Flapjack vs pancake

A hot debate with Michelle has been raging for months about the nature of flapjacks and pancakes in South Africa and the UK. I saw some flapjacks on a menu in Johannesburg and ordered in eager anticipation to settle the debate once and for all.

I received this. Ignore the flower petal; it’s simply better that this trend doesn’t catch on. To me this is an orange coloured (pumpkin infused?) American style fluffy pancake. It is not a flapjack as there are no rolled oats or pot of golden syrup.

In the UK we don’t help the clarity of our argument by gaily producing French style crêpes on Pancake Day, but it is interesting to ponder how the terminology for sweet treats has morphed across hemispheres and time.