The name ‘scone’ is thought to have come from the Scottish name for the Stone of Destiny, where Scottish kings were (supposedly) once crowned.
The first appearance of the word ‘scone’ in print was in a Scottish version of the Aeneid in 1513. Back then (hundreds of years before baking powder) the leavening agent was buttermilk, and the scones were cooked on a griddle rather than baked. Similarly, the scones were cooked in rounds that were then cut into wedges, rather than being shaped into wedges before baking as they are today.
In the middle of the 19th Century, Anna Duchess of Bedford decided that eight hours after lunch was more than one woman should be expected to wait for her dinner.
Anna instructed her butler to bring her tea with bread and butter and singlehandedly invented a new meal opportunity that is still embraced across the world today — afternoon tea.
The word spread and before long ladies across the country were gathering in elegant living rooms set with delicate linen napery, the finest china and heirloom silver tea sets. A hostess and her guests strived to uphold the rituals of ceremony and social etiquette. They indulged in local titbits of gossip, imported teas and a tempting array of sandwiches, cakes and scones.
Step forward to the 21st Century, and the contemporary tea party is more likely to feature mismatched china, paper napkins (if you’re lucky) and tea bags, or worse still a soy-chai-decaff-latte.
Now, a range of scones from Bakers Delight has brought new meaning to both morning and afternoon tea. A range of traditional and modern-day scones will impress any visitor, genteel or not.
Bakers Delight’s new wholemeal oat and honey scones are deceptively wholesome with the goodness of oat bran. The new berry and white chocolate scone requires nothing more than a sweet tooth, and perhaps that nice cup of tea and a sit down, to be fully enjoyed.
The velvety choc-mud scone laden with chocolate chips and cocoa is served warm with lashings of double cream.
With Bakers Delight’s date scones, grab some strawberry jam and clotted cream to create your own variation on the traditional Devonshire tea.
Be it high tea, Devonshire tea or cream tea, among the many delicacies shared in the timeless mid-afternoon ceremony, the scone has become a staple wherever ladies, or gentlemen, gather. Pinkies-up!
Bakers Delight’s delicious new range of scones will be available from 12 June for $1.60 each or $8 for a six-scone combo.
For further information contact:
Bakers Delight
healtheplanner@bakersdelight.com.au
www.bakersdelight.com.au