An afternoon tea expert has weighed in on the long-standing debate over how to pronounce 'scone', declaring that it should rhyme with 'cone'. Jane Malyon, 65, who runs the English Cream Tea Company in Uttlesford, Essex, has tasted hundreds of teas and scones as part of her work and gives talks on the perfect British afternoon tea.
Malyon acknowledged that both pronunciations are valid, noting that 'posh people' tend to say 'scon' (rhyming with 'gone'), and that the late Queen Elizabeth II also used that pronunciation. However, she personally prefers 'scone' to rhyme with 'cone', adding that most people she encounters say it that way.
In addition to settling the pronunciation, Malyon offered her view on the proper order for assembling a cream tea: cream first, then jam. This contradicts the common practice of adding jam before cream. She admitted to being 'fickle' on the matter, sometimes feeling drawn to dairy first but also having a 'fierce side' that fights for jam first.
Malyon recommends enjoying afternoon tea at 1pm and treating it as a meal rather than a snack. She also advises using loose-leaf tea for the best cup, and suggests Yorkshire tea for those using tea bags at home or in the office.
