Royal chef settles scone debate and reveals whether Queen has cream or jam first (2024)

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Royal chef settles scone debate and reveals whether Queen has cream or jam first? ›

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

According to research, what's widely known as the “Devon method” is putting your clotted cream on first and covering that up with jam whereas the “Cornish method” involves spreading your scone with strawberry jam and then topping that layer with clotted cream.

So when it comes to cream tea, what goes on your scones first? Cream or jam? Ask the Cornish, and they will tell you that the whole point of cream tea is to have freshly-baked (hopefully still warm) scones, with jam first and clotted cream on top. Ask a Devonian, and they'll tell you it's cream first and jam on top.

The word scone originated in Scotland; 'Skone' comes from the Dutch word 'schoonbrot' which means beautiful bread. It is said to have originated in Tavistock Abbey in Devon in the 11th Century where the monks used to make clotted cream and feed the labourers with bread, jam and cream.

While those in Devon normally spread the cream on first followed by jam, the Cornish custom is to spread jam initially followed by cream.

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

Start by dressing the scone with cream then jam or vice versa. Use a knife to spread enough cream and jam on a small bite. Choose either the Devon or the Cornish way. If you want to be like the Queen, go with the Cornish method.

Its exclusivity extends beyond England, however, as clotted cream is technically illegal in America. Why? True clotted cream is made with unpasteurized milk, and the FDA officially banned the distribution of any milk or milk products that haven't been pasteurized in America in 1987.

It's the royal way.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was a fan of a jam-first scone, and according to the royals' former chef Darren McGrady, it's the way they're served at Buckingham Palace garden parties. King Charles also appears to also be Team Jam.

Clotted cream is an essential part of a cream tea, a favourite with tourists particularly in Cornwall and Devon. It is served on scones—or the more traditional "splits"—with strawberry jam, along with a pot of tea.

What are scones called in America? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

Cream tea is traditionally a midday treat, a kind of afternoon tea service in which you're presented with a pot of tea, scones, jam, and clotted cream; pour the tea, slice the scones, and then slather the scones with cream and jam—or jam and cream.

Tradition: According to some historical accounts, the tradition of putting jam first on a scone dates back to the 11th century in Devon, England. The idea was that jam was cheaper and more readily available than cream, so it made sense to slather it on the scone before adding a dollop of precious cream on top.

How to Eat a British Scone. From what I've gathered, the proper way to eat a scone is to split it and spread clotted cream (or butter) and jam on both sides. Never sandwich the sides back together. If serving with clotted cream, spread the jam first, then the cream.

Your scone should be served warm. It should be delicate enough that you can separate it in half with a twist of your hand.

While those in Devon typically spread the clotted cream first followed by jam, the Cornish tradition is to spread jam first followed by cream. Finally, we have some clarity on the issue, as it's revealed how the Queen takes her scones.

The Devon Way of serving Cream Tea is to split the scone in half, spread clotted cream on each half, and then add a dollop of jam on top. The Cornish Way, on the other hand, is to split the scone in half, spread jam on each half, and then add a dollop of clotted cream on top.

English Cream Tea: Scone, Clotted Cream, Jam. Never butter. It isn't necessary!

The difference between cream tea in Devonshire and Cornwall comes down to how its served. Both versions serve the same items: tea, scones, jam, and clotted cream. In Devon, the scones are split in two and topped with cream followed by jam. In Cornwall, the split scones are topped with jam and then cream.