cake is set up as the exact opposite of Janie's first husband, Logan. He is young, romantic, and adventurous.

Is Tea Cake good or bad? ›

Hurston depicts Tea Cake as not simply a good or bad person, but instead as a real person who is complicated and not easily understood. At times, Tea Cake is motivated by pride, as when he refuses to leave the Everglades at first sign of the impending hurricane, prioritizing money over safety for Janie.

What does Teacake mean? ›

noun. a small cake, cookie, tart, or the like, for serving with tea or punch.

What do Americans call teacakes? ›

A teacake in England is generally a light yeast-based sweet bun containing dried fruit, typically served toasted and buttered. In the U.S. teacakes can be cookies or small cakes. In Sweden, they are soft, round, flat wheat breads made with milk and a little sugar, and used to make buttered ham or cheese sandwiches.

Is Tea Cake white or black? ›

A question we are commonly asked here at the Texas Tea Cake Company is "What is a tea cake?" According to historians, the American tea cake was created over 200 years ago by African slaves in the southeastern United States. Tea cakes were initially made by plantation cooks for the guest of white slave owners.

What is birthday Tea Cake? ›

Bite Birthday Cake flavored teacakes are a delicious and refreshingly light dessert. The cakes have a 30 day ambient shelf life and a one year frozen shelf life. Simply thaw and serve. Bite Birthday teacakes are a delicious birthday cake-flavored treat coated in icing with a decorative sprinkle topping.

What happened after Tea Cake died? ›

After Tea Cake's funeral, Janie stays in the Everglades, but it is too painful for her there, as the place only reminds her of her beloved husband. Janie gives away everything she owns except for a package of garden seed, a reminder of Tea Cake and his love for planting things.

What's the difference between Tea Cake and regular cake? ›

Tea cakesare typically denser than sponge cakes as they contain more butter and are often made with a lower amount of rising agents like baking powder.

Why does Janie like Tea Cake so much? ›

Janie's marriage to Tea Cake makes her feel like she has been given a second chance in life to live her youth; she feels reborn. With Tea Cake, she is actually having fun and is truly happy.

What is the tradition of Tea Cake? ›

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.

How is Tea Cake different from Janie's previous two husbands? ›

Unlike both her previous husbands, Tea Cake does not judge Janie. The porch sitters, Logan, and Joe have judged Janie on her beauty, her work ethic, and her pursuit for her own identity. Tea Cake loves Janie unconditionally.

References

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