Get your eggs, flour, milk and butter ready: Pancake Day is HERE!

But have you ever wondered how it came about and why we celebrate Pancake Tuesday? 

When is Pancake Tuesday?

Pancake Day has been celebrated by Britons for centuries.
Known also as Shrove Tuesday, the exact date changes every year, as it is determined by when Easter falls. 

It is always the day preceding Ash Wednesday or the first day of Lent and always falls in February or March.

The Lent period is between Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday when in the Catholic tradition many begin to abstain from eating meat, eggs and animal produce for 40 days.
Whilst it is commonly said that Lent lasts 40 days, there are 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday.
However, traditionally Lent was not followed on Sundays, giving followers one day of rest a week; if you exclude all of the Sundays in the period, then Lent lasts 40 days.

What is the history behind Pancake Tuesday?

Pancake Tuesday is the traditional feast day before Lent begins, and is celebrated across Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Anglo-Saxon Catholics would attend confession at their parish church, where they would be ‘shriven’, or forgiven for their ‘sins’.

After confession, families would go home to use up any eggs and fats they had before embarking on their lent fast. The 40 day fast in essence serving as a period of cleansing to aid spiritual advancement.

The easiest way to use up such produce was to make a pancake-like batter and fry it in fats, as a means of ensuring food did not go to waste.

It is believed that Pancake Day might have originated way before it became a Catholic tradition. It is thought to be a Pagan holiday; when eating warm, round pancakes which symbolised the SUN or SOLARIS- was a way of celebrating the arrival of spring!

Here’s two yummy tea inspired pancake recipes, for a pancake with a difference this Pancake Tuesday :)

Matcha Pancakes

Serves approx. 8 pancakes

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 160 ml of your favourite milk (We already tried it with Oat’s Milk, Almond’s Milk as an alternative to Cow’s Milk)
• 60 ml of oil or melted butter
• 50 g of baker's sugar
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 120 g of plain flour
• 2 tsp of Matcha powder
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• A pinch of salt

Method:

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together egg, milk, oil (or melted butter), sugar, and vanilla extract.
2. Sift the flour, matcha powder and baking powder, add salt and then add to the bowl with the other ingredients.
3. Whisk until combined and the batter comes together. It will be thick and, of course, very green!
4. Heat a non-stick frying pan over moderate heat. Brush with oil or butter to fry the batter.
5. Using a 60 ml measure, transfer the pancake batter into the pan. You can use a spatula to help even out the circle.
6. Once bubbles appear and pop on the surface of the pancake, carefully flip pancakes and cook for another minute or so.
7. Stack pancakes and serve hot with your favourite toppings

Earl Grey Pancakes

Serves approx. 8 pancakes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 120 g plain flour
• 50 g of baker's sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 240 ml of Earl grey tea (steeped and cooled)
• 1 tsp of crushed Earl grey loose tea leaves
• 30 ml of oil or melted butter

Earl Grey Tea Prep:

To prepare the strong brew: Steep 4 teaspoons of earl grey in 240 ml of water for 5 minutes.

Method:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, sift the flour and stir in the sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture.
2. Combine the egg, steeped Earl grey tea, and oil or melted butter in the well of the dry mixture. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy.
3. Sprinkle in the crushed loose Earl grey tea leaves. Lightly mix all the ingredients 
4. Pour about 60 ml of the pancake batter onto a hot, lightly oiled, non-stick frying pan.
   Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Once you notice bubbles on the surface of the pancake, gently turn it over to cook on the other side.
5. Serve warm. These are great plain with the Earl Grey flavouring but feel free to dress up your pancakes with your favourite toppings or drizzle with your favourite syrup.

Karin Mueller is co-owner of Solaris tea and has been working in the field of wellness and health for over 20 years now. She is a Medical Herbalist (BSc Hons), practising Midwife (BSc Hons), Massage and Spa therapist and experienced course facilitator and teacher on a wide range of topics related to mindfulness, meditation and women’s health.