Cunard High Tea Experience
Cunard Recipe Scones made in Emmas Kitchen!
Cunard High Tea: Now you Can Make The Famous Scone Recipe at Home!
One of our favourite Cunard traditions is afternoon tea in the Queens Room. Now, thanks to Emma getting hold of Cunard's very own scone recipe on board Queen Mary 2, you can recreate a little taste of the experience at home.
A daily Cunard tradition
One of our favourite experiences on a Cunard voyage is taking afternoon tea in the Queens Room. It's one of those lovely rituals that makes a Cunard cruise feel special, combining delicious treats, attentive service and an unmistakable sense of occasion.
Every day, Cunard's four Queens — Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth — devote time to this much-loved tradition. Often referred to as High Tea or Cream Tea, the signature afternoon tea is included in your cruise fare and is quite different from the premium Champagne Afternoon Tea, which we'll come to later.
At around 3.30pm, a procession of white-gloved waiters arrives to serve an enticing selection of treats at your table. There are delicate finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings, freshly baked scones and elegant pâtisserie, all served on fine bone china.
A selection of Twinings fine-leaf teas completes the experience, while gentle background music from the resident harpist or pianist adds to the atmosphere.
For us, the star of the show has to be the scones.
The famous Cunard scones
Cunard's signature scones are available plain or with fruit, served with clotted cream and strawberry preserve. They're such an integral part of the experience that it's difficult to imagine afternoon tea without them.
When Emma was recently on board Queen Mary 2, she managed to get hold of Cunard's very own scone recipe. Naturally, we wanted to share it with you!
The recipe makes 12 scones, so there's plenty to go around. Put the kettle on, find your favourite teapot and prepare to bring a little taste of Cunard home.
The Famous Cunard Cream Tea Scones recipe
MAKES
12 scones
OVEN TEMPERATURE
180°C
BAKING TIME
Approx. 12 minutes
Ingredients
500g plain flour
25g baking powder
125g butter, diced
75g caster sugar
4 eggs
125ml whole milk
60g sultanas
Method
1. Make the breadcrumb mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, butter and sugar, rubbing together by hand or using a mixer with a paddle attachment until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
2. Add the sultanas. Mix them into the flour mixture.
3. Add the wet ingredients. Add three of the eggs and the milk, then mix well.
4. Rest the dough. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and pat it down until smooth. Leave to rest for five minutes.
5. Roll and cut. Roll the dough to 2cm thick, turning it after each push to keep the tension even. Cut out the scones and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
6. Egg-wash. Separate the final egg and use the yolk to brush the tops of the scones. Leave to rest for a further 10 minutes.
7. Bake. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for approximately 12 minutes, checking that the scones are baked through and lightly golden.
Serve with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, accompanied by a pot of your favourite tea.
Take the recipe into your kitchen
Download our printable recipe, complete with a QR code linking to our Cunard cruise affiliate search.
Download the Famous Cunard Cream Tea Scones recipe here
Afternoon tea, your way
Although the Queens Room is our favourite place to enjoy this Cunard tradition, it isn't the only option.
If you fancy the treats without the formality, afternoon tea is also available in the Lido or King's Court buffet restaurant, depending on the ship. Guests staying in the Grills accommodation can also enjoy afternoon tea in the Princess Grill restaurant.
There's no need to dress up for the Queens Room, either. Some guests embrace the occasion with a tea dress or a smart-casual suit, while others prefer to keep things relaxed. Both are welcome.
Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available, so there are alternatives for guests with different dietary requirements.
What about Champagne Afternoon Tea?
If you're looking to make the occasion even more indulgent, Cunard also offers a premium Champagne Afternoon Tea.
This is a separately charged experience, available in designated venues that vary by ship. It offers an elevated selection of pâtisserie treats paired with Laurent-Perrier Champagne, and advance booking is recommended.
The venues and prices can change, so it's worth checking the details for your particular ship and sailing before making plans.
And here's a thought: if all you really fancy is a glass of Champagne with your traditional afternoon tea, you can always order a glass in the Queens Room instead!
Now for the really important question: how do you eat your scone?
Of course, enjoying a Cunard scone comes with decisions of its own.
First, do you choose plain or fruit? Then comes the question of how to dress it.
Jam first or cream first? Devon tradition puts the cream on first, followed by jam. In Cornwall, it's jam first, then cream.
Butter or no butter? Some people wouldn't dream of adding butter, while others insist it belongs beneath the toppings.
Clotted cream or something else? And what happens if the clotted cream has run out and been replaced with a sweeter, American-style cream?
Choices, choices!
We suspect there are strong opinions among our fellow cruisers, so do let us know where you stand. We're always interested to hear how other people enjoy their favourite cruise treats.
A little taste of Cunard at home
For us, afternoon tea is much more than a cup of tea and a scone. It's the atmosphere, the service and that lovely feeling of taking time out to enjoy something special.
The good news is that you don't need to be on board to enjoy at least a little of it. With Cunard's scone recipe, some strawberry preserve, clotted cream and a pot of tea, you can create your own cream tea at home.
But if making the scones leaves you longing for the real thing, perhaps it's time to start planning your next Cunard voyage.
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