The island's most famous products are Madeira wine, a sherry-type drink made in the highlands, and its Madeira cake.
But we had to wait patiently while the adults drank their tea from little white china cups with gold rims, nibbled politely on marble and Madeira cake and fresh jam sponge while making small talk with the good sisters.
Line the base of an ovenproof dish with slices of Madeira cake.
The cakes consisted of an almond-topped Madeira cake and a tangy lemon version, along with strawberry pastries, miniature lemon meringues and carrot cake - all of which were sublime.
While on the train, Alice and her fellow passengers were treated to a free-from-choice menu of roast lamb, roast beef, Madeira cake and tea.
Millions of Madeira cakes have given their all on our shores in the service of late night study.
A side table is laden with the finest sweetmeats the Glasgow South Cooperative Society can offer - Madeira cake, sultana cake, cherry cake, and butter shortbread.
When the altitude reaches about 1,000 ft, the banana plantations give way to vineyards, the source of the Madeira wine, which rivals only the Madeira cake as one of the island's signature staples.
Origin
So named because it was eaten as an accompaniment to a glass of Madeira.