# If you say "tea cake" what do you mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870 "2010-07-16T02:19:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/1 "2010-07-16T02:19:13Z")
If I say “I had a tea cake after lunch” I would be referring to something that looks like [this](http://whatscookingamerica.net/Cookie/RussianTeacakes.htm): a round, shortbread-like cookie with nuts and powdered sugar. When my boyfriend says “tea cake” he means something entirely different. Something like a cupcake though with a coarser texture. I can’t find a representative picture, but maybe some others in SoCal will know what I’m talking about. When I look at Google images, I see many things called “tea cakes.” What do you think of? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/2 "2010-07-16T02:21:04Z")
I think a “tea cake” could be just about anything. I’ve always called those things you linked to _Russian_ tea cakes. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/3 "2010-07-16T02:23:07Z")
I would have assumed the cake/muffin-type thing since I find it rare that only _one_ cookie-style tea cake is eaten. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/4 "2010-07-16T02:28:59Z")
I’d never say tea cake, because I’ve never been sure what they are (I assume that’s what “fairy cakes” from Little House On The Prairie also are, though). I’ve certainly never been served one or seen one in a store. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/5 "2010-07-16T02:32:25Z")
I’ve only ever heard “fairy cake” to refer to a cupcake. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/6 "2010-07-16T02:52:07Z")
I have no idea what a “tea cake” is ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/7 "2010-07-16T02:57:15Z")
Me neither, **PSXer**. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/8 "2010-07-16T03:03:50Z")
I don’t think I would ever refer to something as a “tea cake,” but if I did, it would be a small, round, muffin-like confectionary like that what you linked to, not a slice of a full-sized cake (which seems to be what a lot of Google hits are showing.) ---
**Author:** ![blackhobyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blackhobyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackhobyah)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/9 "2010-07-16T03:47:52Z")
Maybe it’s the British heritage, but in Australia “tea cake” means the sort of cake you’d have at afternoon tea … something sweet, but not overly complicated. Like this: [http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5106/apple+tea+cake](http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5106/apple+tea+cake) or this: [http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10244/lavender-tea-cake.aspx](http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10244/lavender-tea-cake.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/10 "2010-07-16T04:01:32Z")
“Tea cakes” in our house are round & flat, like cookies are, are shortbreadish, and there’s a circular hole in the top layer which is filled with a fruit filling of some sort. (The bottom layer supports this so the bottom of the tea cake isn’t sticky & drippy in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/11 "2010-07-16T04:35:01Z")
Just first thought, first venture, I think basically of a coffeecake. Second thought I think of scones or a shortbread with Jam. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/12 "2010-07-16T06:25:22Z")
> [@blackhobyah](#): > > Maybe it’s the British heritage, but in Australia “tea cake” means the sort of cake you’d have at afternoon tea … something sweet, but not overly complicated. Like this: [http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5106/apple+tea+cake](http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5106/apple+tea+cake) or this: [http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10244/lavender-tea-cake.aspx](http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10244/lavender-tea-cake.aspx) That’s what I was thinking of as well (and also British/NZ/Australian heritage). ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/13 "2010-07-16T07:12:48Z")
I think of a shortbread type cookie. Not overly complicated, but goes well with an afternoon cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/14 "2010-07-16T08:03:30Z")
Bit of shortbread, marshmallow bit, dipped in chocolate. The perfection that is the Tunnock’s Tea Cake. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/15 "2010-07-16T08:11:02Z")
Mostly, when I say it, I mean one of [these:](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Teacake.jpg) a sweet bread bun with dried fruit in it, preferably split and toasted, and served with butter. Sometimes, though, I mean [a “chocolate teacake” like this:](http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d299153ef01116858bc92970c-800wi) a biscuit base topped with mallow and covered in chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/16 "2010-07-16T08:29:40Z")
A shorbread sugar cookie. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/17 "2010-07-16T08:37:02Z")
> [@MickNickMaggies](#): > > Bit of shortbread, marshmallow bit, dipped in chocolate. The perfection that is the Tunnock’s Tea Cake. Yes, yes! That’s a teacake, Mmmmmmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![JoseArcadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@JoseArcadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseArcadio)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/18 "2010-07-16T09:01:18Z")
Thirding the Tunnock’s Tea Cake. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/19 "2010-07-16T09:02:37Z")
In Britain, many _tea shops_ will serve [toasted tea cakes](http://tees-su.org.uk/files/tb_menu_tea_cake.jpg) (at least, they used to). ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870/20 "2010-07-16T09:53:42Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Mostly, when I say it, I mean one of [these:](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Teacake.jpg) a sweet bread bun with dried fruit in it, preferably split and toasted, and served with butter. > > Sometimes, though, I mean [a “chocolate teacake” like this:](http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d299153ef01116858bc92970c-800wi) a biscuit base topped with mallow and covered in chocolate. Oh yes, those are both very acceptable versions of a teacake. I prefer the toasted version but fully endorse those that choose the way of the chocolate. Incidentally, there is no funnier phrase than “Tunnocks Caramel Wafer” said in a very broad Aberdeen accent. Try it (the phrase _and_ the caramel wafer) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-say-tea-cake-what-do-you-mean/546870.md?page=2)