English Minute

Cream Tea, also known as Devonshire Cream Tea is an afternoon snack that’s served and enjoyed in a local tea room. Believed to have originated in Devon and Cornwall during the early 11th Century, typical cream tea will serve scones with clotted cream, fruit jam on the side and accompanied with a nice warm cup of tea. 

A favourite British past time

An afternoon cream tea is a British pastime and gathering enjoyed by many people throughout the country, as well as visitors and tourists from all over the world. The idea of unwinding with close ones whilst enjoying a locally made scone and clotted cream became very appealing and fashionable, so you would often find Tea Houses, Cafe’s and many establishments offering their own cream tea menu.

National Cream Tea Day

With its rise in popularity, the National Cream Tea Day was added in 2015, taking place on the last Friday in June of each year. Naturally, cream tea became more common outside of Cornwall and Devon that it can now be enjoyed in hotels, bread and breakfast, cosy team rooms, British coastlines, weddings, special events or even at the comfort of your home.

Cream Tea etiquette guide

Cream tea is best enjoyed when you’re by following a common local tea room etiquette. Given the controversial debate over jam or cream first in your scones, there is no right answer, but it’s worth knowing both preferences from Cornwall and Devon.

• Only use your knife to spread the fruit jam and clotted cream in your scones. There is no need to slice your scone with a knife since it can easily split apart by pulling both halves with your hands
• Set your required jam on the side of your plate before applying it directly to your scone halves. Adding butter underneath your jam and cream is common too depending on your preference
• Devonshire method: Add your cream first before your fruit jam (since they believe that you wouldn’t add your fruit jame spreads before butter on toast)
• Cornwall method Add your fruit jam before your cream (since they believe that a fruit jam acts as a barrier between a warm scone and the clotted cream, thus preventing the cream from melting)

Famous Cream Tea rooms to visit in the UK

Fingle Bridge Inn, Drewsteignton, Devon: The Fingle Inn is located in a picturesque riverside with the backdrop of the Teign waters passing through a quaint stone grey arched bridge. The cosy and homely atmosphere and daily special cream teas made it a popular tourist spot for many decades.

The Mowhay, Truro, Cornwall: The converted barn cottage offers welcome cream teas to lodgers at no cost at all, so visitors can help themselves with the farmer’s wife’s homemade scones, homemade fruit jams and a tub of local cornish clotted cream in the fridge, as they overlook the distant meadows and tranquil wind farms on the patio table.

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British afternoon tea is a traditional meal that involves a variety of light finger food served with a warm cup of afternoon tea. A typical afternoon tea menu would have bite-size crustless sandwiches accompanied with pastries, scones with clotted cream, and served with a nice hot cuppa. Favourite teas for beverages include black teas like earl grey, herbal mint teas, or fruit-flavoured selections.

Origins and concept of afternoon tea

Historically, afternoon tea was a common pastime for the high society, especially when ladies would have a leisure afternoon gathering with close friends and unwind whilst snacking on assorted snacks and tea. It was initially developed as a private social event for ladies who climbed the upper-class society during the early 1840s. It was only when Queen Victoria engaged in the afternoon tea ceremony that it became popularised.

Types of afternoon tea

Although many foreigners and tourists think of afternoon tea as having a set menu, many variations and occasions can go with the meal.

Cream Tea: The simplest form of afternoon tea is a cream tea, a light meal including scones and cream accompanied by a pot of tea. Sweet scones are best served with cornish clotted cream or fruit jam, but there’s also an option for a savoury scone flavour.

Light Tea: By adding more desserts and sweet snacks on top of cream tea, you get light tea. A random assortment of homemade cakes and sweet British pastries to nibble on whilst sipping on your tea of choice is the best way to enjoy a Light Tea.

Full Tea: With the addition of bite-size savoury foods like egg mayonnaise sandwiches, smoked salmon with cream cheese, ham and mustard, and cucumber, you get full tea. Ordering all sets of three menus is common in large gatherings and special events.

Formal or non-formal occasions?

Today, afternoon tea can take place on casual or special occasions, and most receptions would take place between 16:00 and 19:00. In the UK, afternoon tea is usually enjoyed as an occasional indulgence or a special event to celebrate birthdays, baby showers or pre-wedding parties with friends. There are plenty of establishments that offer a premium and delicate experience, and at the same time, you’ll find many restaurants and hotels in the country that provide affordable menus.…