For the avoidance of further transatlantic confusion, a thread about muffins (inspired but not necessarily asked for by @gwendamned and @RoboftheHayes). First of all, we're *not* talking about these sort:

We're taking about these ones, which the Americans call "English muffins" and the English call...muffins.
Unsurprisingly.

And yes, we do have them in England, contrary to some silly internet clickbait, see:

There is, however, a slight difference inside the muffin, as it were, because the texture of the "crumb" is different, especially with some of the leading American brands (the no doubt trademarked "nooks and crannies"):

American "English muffins" look a bit more like this (so hard to find good photos), whereas English muffins are usually cut rather than split, and come out smoother. But they are pretty similar in taste and use...

However, there is another English toasting delicacy that sometimes confuses things: the CRUMPET!

Very similar in some respects, you might think. It's got the holes Americans seem to associate with muffins (hence the confusion), which come from how they are made - in rings, on the griddle, where the holes bubble up through them and you get one smooth flat and one bubbly side:

(I'm not a baker or cook but it looks like crumpets have sugar to sweeten them and baking powder to get more bubbles, which is why they are often a teatime food rather than a breakfast or lunchtime one.)

For discussion on the different UK meanings of "tea" (mealtime) tune in this time next week...