Where To Sample The Best Cream Tea In St Ives

Would it even be a proper Cornwall holiday without a traditional Cornish cream tea? From gracious hotels to your own holiday cottage kitchen, we take a look at the best places to enjoy a cream tea in St Ives.

What is a Cornish Cream Tea?

The pure Cornish cream tea is a warm scone, split in two, spread with strawberry jam and finished with a good dollop of clotted cream. It is served with a pot of tea, although these days, you are just as likely to have the option of coffee or even prosecco with your sweet treat.

Once upon a time, the Cornish edition of the cream tea was served with a “split” rather than a scone. This is a sweetened bread roll made with a sugar and milk dough. Splits are delicious if you can find them; however, we have to admit that we love a freshly baked scone, especially if served warm.

Traditionally, the jam is strawberry but we are willing to accept other berries – provided that it always goes on first! Clotted cream is somewhere between double cream and butter, made by heating cow’s milk until the cream comes to the surface and clots.

Cornish cream tea is usually eaten in the afternoon; however, unlike the classic British afternoon tea, it does not include any savouries (such as sandwiches).

The Best Places for Cream Tea in St Ives.

The Yellow Canary

Fore Street, St Ives TR26 1AB

This friendly little cafe has been providing St Ives with delicious baked goods since 1972. The Yellow Canary is a popular choice for a cream tea, and we love how they serve local accompaniments with their homemade scones. Tuck into sweet strawberry jam from Boddington’s Berries and rich clotted cream by the famous Rodda’s. The tea is from the Cornish Tea Company and the coffee is roasted by Origin in Porthleven.

Tregenna Castle Resort

Trelyon Avenue, TR26 2DE

Afternoon tea at Tregenna

Enjoy your cream tea in style in the grand surroundings of this Victorian hotel and estate. Again, the scones (fruit and plain) are served with Boddington’s and Rodda’s; and Tregenna has a wide selection of speciality teas and coffees. Upgrade to the full afternoon tea, which includes mini savouries and the cocktail of the day (or upgrade yet further and add champagne…). We recommend booking a table in advance.

Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate

Carbis Bay, TR26 2NP

Afternoon tea at The Carbis Bay

A cream tea by the sea: the perfect treat for your Cornish holiday. The elegant hotel offers impeccable service and perfect presentation, and its tempting afternoon tea menu includes a traditional Cornish cream tea (with the option of adding a glass of Moët & Chandon). It is a lovely stroll down to the beachside hotel if you are staying in Carbis Bay. Otherwise, you can pick up the local branch line to the nearby railway station.

A Cream Tea in Your St Ives Holiday Cottage

How about a relaxed cream tea on your holiday cottage balcony, or in front of the woodburner on a wintery day? St Ives Bakery sells delicious fresh scones, and you can pick up Cornish clotted cream and local jams in most of the independent food shops and delis in town.

How do you find the essential Cornish cream tea components when you leave Cornwall? Never fear, because The Cornish Company ships cream tea hampers all over the country.

Ready, Steady, Bake…

Alternatively, you could bake your own scones in your holiday cottage kitchen! All our Cornish Escapes kitchens are well equipped and a pleasure to cook in. We have gathered together some traditional Cornish recipes here for you to try.

Cornwall is well-known for being a dog-friendly holiday destination – but can your pooch join in with a traditional cream tea? Sadly, a jam and cream scone is not ideal for a pup’s digestion; but while the oven is hot, whip up a batch of these afternoon tea dog muffins as suggested by the Dogs Trust.

Book your Cornish Holiday.

If you are now dreaming of fresh warm scones, lathered with jam and loaded with melting cream, it could be your tastebuds’ way of telling you to come to Cornwall! Take a look at our last-minute holidays and short breaks, and you will soon be tucking in…