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- Cause
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- ActivitiesBeverageComfort Food
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- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Last Friday of June
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- 🫖
Cream Tea Day arrives every last Friday of June, inviting everyone to partake in the delightful British tradition of afternoon cream tea. This special day encourages gathering with loved ones, indulging in warm scones, clotted cream, and jam, and importantly, raising vital funds for worthy causes. Join the festivities, host a tea party, and make a difference.
Want to sponsor Cream Tea Day? Learn how
Expected Cream Tea Day Deals
As a ‘Cause’ holiday, Cream Tea Day focuses less on commercial deals and more on fundraising and charitable giving. Brands like Rodda’s Clotted Cream and Tiptree, co-founders of the day, often partner with charities to encourage donations with purchases. Look for local tea rooms and bakeries to host special cream tea events where a portion of proceeds benefits a designated cause. Many will run ‘donate-at-checkout’ campaigns or offer limited-edition cream tea sets with a charitable component. We will update this page with confirmed live fundraising initiatives as June approaches.
Platform Guide for Cream Tea Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #CreamTeaDay. Share aesthetically pleasing photos of your cream tea spread, whether it’s homemade or from a local cafe.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #CreamTeaDay. Organize a virtual cream tea party with friends or share details of local fundraising events.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #CreamTeaDay. Tweet about your favorite scone recipe, debate the ‘cream first or jam first’ dilemma, and highlight charities benefiting from the day.
Cream Tea Day Hero
Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford
History of Cream Tea Day
The pleasure of sipping on a cup of tea can be traced back to the 1600s under the rule of King Charles II when tea was first introduced to Britain. However, years later, the practice of snacking on pastries or sandwiches between lunch and dinner was created by the Duchess of Bedford. She would order tea and snacks to her room when she felt peckish during the afternoon.
Around the middle of the 19th century, tea gained in popularity, and tea in the afternoon became a tradition amongst the British population. Sandwiches, cakes, scones, cream, and jam (the first hint of cream teas as we know them today) were served alongside a cup of tea. Now cream tea not only forms a part of daily tradition but also a part of social occasions and lawn parties. It often accompanies a small snack to serve one’s own family or even guests.
Tiptree and Rodda’s Clotted Cream make up the Cream Tea Society, which is a community for those who love all things cream tea. Historically, Rodda’s and Tiptree donate up to 50,000 portions of Cornish clotted cream and jam a year, to help charity event organizers on their way. Last year, the Society supported 57 charity events on National Cream Tea Day. They like to encourage people to raise money for their own favorite charities.
Cream Tea Day timeline
The first evidence of eating bread with cream and jam is found at Tavistock Abbey in Devon.
King Charles II's wife, Catherine de Braganza, introduces tea drinking to the British court.
The Duchess of Bedford keeps hunger at bay between meals by ordering tea with bread and butter, and this soon becomes a social affair.
Cream tea becomes a daily occurrence in homes across Britain.
The opening of the railway boosts tourism in the West Country and travelers still require their afternoon cream teas.
Cream Tea Day FAQs
When is Cream Tea Day?
Cream Tea Day 2026 is observed on Friday, June 26. This annual celebration encourages individuals and businesses to enjoy the classic British treat while supporting charitable causes.
What is the difference between Devon and Cornish cream tea?
The key difference lies in the order of assembly. In a Devon cream tea, the clotted cream is spread on the scone first, followed by the jam. For a Cornish cream tea, the jam is spread first, then topped with a generous dollop of clotted cream.
How many people drink tea in the UK?
Tea is deeply ingrained in British culture, with an estimated 100 million cups consumed daily across the UK. Cream Tea Day celebrates this tradition, often pairing tea with delicious scones and preserves.
Is clotted cream the same as whipped cream?
No, clotted cream is distinctly different from whipped cream. Clotted cream is made by indirectly heating full-cream cow’s milk and allowing it to cool slowly, causing the cream to ‘clot’ and form a thick, yellowish crust. It has a much richer, denser texture and a unique flavor.
Cream Tea Day Activities
Host a social cream tea
Invite your family and friends to celebrate the day by hosting cream teas. These can be as formal or informal as you want. Make it a simple affair with just jam, cream, and scones, or pile on the dainty snackwich and tea cakes.
Donate to a charity
Visit the Cream Tea Society and help raise money for one of the hundreds of charities across the U.K. Do your bit. And if you're in the U.S. and feel a kindred feeling of yumminess, feel free to host your own cream tea and donate to a local charity.
Spread the word
Share the images of your cream tea event or your delicious jam and cream creations on social media. Also, give out the donations information of the charities of your choice.
5 Tantalizing Facts About Cream Tea
The type of cream matters
Clotted cream is preferred over whipped cream — it is made by heating raw, full cream cow’s milk in a steam bath.
Not in the United States
Due to the pasteurization and homogenization requirements that change the fat structure of the milk, real clotted cream is not available in the U.S.
Two ways to have a cream tea
There are two ways of having the scone — either apply the jam or the cream first and then add the other.
You should use your hands
According to cream tea etiquette, the correct way to open your scone is by prising it apart with your hands.
There is a technique for brewing tea
The tea should be poured in first, followed by milk and sugar.
Why We Love Cream Tea Day
It is for a good cause
The Cream Tea Society supports fundraisers and charities. Their cream tea events have helped to raise over £680,000 for hundreds of charities across the U.K.
We love baked goods
Perfectly baked scones, fresh cream, and sweet jam eaten during an afternoon tea break is delightful. This is the perfect day to celebrate a simple, humble tradition.
It’s an excuse to be social
We love any reason that gets us hanging out with friends, chatting, and enjoying good food and drink. National Cream Tea Day allows us a new way of visiting.
Social Media Tips for Cream Tea Day
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