HOME OF THE CREAM TEA
The famous Cream Tea – a form of afternoon tea light meal consisting of tea taken with scones, clotted cream and jam - is just what Devon is known for. But where did it originate?
Tavistock!
Ancient manuscripts show that the monks of Tavistock’s Benedictine Abbey were indeed the people who created the Cream Tea. The Abbey, established in the 10th Century, was plundered and badly damaged by Vikings in 997AD. Restoration of the Abbey was undertaken by Ordulf, Earl of Devon, who rewarded his workers with bread, clotted cream and strawberry preserves made by the monks. A Devon cream tea!
The cream teas became so popular that the monks continued to serve them to passing travellers.
The Devonian (or Devonshire) method is to split the scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream, and then add strawberry jam on top.
You will find many places in Tavistock to have a delicious cream tea – here are a few of them:
The Bedford Hotel (which originally formed part of the Abbey)
Or get a Cream Tea in a box to takeaway from Warrens and enjoy in The Meadows or on the Church Lawn.