Last week we spent a few days in Cornwall for a family get-together. We had not visited Cornwall in over 30 years, so I was determined to enjoy a Cornish Cream Tea during our stay. Sadly, my first attempt was in a tea shop in Padstow. The scones were disgusting!
My second attempt was thanks to our daughter-in-law, who suggested we go to the St Mawgan Tea Room and Garden, a recommendation she found after asking ChatGPT, the best place to have a Cream Tea near Retallack, where we were staying. AI came up trumps.
All the cakes and scones were homemade, as was the strawberry jam.

The burning question. Jam first, then clotted cream, or clotted cream first, then jam?
To me, it seemed logical. The cream was thicker, so I applied that first and then the jam. No, I was wrong.
According to tradition
Cornish style: jam first, then clotted cream. Devon style: cream first, then jam
Which option would you have chosen?

What is clotted cream?
Clotted cream is a very thick cream with a much higher butterfat content than double (heavy) cream; weighing in at 64% and 48% respectively (for comparison, single cream is 18% fat, and full-fat milk is around 4%)
Source:
Apparently, according to the above website, you can even make your own!
Related post
My mum lived in Devon so when I went down to see her I was a frequent visitor to the local cafe

Why not join the #FoodieFriday Challenge Blog Hop?
Let’s talk about food, whether it’s sharing your favourite recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, your harvest ups and downs, hints and tips, favourite restaurants or pictures of plates of food – even diets. If it’s food-related, why not post it on your blog and add it to the Foodie Friday Blog Hop
- Create a post about food at any point during the following week and include the tag: #foodiefriday. You’re welcome to use previous ‘food-related’ posts.
- Link to my weekly post to create a pingback, and I will endeavour to visit and comment.
- Don’t forget to add a link to your post when you comment below so we can keep track and support each other.
- Please don’t forget to check out other bloggers’ posts.
- tag #foodiefriday

That scone look delicious!
LikeLike
I am with you all the way: cream then jam. Looks so good! I would happily eat it any way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YaY! cream then jam. Although it all tastes the same when you take a bite …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can just imagine that heavenly bite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always treat the cream as butter so it goes on the scone first before jam. Sure looks better too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lana, 100% agree :)
LikeLike
I love a cream tea, but I’m always jam first! This might be because I’m not a huge fan of cream in any shape or form 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, June. The clotted cream is the best bit! LoL
LikeLiked by 2 people
That looks delicious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
John, if you get the chance to travel to Devon or Cornwall… go and taste them for yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love a good scone. Clotted cream, then jam. But I’d eat it in any order. Delicious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here!
LikeLike
You had me at clotted cream!! Skip the scones and jam and just eat it straight from the container is my vote. So good but not so good for you!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, yes! It’s how I like to eat creme fracihe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I hear Cornish, my first thought goes to Cornish pasties, which are a big thing in the Upper Peninsula in the state of Michigan, USA. Apparently these were brought to America by Cornish coal workers and are extremely popular to this day. The scones look and sound delicious. I’ve heard about clotted cream but have never tasted it, Carole. Thanks for the explanation of what it is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Terry, yep, Cornish pasties are delicious.
As for the cream teas it is the clotted cream dobbed on top that makes them so moreish. Good job I don’t live in Devon or Cornwall I would be there most days having tea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Cornwall, do not oft eat scones or anything else baked – but for me, always jam on the scone and the cream on top :) !
LikeLiked by 1 person
the Cornwall coastline is similar to ours in the Western Algarve and just as windy! So you are also a jam first fan … looks like so far I am in the minority
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I dunno – the jam is kind’of more solid and the cream fluffier seems to belong on top – physics type of building up :) !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yummy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, Debra :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would sacrifice any other cake in the world for a good scone with clotted cream and jam, Carole. But I always splodge the cream on top of the jam. Have a good weekend xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I would sacrifice any other cake in the world for a good scone with clotted cream and jam, Carole.” So would I, Jo. Probably because we can’t buy clotted cream here.
So you’re a jam first, fan :)
LikeLike
Absolutely! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person