One of Britain’s most divisive food debates finally has an answer: the nation prefers its scones jam-first. A new blind taste test, led by Cornwall-based luxury hamper brand The Cornish Company, has revealed that 69% of Brits favour the Cornish method over the Devon tradition of spreading cream first.
In what the company describes as a first-of-its-kind experiment, participants tried two scones while blindfolded, one prepared with jam first, the other with cream first, and were asked to choose purely on taste. The results were clear, with jam-first scoring highest in both test locations: 83% in Cornwall and 56% in Nottingham.
Participants said the Cornish style delivered more sweetness, flavour and a better balance of textures. Kevin Hopkins, who took part in the test, said the jam-first scone was the standout choice: “There was a lot more taste and flavour to the first scone I tried. Having the texture of the cream on top made a massive difference.”
Tom Woodley, co-founder of The Cornish Company, said the study was designed to cut through regional loyalties: “We wanted to put the debate to the test once and for all. We were thrilled to see more than two thirds of Brits preferring the jam-first method. It creates the perfect balance of texture and taste—the way scones were meant to be enjoyed.”
The research also delved into other afternoon tea habits. Nearly 60% of Brits pour tea before milk, though more than half of over-85s still insist on milk-first. Sandwich preferences were split too, with 57% of people favouring crustless slices. Younger adults drove the trend—68% of 25–34-year-olds go crust-free, while almost half of over-65s prefer to keep the crusts on.
According to the findings, it seems the jam-first tradition isn’t just a Cornish favourite—it’s the nation’s top choice.
