The results are in from the Teignmouth Farmers’ Market jam or cream first vote on June 28.

To celebrate National Cream Tea Day customers voted with their stomachs to decide conclusively the life changing Great Cream Tea Dilemma: which comes first cream or jam on a scone.

Customers were presented with two trays of fluffy scones freshly baked by the ever-popular Lisa from Pat-a-Cake. They were asked to choose either Devon style with thick clotted cream on the bottom, Shute Fruit jam on top, or the Cornish version with jam on the bottom, clotted cream on top.

The first tray emptied was the winner of that round, and the trays replenished for the next round.

Lori Reich, market ambassador, who did the survey said: “Many couples cancelled each other’s votes as one would choose the Devon way, the other chose Cornish. Children seemed more swayed by a generously filled scone, whichever way round it was.

“There were a few who spoiled their ballots with a noncommittal “I don’t care, “politely choosing a scone from the tray closest to them. Others declined their sample, but still indicated a preference, such is the importance of the Great Cream Tea Dilemma.

“The initial returns showed customers preferred the Cornish style. But all subsequent rounds were decisively for Devon. Customers agreed it was delicious fun to decide that the Devon way, jam on top, is the best.”

For history buffs the Cream Tea Dilemma stems from the geography between the two counties. Cornwall’s climate is perfect for strawberry production, and they sent baskets of the fruit to London by train. They also made plenty of strawberry jam to spread thickly on their scones, usually buttering the bottom of the scone first. The clotted cream was a garnish on top.

However, the dairy industry is a feature of Devon with its lush grass and pastures. Clotted cream was something most farmhouses would produce with leftover milk. Heating full cream milk very slowly to make clotted cream is a way of keeping it longer in the days before refrigeration.

Thus, it was spread liberally on more than desserts and scones, even finding its way to the breakfast porridge, broad beans and other unlikely dishes. Strawberry jam was harder to come by as strawberries did not grow easily in the damp Devon climate.

The preserve makers wanted to show off their preserve making skills by spreading the clotted cream thickly on the bottom (instead of butter which went to market along with the eggs) followed by a healthy dollop of fruity jam on top.

And so was born the Great Clotted Cream Divide: each county featuring its special ingredient on top. Cornwall puts its clotted cream on top; Devon put its jams in prime position.

Teignmouth has spoken: it is Jam on Top, the Devonly way. The next Farmers’ Market in Teignmouth is on Saturday July 26.