Tea Cakes: A Sweet Staple of Black History
Tea cakes aren’t just a snack—they’re a story. Born from resilience and resourcefulness, these soft, simple cookies have been a staple in Black homes for generations. Enslaved African Americans, denied access to the refined pastries of their enslavers, crafted their own version using what little they had—molasses, brown sugar, nutmeg, and ingenuity. But the story of tea cakes isn’t just about what went into them—it’s about the labor that made them possible. From sugarcane fields to wheat plantations, Black hands did the backbreaking work of cultivating the very ingredients they were rarely allowed to enjoy. Yet, from those scraps, they created something lasting. Tea cakes became a symbol of survival, shared at church gatherings, family celebrations, and passed down through generations. As we honor Black History Month 2025 and its theme, “African Americans and Labor,” let’s take a moment to recognize the hands that built, baked, and preserved this history. Tea cakes aren’t just food—they’re a legacy.
