Convert Teaspoon (UK) (tsp (UK)) to Dessertspoon (UK) (dessertspoon (UK)) instantly.
About these units
Teaspoon (UK) (tsp (UK))
The UK teaspoon is defined as 5 milliliters, a value adopted in modern culinary and medical standards. Historically, however, its size varied considerably, often ranging from 4 to 6 mL depending on household spoons, region, or era. The modern 5 mL standardization brought consistency to recipes, pharmaceutical dosing instructions, and food labeling. Because teaspoons were once everyday household items rather than calibrated instruments, the move toward fixed metric equivalents significantly improved recipe reliability and medical accuracy. Despite the shift to SI units, the teaspoon endures as a culturally intuitive volume measure used in cooking and oral medication dosing, tying contemporary practice to long-standing domestic traditions.
Dessertspoon (UK) (dessertspoon (UK))
A UK dessertspoon traditionally holds 10 milliliters, exactly double a teaspoon and two-thirds of a tablespoon. It served as an intermediate measure in older British recipes, frequently used before strict metrication took hold. Historically, its capacity varied between 8–12 mL, reflecting differences in cutlery styles and household practices. Many Victorian and Edwardian cookbooks reference dessertspoons extensively, making familiarity with the unit essential for culinary historians. Although largely obsolete in modern British cooking, the dessertspoon survives in heritage recipes, some baking traditions, and specialized kitchen contexts where small-to-medium quantities of liquid or spice must be measured.