An afternoon tea expert has put the 'scone' debate to bed by explaining the proper way to say it - and no doubt many people will be frustrated by her reasoning. Jane Malyon, 65, has explained that scone should be pronounced to rhyme with 'cone' - and she also controversially claimed that cream should be put on before the jam.
Jane has tasted hundreds of different teas, scones, jams and triangle sandwiches as part of her day job - and she even gives talks about how to present the perfect British afternoon tea. Jane said scone should rhyme with 'cone', which will leave many confused. She said: "My world is spent answering 'scone' vs 'scon'.
"I say it like 'cone' personally but Her Majesty did always say 'scon'.
"I think more people say 'scone' but the ones who say 'scon' swear they're the only ones that say it right. Posh people definitely say 'scon' - but ultimately both are valid."
She also said that the majority of people who visit her talks tend to add jam before cream - but she claims it should be the opposite way round.
Jane, from Uttlesford, Essex, said: "If you haven't tried an afternoon tea, you're missing out.
"It's truly a tradition which is the best of British - the best way to have a break from the craziness of life.
"I really champion cream tea - I'm a huge advocate for the tradition."
Jane runs the English Cream Tea Company which creates hampers stuffed full of afternoon tea essentials. As part of her job, she tries new flavours of cakes and teas every day - and says you can even match different types of tea with the food you're eating, just like wine pairing.
She personally prefers Earl Grey with her afternoon tea and warns if you do go for English Breakfast, the best cuppa you'll get comes from loose-leaf tea instead of a bag.
For those who are home working or attending the office, however, Jane recommends Yorkshire tea.
She said: "If you're going for a tea bag, you at least don't want something so pale that when you add the milk it looks all washed out."
Jane also explained why she puts cream on the scone first.
She said: "I do cream first - but I'm fickle, I feel drawn to putting the dairy on first, but the fierce side come out fighting for jam first.
"If you say cream first, they're all over you like a rash."
Jane suggested the best time for afternoon tea was 1pm, and said many people treat it as a snack rather than a meal. Many eat beforehand, meaning they're too full to appreciate the food they have.
She said: "There's no other meal like it."
Here are Jane's top tips for hosting the perfect cream tea:
- Prepare sandwiches the day before with generous fillings and lots of seasoning and butter. Cut them on the day but leave them well-covered with a damp kitchen towel and clingfilm until the last moment to prevent them going dry.
- Aim for three choices of cake minimum and offer contrasts - for example, don't offer three different types of sponge - you want different textures.
- Put darker sandwich fillings into white bread, such as ham and mustard, and lighter coloured fillings into brown bread, such as egg mayonnaise or cheddar and onion relish, for contrast.
- Always think about garnishes to lift the appearance of the savoury or sweet goodies. For savoury, add thin slices of red pepper with a sprig of rosemary through it, radish 'waterlilies' or cherry tomato halves. For sweet, add mint sprigs and halved strawberries. It makes everything look fresher and more appetising.
- Have more than one type of tea to offer, such as Earl Grey, English Breakfast and perhaps Green Tea, to cater to everyone's preferences.
- Consider a non-carbohydrate course such as little teacups of colourful jellies to refresh the palate and enjoy between the savoury and sweet treats.
- Scones are at their best when served plump and warm. Microwaving them isn't as good as warming them in a 'normal' oven for a short while before offering.
- Be generous with the jam and clotted cream offered. Allow enough for people to slather it on well. Cream teas are a great British tradition and should be fully enjoyed.
How do you pronounce scone? Let us know in the comments.
