Clotted cream is a dairy product which is closely associated with England, although other cultures make variants on it. It is difficult to describe for those who have not experienced it, with a rich, creamy flavor and a stiffness which reminds some people of whipped cream. In England, clotted cream is served over scones, desserts, and fresh fruit, and it is a very popular luxury. Some companies in England manufacture clotted cream for export, although it does not have the same flavor as fresh clotted cream. It is also possible to make it at home.

The origins of clotted cream appear to lie in Southwest England, in the counties of Devon and Cornwall. In fact, an alternate name for clotted cream is Devonshire cream or Devon cream, in a reference to the county of possible origin for the food. Cornish clotted cream has attained an appellation of controlled origin, meaning that only cream prepared in a certain way which comes from Cornwall may be so labeled.

In any case, clotted cream is made by allowing fresh, unpasteurized milk to stand for around 12 hours before gently heating it and allowing it to stand again. The cream in the milk slowly rises to the surface, forming clots which are sometimes studded with small golden dots of butterfat. This intensely rich cream is skimmed off and sold as clotted cream. Fresh clotted cream should be used within three to four days, although shelf stabilized and pasteurized versions are also available.

It is possible to make clotted cream at home, using much the same techniques. For cooks who do not have access to unpasteurized milk, lightly pasteurized, but not homogenized, milk may be used. Mixing milk with whipping cream may yield more clotted cream at the end. Some cooks also make a reasonable approximation of clotted cream with mascarpone cheese beaten with whipping cream.

The fat content of clotted cream is usually around 55%, and it has a creamy, slightly sweet flavor all on its own. Some cooks like to add small amounts of sugar or flavoring such as vanilla, especially when clotted cream is used on fresh fruit. On scones, the natural sweetness of the scone is all that is needed, and sweetened clotted cream can seem cloying on desserts. While traveling in England and Ireland, fresh clotted cream should certainly be tried, if it is offered, since it is a unique experience.