The Delicious History Of Cream Tea

The Biggest Wimbledon Debate Isn't On Centre Court... 🎾

It's not who'll lift the trophy...  No, the biggest Wimbledon debate is one that's been rumbling on for generations:

Cream first or jam first?

(As a Devon bakery, you can probably guess where we stand!)

But before we get into that particular argument, let's talk about where the humble cream tea came from in the first place 🍓

A Brief History of the Cream Tea..

The cream tea has been a fixture of life in the South West for centuries! While nobody can say for certain exactly when the first one was served, a load of foodie historians trace its roots back to monks in Devon during the 11th century!

After a hit from the Vikings in 997AD, monks at Tavistock Abbey are said to have served bread with cream and preserves to help feed and reward local workers helping to rebuild the abbey. (Something we can absolutely back!)

Fast forwarding a bit, the classic Cream Tea as we know it today was crafted in 1662 when Catherine de Braganza married Charles II. She was known for making the custom of tea drinking rather popular in British culture!

Now, a few hundred years later and cream tea had become one of the South West's most beloved traditions!! Today it's enjoyed across the UK, but nowhere takes it quite as seriously as Devon and Cornwall.

Which brings us neatly to...

The Great Cream Tea Debate

If you've ever visited the South West, you've probably discovered there are two schools of thought.

The Devon Way: Split your scone. Add the clotted cream first. Top with jam.

Allows the thicker Devon cream to melt slightly into the warm scone, with the jam acting as the crowning jewel!

The Cornish Way: Split your scone. Spread the jam first. Add the clotted cream on top.

This is to fully taste the jammy flavour.. delicious, but we’d say rather messy!

The debate has been going on for decades and shows no signs of stopping!!

And with Wimbledon starting up again next week, when strawberries, cream and afternoon tea are everywhere, we're getting ahead of the debate before it flares up all over again!

Why Wimbledon and Cream Tea Go Hand In Hand

Every year, thousands upon thousands of portions of strawberries and cream are enjoyed during the tournament. It's become as much a part of Wimbledon as white clothing and questionable British weather...

Which is why the tournament always feels like the unofficial start of cream tea season.

All that's missing is a proper scone!!

Building Your Perfect Wimbledon Cream Tea

Whether you're firmly Team Devon or secretly leaning towards Cornwall, a good cream tea starts with good ingredients..

Our range includes:

🍓 Plain Scones - perfect for a traditional cream tea

🍇 Sultana Scones - for those who like a little extra sweetness

🧀 Cheese Scones - ideal if you'd rather go savoury than sweet

Pair them with a pot of tea, a spoonful of strawberry jam and a generous helping of clotted cream and you've got yourself a Wimbledon-worthy afternoon!

So... Which Side Are You On?

The important thing is enjoying a proper cream tea, preferably in the sunshine, preferably with a good scone!

Go On - Take A Chunk!