theelepel

Theelepel is a Dutch term meaning "teaspoon." It refers both to a small spoon used for stirring and measuring ingredients and to a unit of volume used in cooking. A typical theelepel holds about 5 milliliters, and quantities in Dutch recipes are often given in theelepels (tl).

In international contexts this size corresponds to the teaspoon (tsp) and is commonly defined as 5 milliliters, though exact volumes can vary slightly by country or measuring set.

The name derives from the combination of thee (tea) and lepel (spoon). Historically teaspoons were used to measure tea, sugar, and medicines, and the term became standardized in home measurement sets.

Usage and variation: In Dutch cooking the theelepel is used for both dry and liquid ingredients; when precision matters, weight-based measures or measuring spoons are preferred due to differences in how ingredients pack into a spoon. Domestic sets may also include half-teaspoons (2.5 ml) or quarter-teaspoons (1.25 ml).

Related sizes include eetlepel (tablespoon, about 15 ml) and dessertlepel (dessert spoon, about 10 ml).