Coastin Carl
πͺ TIM TAM Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
Tim Tam is an iconic sweet treat from Australia that has been around since 1964. Arnott’s Bakeries created TIM TAM Day to be celebrated on the 16th Day in February. Why this date was chosen remains unclear but TIM TAM Day is the perfect excuse to savor these iconic chocolatey biscuits which have achieved cult status in Australia and beyond.
Tim Tam biscuits were developed by Arnott’s Director of Food Technology Ian Norris. Mr Norris went on a world trip and left his home in Australia in search of food inspiration which he discovered in England circa 1958. He found the Penguin Biscuit in Great Britain but wasn’t completely happy with the product and felt he could improve the recipe which is exactly what he did. So in true Australian fashion, a star was born.
What’s a TIM TAM?
What exactly are “Tim Tams”? Tim Tams are made by an Australian bakery company that makes delicious types of biscuits. In Australia and the UK, biscuits are the word for cookies in American English. A Tim Tam is two malted biscuits that have been sectioned in the middle with a light chocolate cream filling covered with a thin layer of chocolate on the outside.
They’re considered “Australia’s Oreo” but with a more prominent biscuit base. Over the years many different variations of these cookies have been made and tested in limited-edition varieties. Different companies have tried to make similar style biscuits or cookies to the original Tim Tam.
- Satisfy that sweet tooth with this tasty treat
- Delicious, smooth chocolate cream sandwiched between 2 crunch cookies
- Coated with Tim Tam milk chocolate
What’s a Tim Tam SLAM?
Forget cookie dunking, dive into a truly Aussie experience with the Tim Tam Slam! This riveting ritual elevates the humble Tim Tam chocolate sandwich biscuit to new heights. You’ll need two things: a Tim Tam and a hot beverage like milk, coffee, or tea. It’s a way to achieve the ideal balance of rich chocolatey goodness by dunking your Tim Tams into the hot drink and sucking the liquid through the biscuit.
Tim Tam FLAVORS
CLASSIC Flavors
- Original: The timeless Tim Tam, featuring a milk chocolate coating, creamy chocolate filling, and a malty biscuit base.
- Double Coat: Indulge in double the milk chocolate coating for an extra decadent experience.
- Dark Chocolate: Rich and luxurious, perfect for those who prefer darker chocolate.
- White Chocolate: Sweet and creamy, with a white chocolate coating and white chocolate filling.
- Caramel: A classic duo of milk chocolate and gooey caramel filling.
Arnott's Tim Tam Classic Dark Biscuits 200g
Tim Tam Classic Dark Chocolate Cookies, 7oz Tray
Arnott's Tim Tam Chocolate Biscuits, 200...
DELUXE Flavors
- Decadent Triple Choc: A chocolate lover’s dream, featuring a milk chocolate coating, milk chocolate cream, and dark chocolate drizzle.
- Salted Caramel Brownie: Dive into a delightful mix of milk chocolate, salted caramel filling, and brownie pieces.
- Dark Choc Raspberry Tart: Savor the combination of dark chocolate coating, raspberry cream filling, and a raspberry drizzle.
- Dark Choc Mint: Enjoy the classic pairing of dark chocolate coating and mint cream filling.
Arnott's Tim Tam - DELUXE - (Decadent Triple Choc,...
Tim Tam Deluxe Triple Choc & Dark Choc Mint 2 Pack...
Arnott's Tim Tam White Biscuits 165g
LIMITED EDITION Flavors
Arnott’s frequently releases exciting limited edition Tim Tam flavors, so be sure to keep an eye out for unique and innovative options! Some past limited edition flavors included:
- Coconut & Lychee: Tropical flavors of coconut and lychee encased in a white chocolate coating.
- Butterscotch & Cream: Indulge in the creamy butterscotch filling wrapped in a milk chocolate coating.
- Red Velvet: Experience the unique combination of red velvet biscuit, cream cheese filling, and a milk chocolate coating.
- Murray River Salted Caramel: Savor the unique taste of salted caramel filling made with Murray River salt, all within a milk chocolate coating.
Arnotts Tim Tam - Chocolate Biscuits (4 Pack)...
Arnott's Tim Tam Classic Dark Biscuits 200g
Tim Tam Cookies Arnotts - 6 Pack - Australian...
No matter your taste preference, there’s a Tim Tam flavor out there just waiting to be discovered!
π HOW to Celebrate & Observe TIM TAM Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities that you can do on TIM TAM Day!
π JOIN the Aussie Community β€οΈ
Arnott’s product is a huge family tradition. In fact, 95% of Tim Tam products fill the cupboards in Aussie homes. In May 2015, Arnott’s Bakery turned a respectable 150 years old. Over the years they’ve made many cookies and employed lots of people to help run their factories.
Whether you’re an Aussie or not, open your heart to the Arnott’s Foundation initiatives. They help fund families and the community as well as Camp Quality which is an organization that helps children facing cancer. These are two very important causes to open your heart to and give a love offering to help those in need.
π Tim Tam TASTING Party
Invite friends and family over for a Tim Tam tasting party. Grab a bunch of Tim Tam flavors, including classic, dark chocolate, caramel, and limited edition varieties, and encourage everyone to try different combinations and share their favorites. Pair different types of Tim Tams with complementary beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, or even beer. Experiment with flavor combinations to discover new taste sensations with the biscuits.
You could set up a dessert buffet featuring assorted tasty Tim Tam-inspired treats. Imagine Tim Tam brownies, Tim Tam ice cream sandwiches, and Tim Tam truffles. Let guests indulge in a sweet spread of Tim Tam goodness.
π Tim Tam Slam CHALLENGE
Hold a Tim Tam Slam contest to see who can perform the perfect Tim Tam Slam by sucking the warm liquid through the biscuit. Then challenge yourself or your friends to come up with creative recipes using Tim Tams as an ingredient. From Tim Tam cheesecake to Tim Tam milkshakes, the possibilities are endless!
π LEARN a time-honored Aussie Tradition
Several great things symbolize the amazing Australian continent. Hows about kangaroos and wallabies, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney’s Harbour Bridge or the Sydney Opera House, Vegemite, Down Under by Men at Work, flags (Aboriginal and Australian flag), boomerangs, dotted artwork, Tim Tams and a whole lot more. Learn about Arnott’s Bakery and the history of Tim Tams.
π RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #TimTamDay, #TimTams, #TimTamSlam, #FoodHolidays, #FebruaryHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you β€οΈ TIM TAM Day.
LEARN more about how TIM TAMS are made
QUICK TIM TAM FACTORY TOUR
TWELVE Fun Facts you never knew about TIM TAM Day
- Arnott’s logo is a parrot. The famous Arnott’s parrot was originally drawn by the founder’s daughter-in-law, who had a soft spot for the biscuit-loving bird.
- Australians eat more than 45 million packages of Tim Tams a year. That’s roughly one pack for every two households in the country!
- There are even cheese-flavored Tim Tams in the Indonesian market.
- Actual biscuits and cookies in America are called “scones” and “biscuits” in England & Australia respectively.
- The chocolate coating contains a trace amount of alcohol, though at .05% is not enough to intoxicate anyone. Some of Arnott’s products also have cochineal which is derived from the insect.
- Taylor Swift is a huge fan of Tim Tams.
- Cate Blanchett once starred in a Tim Tam commercial in the 1990s at the age of 20, earning her the nickname the Tim Tam Girl.
- The record for the tallest Tim Tam stack is 7 feet 10 inches (2.4 meters) at the Manly Food, Wine, and Sustainability Festival in Australia in 2012.
- The Tim Tam factory in Sydney Australia churns out about 3,000 biscuits per minute.
- Tim Tam cookies are actually named after the winning racehorse of the same name from the Kentucky Derby in 1958.
- The idea for Tim Tams came to Ian Norris, an Arnott’s biscuit company executive, during a trip to the UK, where he was inspired by the British Penguin biscuit.
- The “Tim Tam Slam” is a popular way to enjoy Tim Tams where the corner of the biscuit is bitten off diagonally at each end, and it’s used as a straw to drink through a hot beverage. Or you could just let it melt completely and remove the cookie when done.
Famous PEOPLE also born on February 16th
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Sir Francis Galton
British statistician, sociologist, meteorologist, anthropologist, psychologist, and basically every other ‘ologist there is. He’s garnered every major award from the Victorian scientific community but is best known for creating the first weather map detailing different climates. And was one of the first scientists to discuss measuring intelligence. Born 1822.
SIR FRANCIS GALTON Quote
“Some mechanism ought to be devised for shaking elderly people in a healthful way, and in many directions.”
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Guiseppe “Joe” Venuti
American jazz player best known for his brand of “hot” violin and is widely considered the “Father of Jazz Violin”. He was born on a ship his parents were traveling on while emigrating to the United States. Born 1903.
JOE VENUTI Quote
“If you’re going to make a mistake, make it loud so everybody else sounds wrong.”
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Levardis Robert Martyn “LeVar” Burton Jr
American actor and television host best known for hosting Reading Rainbow more than 23 years on PBS, and the fictional characters Kunta Kinte in the Roots miniseries & Lt Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fun Fact: his character La Forge was born on the same day as LeVar in the year 2335. Born 1957.
LEVAR BURTON Quote
“For me, literacy means freedom. For the individual and for society.”
Future DATES for TIM TAM Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | February 16 | Thursday |
| 2024 | February 16 | Friday |
| 2025 | February 16 | Sunday |
| 2026 | February 16 | Monday |
| 2027 | February 16 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | February 16 | Wednesday |
π¦ Tim Tam FAQ
WHEN is TIM TAM Day?
- TIM TAM Day is an annual celebration held on February 16th each year.
WHY are they CALLED Tim Tams?
- Because Ross Arnott loves horses and visited the Kentucky Derby in 1958 and Tim Tam was the winning racehorse that year. Six years later, Tim Tam seemed like the perfect name for a new line of planned delicious biscuits.
What’s the Tim Tam SLOGAN?
- Well if you’re in Australia the biscuit packaging says “Made in Australia”. The US packaged cookies say “Australia’s Favorite Cookie”.
Why we LπVE TIM TAM Day
Tim Tams are an absolutely wonderful biscuit cookie that people have enjoyed all around the world. Arnottβs is available online which means that you can still get them even if Tim Tams aren’t available in stores near where you live.
Many companies have tried to duplicate the recipe … of course, the original Arnottβsβ Tim Tam version will always be the very best. One company named Dick Smith Foods in 2003 released a cookie called Temptin. This cookie allegedly diluted their trademark making a similar biscuit to Tim Tam which even had similarly designed packaging. The case was settled out of court.
I guess that’s the way the biscuit or cookie crumbles. π
