to think the jam goes first, then the cream

[ICantDecideOnAUsername]

Dh and I have just had a cream tea (I know, decedent for a Sunday night) and had our usual 'argument' about which order the jam and clotted cream goes on. I made them so I did them my way: Jam with clotted cream on top. This is obviously the right way! DH does the cream first, 'like butter', except at about 50 times the thickness (so not like butter then!).

I'm right, aren't I?

If it makes any difference DH is from Dorset, I know different counties do it differently (I'm not from the West Country but went on a lot of holidays to Cornwall as a child), but what is the general MN consensus?

Please tell me you used clotted cream. A cream tea without enough staturated fat to give your GP a heart attack isn't a cream tea

Jam on first, cream sent back untouched because it's fucking vile. Everyone knows that.

You are right :)

YANBU - jam then cream. It's more practical that way. (otherwise you can't evenly spread the jam or the cream goes everywhere)

I HATE scones (barf!)

It's been soo long since I have eaten a cream tea. Let me think. I may have to mime. I agree with your DH, cream first.

YABU, cream first!

Being born and bred Cornish, I can absolutely confirm the way to eat a Cornish cream tea with Cornish clotted cream is jam then cream. Don't let those Demshire bastards tell you tis any other way!

But it's not about spreading Trills, you just dollop it all on with a teaspoon.

I'll eat it either way, I'm not fussed but dh said jam first then cream.

The Devon way (your DH's) makes more sense I've always thought (disclaimer I am a Devonian!), the cream is the equivalent of butter, therefore it is only logical that it goes on first. Putting jam on first is like putting jam on your toast first and then spreading the butter on top!!

Cream first. With any luck you can then avoid the jam entirely and just go all out for the heart attack. :)

Just cream and butter, no jam.

What's wrong with butter?!? Gets past the putting jam on plain bread/toast sensation. I maintain it's butter, jam, cream.

Proper clotted cream can easily go on first as it can be spread like butter. But FWIW, once had a wonderful cream tea prepared by a gen-u-wine Cornish dairy farmer's wife (family friend) who made her own clotted cream and she first put BUTTER on the scones, then jam ,then dollop or three of cream. But if no butter was to be used, then cream should be spread on first. Repeat -- good clotted cream can be spread like butter. So there.

One half on scone jam, other half cream. Place together, scoff! Turn to suit your preference

Hm, I'm personally not convinced by the addition of butter but I can understand the thinking behind it, it does seem all wrong putting jam on a scone without butter first, but then the addition of a huge lump of clotted cream on top means I stop caring .

Well, yes, if no butter - cream, jam, cream.

This is like the egg discussion in my family !
Some think a boiled egg should be cracked open at the fat bit and others the more pointy bit .
Twill never be resolved .

Spread the jam on first, then dollop the cream on top. No butter!

I make my decision based on consistency. Whichever is thicker is spread first. I once had a cream tea where it was served with whipped cream instead of clotted. Was just plain wrong. The cream should be stiff enough to put on like butter, but if not then it goes on after the jam. Some jams can be a little runny so I'd put them on after the cream. If anyone tells me off I politely tell them to do one.

Butter, jam, cream

(Scottish, we like heart disease)

Cream then jam.

Why...

Clotted cream denser than jam. Pile high the cream, it can support more of jam.

Cream then jam. That's traditional Devonshire tea. Wealthy people put the jam on top as it was very expensive, to show off their wealth.

Butter, jam, cream is Cornish. Also traditional so not wrong. Just depends on where you live/where it's eaten and if in neither Devon or Cornwall then whatever your local preference (but never, ever, ever with whipped cream. Ever).