Tension Over Scone Etiquette Reignites Between Cornwall and Devon

Tension Over Scone Etiquette Reignites Between Cornwall and Devon

The longstanding debate over the "proper" way to eat a scone has been rekindled after a Cornish lifestyle company, Latitude 50 Living, released a greeting card that pokes fun at Devon’s scone traditions. The card features an illustration juxtaposing a "tall, plump, and juicy" Cornish scone, with jam applied before cream, against a "lifeless and sad" Devonshire counterpart favoring cream first.

Latitude 50 Living, an eco-friendly lifestyle company based in North Cornwall and run by Lucy, designed the card as part of their Cream Tea Collection. Promoting the collection on Instagram, Lucy said, "Cream tea? Yes please, jam first (sorry Devon friends)."

While some social media users appreciated the humor, describing it as effectively highlighting "cream tea expectations," the card did not sit well with everyone. Afternoon tea expert Jane Malyon criticized the card for its perceived bias. She suggested that the artist’s preference for the Cornish method was evident and recommended revising the card’s "vs" to "and" to reflect inclusivity.

Malyon elaborated on the nuances of scone-etiquette, noting that the "jam first" method serves as a barrier to prevent the cream from melting on a hot scone, allowing for a more generous dollop of cream. However, she acknowledged that in some cases, such as when using aerosol cream, it makes more sense to apply the cream first due to its consistency.

Despite the light-hearted nature of the card, the entrenched cultural divide over how to properly prepare a scone continues to stir emotions in the West Country. Latitude 50 Living has yet to comment on the controversy.