Britons' cream tea etiquette: 27% admit arguing over scone order

More than one in four Britons have argued about the correct way to eat a cream tea, a new survey has found. The research, commissioned by National Cream Tea Day, polled 2,000 UK adults on their scone-serving preferences and pet peeves.

The biggest cream tea crimes, according to the survey, include using chocolate spread instead of clotted cream, substituting whipped cream for the real thing, and adding matcha-inspired twists to the traditional recipe. Respondents also flagged putting jam on top of cream – or cream on top of jam – as a point of contention, depending on which regional tradition they follow.

The Cornish method calls for jam first, then cream. The Devonshire method reverses the order: cream first, then jam. The survey found that 27% of respondents had argued with someone over the correct sequence, with the debate often splitting along regional lines.

Other offenses named in the research included using butter under the jam, serving the scone warm when the respondent preferred it cold, and adding fruit that was not strawberry. Some participants cited the use of non-dairy spreads as a breach of tradition.

The survey was released ahead of National Cream Tea Day, which falls on the last Friday of June. Organizers said the goal was to settle the etiquette debate once and for all, though the results suggest no consensus is near.

A spokesperson for National Cream Tea Day said the survey showed the nation's passion for the ritual, even if it sometimes leads to arguments. "People feel strongly about their cream tea," the spokesperson said. "Whether you're team Cornish or team Devonshire, the important thing is to enjoy it."