Mathematician solves the great scone debate

[The Dragon Master]

The perfect cream tea involves a 2.8cm thick scone, with the jam spread before the cream, according to University of Sheffield maths department.

The debate has raged for years. According to tradition the Devon way is to slather the scone with cream first, but the Cornish – who also lay claim to inventing cream teas – prepare their scones the opposite way.

Ignoring the references to cream teas which are thought to date back to the 11th Century, Dr Eugenia Cheng now claims to have the final word with a mathematical formula which is a victory for the Cornish.

The maths expert believes that the trick is to build the scones like sandcastles so they can be eaten without caving in and covering you in jam.

Dr Cheng, a senior lecturer who often uses food to explain complicated maths, broke down the cream tea into its three key elements: scones, cream, and jam.

The resulting formula suggested ratio of 2:1:1 (by weight) - so the average scone, weighing 70g, would require 35g of jam and 35g of cream.

She concluded that clotted cream is better than whipped cream, because of the excessive volume size of whipped cream required.

The total thickness of the scone, with all its elements, should be around 2.8cm, to allow it to fit in your mouth easily.

Jam, due to its density, needs to be first as the cream could cause the jam to run off - creating sticky fingers.

The thickness of the cream should not be thicker than that of the scone, as it will become off balance whilst trying to eat it, and a 5mm rim is required around the rim and the jam and the jam and cream, she found.

Dr Cheng said: "Building a good scone is like building a good sandcastle - you need a wider base, and then it needs to get narrower as it goes up so that it doesn't collapse or drip.

The study was commissioned by Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream.

Link and a picture of some nice scones: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10082592/Mathematician-solves-the-great-scone-debate.html

So apparently there's nothing else for them to do in mathematics...

 

[Nikki]

The study was commissioned by Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream.

This study is biased and therefore the debate must continue!

 

[The Dragon Master]

The study was commissioned by Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream.

This study is biased and therefore the debate must continue!

Now we need a study commissioned by the whipped cream club. Then an unbiased group called I-couldn't-really-give-a-rats-arse group.

 

[Nikki]

Then an unbiased group called I-couldn't-really-give-a-rats-arse group.

I want to be a part of this group!

 

[The Dragon Master]

Then an unbiased group called I-couldn't-really-give-a-rats-arse group.

I want to be a part of this group!

This is going to start a war between the whipped creamers and the clotted creamers. It's going to get ugly.

 

[Nikki]

This is going to start a war between the whipped creamers and the clotted creamers. It's going to get ugly.

Especially if they start throwing it at each other.

 

[The Dragon Master]

This is going to start a war between the whipped creamers and the clotted creamers. It's going to get ugly.

Especially if they start throwing it at each other.

Lets not forget the jam too!