Costa Coffee has brought back a classic British teatime treat to more than 1,000 stores following an absence of more than five years.
The coffee chain has reintroduced scones served with jam and cream as part of a new afternoon offer.
Its claimed five-year absence places the withdrawal around 2020 or early 2021, when the chain was dealing with major disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Their return has reignited the divisive question of whether jam or cream should be spread first, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Costa has attempted to broker a truce by creating a special scone topped with an evenly balanced swirl of both.
The jam and cream were piped simultaneously through a specially made dual piping bag, preventing either topping from officially going first.
The first “50/50” scone was served to the mayors of Saltash and Kingsbridge at Costa’s Saltash branch.
The location was selected because it sits near the Devon and Cornwall border – the symbolic centre of the traditional cream tea rivalry.
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Cornish tradition dictates that jam should be spread before the cream, while the Devon method places cream underneath the jam.
Councillor Brian Stoyel, Mayor of Saltash, said: “We’re proud that Saltash has become the home of Britain’s latest chapter in the great scone debate.
“The beauty of Costa’s 50/50 scone is that it celebrates both traditions rather than choosing between them.
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“After trying it for myself, I can confirm it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds – proof that sometimes bringing people together is even better than settling the argument.”
Costa’s research found 71 per cent of Britons backed the Cornish jam-first method, while 29 per cent favoured cream first.
More than a third admitted judging somebody for preparing a scone the “wrong” way, and one in five had refused to eat one assembled in the opposing order.
Andrea Stewart, global head of food at Costa Coffee, said: “Our research shows Britain remains divided when it comes to how people top their scones, so we thought it was about time someone brought both sides together.
“Rather than choosing between two much-loved traditions, we wanted to create a playful compromise that celebrates both approaches.”
The poll also found 52 per cent of younger people believed cream teas were finding a new audience online.
Meanwhile, 55 per cent pronounce “scone” to rhyme with “gone”, compared with 45 per cent who favour “bone”.
The returning scones are included in Costa’s new Afternoon Bundle, which pairs one with jam and cream and a regular hot or iced drink.
Prices start from £6.49 at selected stores, with the deal available until Wednesday, 21 October.
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