What are Neenish Tarts?

Neenish Tarts are a delightful sweet treat that you can find in bakeries around the place. While they are common, they are not a staple in all bakeries, which makes it even sweeter when you find them next to the vanilla slice or finger bun.

Your standard Neenish Tart has:

hardened two toned icing

mock cream

jam

tart shell

The icing is generally pink and chocolate, but may be any two tone combination of pink, white and chocolate icing. It is often a hard shell of icing, but you will find your general icing from time to time.

Are they an Australian thing?

They are definitely an Australian thing! Or a New Zealand thing. It the New Zealand ones are a bit different with a condensed milk and lemon juice centre. I think they are more of an Australian east coast thing. Prove me wrong south and or west coast people!

What’s the history of the Neenish Tart?

The history of the Neenish Tart is a mystery. Most of the early records are just recipes in the paper, when recipes in the paper were a thing. When newspapers were a thing.

The earliest recorded mention of the Neenish Tart was in the Sydney Morning Herald where the NSW Fresh Food and Ice Co was advertising all its wares. On top of being ice mongers, they claim to be “purveyors of pure country milk, rich cream, finest roll creamery butter, best fish, rarest game, unequalled poultry and exquisite pastry”. They list approximately 100 items that they sell including apple jacks, custard tarts, glazed tongue, Swiss roll, different pies, cakes sandwiches, Xmas goodies and of course, Neenish Tarts (also they call them Nenish Cakes).

Early recipes detail a different filling with custard or condensed milk and even coffee flavoured icing. Over time the Australian recipe changed to be the mock cream filling that we all know and love.

How did they get their name?

They is a great story about how Ruby Neenish, a Grong Grong resident, ran out of cocoa to ice her tarts for a shower tea in 1913. Thinking quickly on her feet, she opted for the two toned option and the tart was forever a Neenish Tart since.

However, this story was revealed to be a prank where a Grong Grong resident was upset with a Sydney Morning Herald journalist in 1988. In response to a not so flattering description of the Grong Grong, theatre scene, the Grong Grong local fed the story of Ruby Neenish back to the Herald. The story was pick up, believed and repeated for many years before the story was corrected.

The term Neenish was sometimes referred to as nenish, nenische or  nienich hinting at a European, perhaps German origin. But it will have to remain as pure speculation as the true origin is not know.

Personally, I think that the tarts are very close to, but not quite Neen - hence Neenish. I am yet to understand what a Neen is.

What are Deviant Neenishes?

The standard Neenish is described above - icing, cream, jam in a round tart shell. You will see variations with square shells, pineapple instead of jam, sprinkles on the icing or maybe even a different colour icing. These are not deviants, just variations.

Deviant Neenish take it a step further. They probably have the look of a Neenish with the two tone icing in a tart shell, it they will go for something completely different taste. Examples are a caramel Neenish, mint Neenish and even a fairy Neenish with popping candy included.

These are all welcome to the Neenish family, but should be recognised for their deviant and rebellious take.

Why are you even doing this?

A very good question! It’s really just an excuse to eat sweet treats and to share our fun with the world. If we can celebrate the joy of the Neenish Tart with different people and bring a smile to their face, it can’t be a bad thing, right?