National Cream Tea Day: Do you serve cream or jam first? (the story behind Sconegate!)

Rachel and Barb Gulley of Barb's Tea Service enjoying a cream tea at The Wolseley in London in 2015

The last Friday in June is National Cream Tea Day in England. Here in the US, we at Barb's Tea Service proclaim National Cream Tea Weekend (!), but we're in favor of avoiding controversy. Whether you serve your scones with cream first, then jam or vice-versa, it's a holiday we can all enjoy.

A cream tea is a light meal, eaten in the afternoon, that includes tea, scones, cream and jam.

But this oh-so-civilized event is plagued with controversy, especially if you live in the regions of Devon and  Cornwall in England.  It was just two years ago they were embroiled in "Sconegate" (I kid you not!)

Cream teas are a light afternoon meal served with scones, cream, jam and tea

As noted in the BTS' book, "Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time", this topic is covered in Chapter 12, "How to Eat a Scone".  Cream and jam are traditional additions to the quintessential  tea time biscuit-like treat, however, the order in which they are placed on the scone can turn neighbor against neighbor.  Devon folks serve their scone topped with cream first, Cornwall residents insist the order is jam then cream.

Cream tea controversy covered in BTS'  Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time

In an article from 2018, from  Good Morning Britain, the conflict came to full boil when Lanhydrock House in Cornwall advertised its annual  Mother's Day cream tea. The picture used on the ad featured a scone with cream as its first layer, followed by jam on top!

The good people of Cornwall were furious - as one can imagine. They threatened to boycott the event. But, greivances were soothed when Lanhydrock made the following statement:

"We'd like to sincerely apologise for any offence caused by a recent scone-shot on the page. The member of staff responsible has been reprimanded and marched back of the Tamar". (Tamar is the river that serves as a border between Cornwall and Devon.)

There's room for all opinions for those celebrating National Cream Tea Day

This weekend, we'd like to celebrate Cream Tea Time with all. Whether you layer your scone with cream, then jam or the other way around, say skōn or skän or drink tea milk-in-first or milk-in-last, we can all agree, a cream tea is delicious and delightful to share no matter which side of the aisle or river you reside.