M&S claims to have settled a centuries-old row over how to make a perfect cream tea by creating a strawberry flavoured clotted cream, that has now sparked more controversy.
The store has marketed the solution to try and bring a truce to the warring factions in Devon and Cornwall.
People in Cornwall have always put jam on first while Devon folk start with the clotted cream.
But from this week, shoppers were given a third option – which is hoped to showcase the best of both methods.
M&S claims to have settled a long-standing row over how to make a perfect cream tea by creating a strawberry flavoured clotted cream
The new product has caused controversy on Twitter, with some social media users pointing out that M&S still put jam on their scones first (pictured) in their advertising photo
The new product is made with Jersey and Guernsey milk and is recommended by M&S to be served with fresh strawberries and scones
The invention hasn’t pleased everyone though, with one twitter user even labelling it ‘an abomination against decency’.
In promotional material released for the product that appeared in stores from Wednesday, M&S claimed its ‘new and exclusive Strawberry Clotted Cream from M&S ends the debate’.
M&S said: ‘Whether you do it the Cornish way or the Devonshire way, the age-old debate of what to top a scone with first, often results in a heated debate over a cup of Earl Grey. Until now!
‘M&S introduces the first ever product to silence both parties, by combining jam with clotted cream and making one ultimate afternoon tea delight.’
M&S have released the strawberry clotted cream just in time for picnic season, claiming the product will end the age-old ‘heated debate’
One Twitter user even went as far as to call the new product ‘an abomination against decency’ while other people on social media joined in to voice their opposition to the flavoured cream
April Preston, Director of Product Development at the store said: ‘Jam first or cream first, there’s no doubt this question makes for a healthy debate amongst cream tea fans up and down the country.
‘I’m a proud Devonian, so up until now I’ve always slathered my cream on first, before adding jam.
‘Now, all I need is our Collection Strawberry Clotted Cream to have the best of both worlds, it is quite simply heaven on a scone. So next time you indulge in an afternoon tea, try it the M&S way and let us know if you have been converted! I know I am.’
But some social media users have expressed their disgust at the product and refused to accept the truce.
One Twitter user went as far as to call the cream ‘an abomination against decency’.
Twitter users, including comedian Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall, have expressed their disgust at the strawberry clotted cream, proving they have not been ‘converted’
Actress and comedian Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall, got involved in the outrage, taking to Twitter saying: ‘There’s hell on! Am mobilising the Cornish Barbarian Horde… we will not rest til this battle is won & our cream is safe again… appalling.’
Paul Couchman, a traditional regency cook and recipe blogger, even voiced his annoyance at the new invention.
Some Twitter users also pointed out that M&S had still put jam on their scones first, despite their claims the new product ended the long-standing argument.
One user said: ‘If the order doesn’t matter because it’s strawberry clotted cream, why have M&S got jam in the scones too?!’
M&S marketed the solution to try and bring a truce to the warring factions in Devon and Cornwall, but instead seems to have united the two groups against the new invention
Another user called M&S ‘animals’ for the invention, saying that have ‘gone too far’ with their new cream.
The controversy around M&S’s strawberry clotted cream has united the two factions, Cornish and Devonshire people, in opposition against the new product.
YouGov also shared its scone research from 2016 in response to M&S’s new product, which had 61% of people saying that scones should be done the Cornish way.
The controversy continued on Facebook, where Nigel Kitto said: ‘Only place for that would be in a ‘DevonWall’ area.’
Hazel Burrows said: ‘This would have my Cornish grandparents turning in their graves, not to mention my mother!!’