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Devonshire tea

A Devonshire Tea or Cream tea is tea taken with a combination of (Commonwealth) sconess, clotted cream, and jams. This simple meal has a transient but profoundly calming effect on its consumers, almost invariably leading to the creation of fond memories and deeper friendship.

Other items served at Devonshire Tea may include cucumber or watercress sandwiches with the crusts cut off, and various small cakes and mousses. Purists regard these items as excrescences, and eschew them.

The name of this tea presumably comes from the county of Devon in England, where it is a local speciality. Some refuse to call it "Devonshire tea" because they dispute that this type of tea is original to Devon. It is indeed served all over South West England, and in England is known just as a cream tea.

See also