How to Make a Proper Cornish Cream Tea at Home
|
|
Time to read 4 min
Introduction
There are few things that say Cornwall quite like a Traditional Cornish cream tea.
- Fresh scones.
- Sweet strawberry jam.
- A generous spoonful of rich Cornish clotted cream.
- And of course, a proper cup of tea.
It's wonderfully simple, gloriously indulgent and capable of transporting you straight back to Cornwall without leaving the kitchen.
Perhaps it reminds you of sitting outside a little Cornish tearoom after a morning on the coast. Maybe it's an afternoon overlooking a harbour, the sound of gulls overhead and the sea just beyond the window.
Or perhaps you simply believe, as we do, that there are very few afternoons that can't be improved by a scone covered in jam and clotted cream.
The good news, you don't need to travel hundreds of miles to enjoy one.
Here's how to make a Cornish cream tea at home the Proper way and before anybody from Devon asks...Yes the jam goes first.
What Do You Need for a Traditional Cornish Cream Tea?
If you're wondering what is included in a cream tea, keep things simple.
Scones - A good scone should be soft and light inside with a gently baked golden exterior. You can bake your own or use good-quality ready-made scones.
Whichever you choose, the scone is the foundation of your traditional cream tea so freshness makes a real difference. Our scones are plain without fruit.
Strawberry Jam - Strawberry is the classic. Its bright, fruity sweetness works beautifully against the richness of the clotted cream.
You want enough to create a generous layer across the scone rather than the faintest suggestion of jam.
Cornish Clotted Cream - And now we arrive at the star of the show. Thick, luxurious Cornish clotted cream is what transforms a scone and jam into something altogether more special. The cream should be spooned generously over the jam rather than treated as a thin spread.
Tea - Finally put the kettle on. A freshly made cup or pot of tea completes the experience and balances the richness of the scones, jam and clotted cream.
Proper Pasty's own cream-tea hampers pair Cornish scones with Rodda's clotted cream, Boddingtons Berries Cornish Strawberry Conserve and Smugglers Brew Cornish Tea, alongside other products depending on the hamper selected.
How to Make a Cornish Cream Tea at Home
Step 1: Split the Scone
Take your scone and carefully split it horizontally through the middle.
You can use a knife, although breaking a good scone gently with your hands works perfectly well too.
You'll now have two beautiful blank canvases awaiting their fate.
Step 2: Strawberry Jam First
This is the important bit.
Take your strawberry jam and spread a generous layer over each half of your scone.
In Cornwall, jam goes first on a cream tea.
The jam also creates a lovely fruity layer beneath the rich cream that comes next.
So remember:
Scone → Jam → Cream
Step 3: Cornish Clotted Cream Second
Now for the best bit.
Take a generous spoonful of Cornish clotted cream and place it directly on top of your strawberry jam.
And when we say generous, we mean it.
This isn't butter.
The cream isn't there simply to stop the scone feeling dry.
It's the star of the entire experience.
A proper scone with jam and clotted cream should have a wonderfully indulgent layer of cream sitting proudly on top.
If you're wondering whether you've added enough...You probably haven't.
Step 4: Pour the Tea
With your scone assembled, it's time for tea.
Brew your favourite tea and pour yourself a cup.
Whether you take milk is entirely your decision.
The important thing is that you now have a cup of tea beside two beautifully prepared halves of a Cornish cream tea.
Find somewhere comfortable, put your phone down and give yourself ten minutes.
Enjoy!
That's it... Just scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, accompanied by a good cup of tea.
Don't Have the Ingredients? Let Cornwall Come to You
Of course, there's an even easier way to enjoy one.
A Cornish cream tea delivery brings the ingredients directly to your door.
Proper Pasty Company's current cream-tea range includes genuine Cornish scones, Rodda's clotted cream, Cornish strawberry conserve and Cornish tea, with shortbread and other items included in selected hampers.
The Bude Cream Tea Hamper, for example, contains four Cornish scones, Rodda's Classic Cornish Clotted Cream, four portions of Boddingtons Berries Cornish Strawberry Conserve, Furniss shortbread and Smugglers Brew Cornish Tea.
That makes a cream tea hamper an easy way to enjoy the experience yourself—or send it to somebody else.
Cornish Cream Tea Delivered as a Gift
A cream tea by post also makes a lovely alternative to conventional presents.
Instead of sending another object, you're sending somebody an experience they can share.
A Cornish cream tea hamper can work particularly well for:
Birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, thank-you gifts, get-well-soon surprises, gifts for grandparents, gifts for couples, or simply somebody who is missing Cornwall.
Proper Pasty's cream-tea range currently offers free delivery, the ability to choose a delivery date and a free personalised gift message.
So you can send a little piece of Cornwall directly to their door.
Just make sure they know which topping goes first.
Explore Proper Pasty Cornish Cream Teas
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need for a Cornish cream tea?
A traditional Cornish cream tea consists of scones, strawberry jam, Cornish clotted cream and tea. The Cornish tradition is to spread the jam onto the scone first and then add the clotted cream.
How do you make a traditional Cornish cream tea?
Split the scone, spread strawberry jam onto each half, add a generous spoonful of Cornish clotted cream, pour a cup of tea and enjoy.er
Does jam or cream go first on a Cornish cream tea?
Jam first. In Cornwall, the traditional method is strawberry jam followed by clotted cream. Devon traditionally reverses the order.
Can I have a Cornish cream tea delivered?
Yes. Proper Pasty Company offers Cornish cream tea delivery with scones, Rodda's clotted cream, strawberry conserve and Cornish tea among the products included, depending on the hamper selected.
Can I send a cream tea as a gift?
Yes. A cream tea hamper can be sent directly to someone as a food gift. Proper Pasty's current cream-tea range offers a personalised gift message and selectable delivery date.
How should I store a delivered Cornish cream tea?
Proper Pasty advises refrigerating its cream-tea hamper goods when they arrive and consuming them within five days. Always follow the storage information supplied with the specific product you've ordered.