Jun 10, 2023
Celebrating Scones
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Hot off the press — or out of the oven! Today’s Doodle celebrates scones, an afternoon tea treat in the United Kingdom. They’re usually enjoyed with jam and clotted cream, and can be found in almost any bakery from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern end of England. On this day in 1657, the ‘afternoon tea’ idea was first introduced and offered in London.
Many believe scones originated in Scotland in the 1500s and eventually found their way into ‘royal tearooms’. It’s said that Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, requested the snack with her tea every afternoon and popularised the combo. During the Victorian era, people in London would ride the newly established railways to the southern coast of England for a weekend away from the city. Local bakeries, restaurants, and pubs in the area introduced the tea-scone duet to the masses, and the ‘cream tea’ term was born.
The age-long debate around how to eat a scone still remains: cream or jam first? Some, like those in Cornwall, prefer adding jam first to let the fruity flavor sink into the treat before topping it off with clotted cream. Others, such as people in Devon, use the clotted cream to separate the jam from the pastry.
Not all people say ‘scone’ the same way, either. In the south of England, people commonly pronounce it to rhyme with ‘tone’. While people in the midlands and northern regions of England are more likely to rhyme it with ‘gone.’
When it comes to recipes, bakers far and wide truly left no scone unturned: plain, fruit, and even savory versions like cheese are enjoyed in tearooms across the world. Regardless of how you eat it (or say it), this delicious treat is a tried-and-true staple in the United Kingdom. Whether it’s at a local bakery or at home surrounded by loved ones, enjoy your afternoon tea with a scone!
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