Love Letters to Scottish Foods: Tunnock's Tea Cakes

Of course I remember the first time I saw you, sitting with your friends in a box. Who would ever forget a moment like that? No one can deny that you are beautiful in your red and silver stripes. You don't need me to tell you that, and I don't want to inflate that already-round head of yours. But when I asked about you I was disappointed. It turned out that although you were called a "tea cake" (which brought to my mind visions of scones), you were actually made of chocolate, marshmallow and a biscuit. I had had some unfortunate relations with biscuits like that before. I know I shouldn't have judged you so quickly, but I thought "you've tried one marshmallow cookie, you've tried them all". I didn't want to be heartbroken again by a waxy "chocolatey coating", gummy and tasteless white foam and soggy cardboard biscuit combination. I had tried to make it work in the past, and I was always left holding the (almost-full) bag. Always craving something more.

But you. You were thrust into my hands by someone eager to introduce me to a Scottish legend. I didn't want to be rude, so I tentatively unwrapped you. So voluptuous. Your marshmallow is twice the height of my ex-biscuits back in Canada. And when I bit into you, a crisp and real chocolate coating snuggled up against my tongue, melting away quickly to reveal gooey delicious marshmallow. And all of this was supported by a firm but yielding biscuit, delicately flavoured with chocolate, unlike anything I had tried before. There was no denying it; I was sweet on you. You were so delicious, so new, such a revelation. I had always assumed that biscuits like you were pretty fake, but despite your pillowy bulk, your list of ingredients is slim and trim. Only the essentials in there.

My darling Tunnock's, thank you for changing my opinion of marshmallow biscuits forever. Of course, you're ruined all of your pale and sunken competitors for me, but that's hardly a loss, is it? It's true that I don't have you over to my house very often anymore, and let's be honest; that's because you made me fat. But once in a while I promise to pick up you (and a couple of your buddies) for a delightful evening in.

All my love,

Katie

Comments

[belstaff leather]

Thanks you for your support, all the information is just what i need.

[ClubPenguinCheats]

I had some unfortunate relations with biscuits like that before.

[kittie]

Lol - love it! I'm currently posting a series on Scottish food - and my explorings led me here - I'm going to link to you when I do my tea cake post!

I miss Glasgow!!!

[lorna]

have you tried the dark chocolate ones?? They are a rare find, makes them all the more special....

[Mair]

Mmmmmmmm. I am trying to get permission at the moment to visit the Tunnock's factory outside Glasgow as apparently they have three floors of state-of-the-art wafer-making equipment. The mind boggles. Would be great to see how ye olde teacakes are constructed too!

[daccia]

i am hot for this.