The Tim Tam Slam is gaining traction overseas - but it has mysterious beginnings
One Tim Tam, two nibbled corners, one piping hot beverage of choice and you're away.
A time-honoured Australian tradition, the Tim Tam Slam has become enmeshed in the hearts and minds of Aussies since its inception.
It's also winning some international fans, with TV icon Oprah Winfrey trying the delicacy while in Adelaide over the weekend.
Watch the video above.
The Tim Tam Slam is a much-loved Aussie tradition - but where did it come from? Supplied
With a rich, chocolatey legacy spanning decades – and millions of melted biscuits unwittingly dropped in coffees – we couldn't help but wonder, where did it all begin?
An Aussie institution on par with Vegemite and cheese or the much-loved Bunnings sausage the Tim Tam Slam's definitive origins are shrouded in mystery.
Was it a trend that emerged organically, or merely a cleverly planted marketing tactic?
One Reddit user seems to believe the latter.
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The slam is often seen as most effective with a cold original Tim Tam biscuit. Nine
"I don't think Tim Tam Slams are organic at all, just a marketing stunt created by Arnott's. The biscuits are pretty poorly designed for it honestly," they stated.
But Arnott's representative Charlie Kaplan denies the ritual originated from Arnott's.
"While its exact origins remain unconfirmed, it's a uniquely Aussie tradition that's grown organically over time," Kaplan shared.
"The Tim Tam Slam has been a beloved, indulgent ritual for generations," he continued.
TV icon Oprah Winfrey tried the Aussie delicacy while in Adelaide over the weekend. Instagram/@oprah
"Australians have long enjoyed finding delicious ways to savour their Tim Tam biscuits, and the Tim Tam Slam has become one of the most iconic ways to do so."
He went on to say the integration of the trend into Aussie culture came as a pleasant surprise to the biscuit company.
"It's been incredible to see the ritual embraced so widely, both here in Australia and around the world."
Whoever was responsible for pioneering the Tim Tam Slam, their name has sadly been lost to history.
However, its origins can be traced back to the 80s, when it initially gained traction among students at the University of Melbourne.
Arnott's then picked up on the trend in 2002, tragically dubbing it the "Tim Tam Suck," throughout its marketing campaign.
Thankfully, this name didn't stick and was quickly (and deservedly) forgotten.
The practice has since risen in prominence to become the cultural powerhouse it is today, proving itself to be the most delicious (though impractical) variety of edible straw.
Now, top Aussie brass along the lines of actresses Sarah Snook and Isla Fisher have taken to spreading the gospel overseas.
During recent stints on US talk shows Fallon Tonight and The Kelly Clarkson Show, both Snook and Fisher demonstrated the correct method of performing a Tim Tam Slam to eager audiences.
Meanwhile closer to home, US media giant Oprah Winfrey posted her own attempt during the Australian leg of her In Conversation tour.
Arnott's says the trend originated organically, rather than coming about through clever marketing. Supplied
Winfrey was shown alongside Aussie AI health innovator Matt Riemann, as he coached her through how best to slam a Tim Tam.
In the end, her attempt may have possibly gotten a bit messy – with the actual act of 'slamming' the melted biscuit conspicuously cut out of the video.
Messy or not, she was evidently a fan of the Aussie tradition, indicating she'd be sharing her new-found knowledge among her high-profile circle in the United States.
"Now I have to bring the @timtam slam to America for @gayleking to try it," she wrote in her Instagram post.
As the phenomenon has generated buzz overseas, many have attempted to suggest their own variations of the Tim Tam Slam – with online guide WikiHow even going as far as suggesting an alternative using port wine as the designated drink.
Another platform – perhaps more controversially – suggests the mix of sweet and salty by using Japanese staple miso soup for the slam.
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