Scones at Tara Tea Room, The Rocks

23 February 2011, 01:42

What’s the time Mr Wolf? It’s SCONES TIME! SCONES TIME! So last week I had a crazy hankering for some freshly baked, just outta the oven scones slathered in fresh jam and cream. Thanks to the power of the twitterverse, scone heaven was to be found at the Tara Tea Room, behind the Irish Design Shop (33 George St, The Rocks) which only opens Sat & Sun 10am-5pm for their famed devonshire tea.

There it is! The boy and I found ourselves navigating the morning crowds at the Rocks Markets searching for the scone clock perched outside. If you miss the scone clock then listen out for the lilting melody of Irish tunes being broadcast over the speakers. Make your way to the back of the shop to order and pay before finding a table either outside in the courtyard, inside the shop or out front to watch shoppers amble on by.

OH HAI! Tee hee the teapots are all nice and snuggly and kept warm with their very own psychedelic looking woolen teapot cosy.

Lol Noods photobombing. The menu is so cute! Instead of going with the $9.50 scones set (2 scones, 1 pot of jam, 1 pot of cream, 1 serve of tea), we decide to try all the scones flavours available as well as multiple jams and cream. We were hungry :D

A short moment later our tier arrives and I chortle with anticipation at finally appeasing my scone hungry soul.

Scones yo! I was stalking their twitter account (@taratearoom) who tweeted their flavours for the weekend and got sad there was no cherry ripe or cheese scone but luckily the 4 flavours were date, raisin, plain and pumpkin which intrigued me as I’d never had a savoury scone before. And they were all deeeelicious! Warm pillows of scone-y goodness!

I had high expectations for the raisin scone and was not disappointed with the juicy, plump raisins found in abundance hiding in its depths. The date scone was a bit on the sweet side when paired with a jam so I just slathered it in cream mmm cream. I saved the pumpkin scone to last as I knew the sugar overload from all the jams would kick in and make me go nuts haha the quince jam was recommended for the pumpkin scone but I reckon just a nice slather of butter would be awesome. The plain was just in case Noods rebelled and wanted a normal scone flavour haha

Jams yo! We kinda ordered too many pots of jam but the jam flavours on that menu was just so enticing haha we got the raspberry, quince, and pawpaw, lime & passionfruit as well as thickened cream and clotted cream. We weren’t big fans of the clotted cream but oh boy the thickened cream with jam = bliss. The pawpaw, lime & passionfruit jam was surprisingly my fav as I usually have issues with mixed fruit jams but all the elements somehow came together to produce a not too sweet, slightly sour concoction.

Ok not an entirely appetising pic of scones but ahaha this is not my cream to jam ratio. I usually double layer the cream and jam and then another layer of cream and jam heh and I have to admit I was defeated after halving all the scones and sharing with Noods lol stomach why you so fail?

YUMMEH

I love the scones here, especially when they are fresh out of the oven. The teapot covers are indeed funky and cute (in an old grandma kinda way)!
— Phuoc'n Delicious Feb 23, 01:50 AM #
that tea pot warmer is hilarious. i love a good scone so must check this place out :-)
— Simon Food Favourites Feb 23, 01:52 AM #
You have now given me the biggest craving for scones. Argh. And go the photobomb!
— Helen (grabyourfork) Feb 23, 02:09 AM #
ooh pumpkin scone! and so many jams to choose from! I think I may just have to go and check this place out :)
— Jacq Feb 23, 02:34 AM #
I’ve been on a scone binge, myself. This place sounds great and I love all those flavor combinations!
— Peggy Feb 23, 03:34 AM #
How girly! ;-)
— joey@FoodiePop Feb 23, 06:06 AM #
That tea cosy would make an awesome beanie. Crochet me one? <3
— Shez Feb 23, 08:52 AM #
Wow…those scones look so delicious! I love scones almost as much as cupcakes, so I’ll definitely be making a visit to the Tara Tea Room next time I’m at The Rocks! :)
— Jennifer Reid Feb 23, 09:09 AM #
LOVE this place! I didn’t know you could taste all the different flavours, I’ve been craving scones like crazy! Must make scones now.
— Steph Feb 23, 09:26 AM #
What a lovely little place!!! Next time I go to the market at the Rocks I will make sure to get myself 1 (or 2, 3, 4…..) scones!! And that menu… so “visual”!!! Thanks for sharing!
— Manu Feb 23, 09:38 AM #
Mmm I’d love some scones right now!
— Chanel Feb 23, 10:22 AM #
If there was a scone heaven it would surely look like this!!!
— Lisa @bakebikeblog Feb 23, 10:50 AM #
the old grandma are having scones there too at the front ;p
— wendy @ Obesebaby Feb 23, 10:57 AM #
this place looks awesome!

and I love your nail polish :P
— Iron Chef Shellie Feb 23, 11:44 AM #
Squeee! Customisable devonshire tea! Oh, oh, I’ve never had anything like this! I want the Cherry Ripe scone with melting butter… and the pawpaw lime jam you liked… I want everything!
— Hannah Feb 23, 11:46 AM #
Damn…now you’re making me crave for scones!
— Aimee Chanthadavong Feb 23, 11:50 AM #
Hello Chocolatesuze! Ash from Tara Tea Room. Thanks so much for your lovely review, you are definitely going on our review wall, fabulous photos as well. Let me know next time you are coming down and I’ll make sure we have cheese scones for you to try.
— Ash Feb 23, 11:52 AM #
Aah the good old scone. To cream it first or to jam it first? An age old question. Good to learn that you cream, jam, cream, jam them. Hello high cholesterol!
I think the last time I had a pumpkin scone was when I made some after school in the cassette days of 1984. Hello my name is John and I’m middle aged
— john@heneedsfood Feb 23, 11:57 AM #
whoa!! so many types of scones and so many jams and cream!! the teapot cosy looks so adorable!
— sugarpuffi Feb 23, 11:57 AM #
sometimes, everybody needs scones & tea for under $10.
— laura Feb 23, 11:59 AM #
yummm! i love scones! and the different kinds of flavours of scones and jams, that is so cool!
— Melissa Feb 23, 12:19 PM #
Mouth…..watering…..I’ve been trying to suppress a severe scone craving for a while now……it’s back in a big way baby – think I need some scones for dinner toniiiight!!
— Kat Feb 23, 01:28 PM #
Your tummy sounds like it needs some serious training to become more stretchy. I LOVE Pumpkin scones…which is weird as I’m not a pumpkin fan. Wouldn’t mind checking out their other unusual flavours…like cherry ripe.
— MelbaToast Feb 23, 03:27 PM #
oh i love pumpkin scones! will definitely try and this place out. the cherry pie sounds interesting :)
— Gastronomous Anonymous Feb 23, 03:38 PM #
Delish! You have just inspired me to bake scones!
— Lau @ Corridor Kitchen Feb 23, 04:29 PM #
Eeeek what a gorgeous little place! I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this place before x) What an awesome selection of jams and scones yum!

Btw I love the colours you’ve used in your skittles manicure Suze!
— 'chelle Feb 23, 07:15 PM #
Oh, SO in love with the tea cosy…!
— Tina@foodboozeshoes Feb 23, 07:56 PM #
I’m impressed that they have pumpkin scones. They’re my favourite and so hard to find. I have to get here!
— Jen Feb 23, 09:57 PM #
I tend to only like plain scones because I sometimes have issues with pumpkin. And raisins. But did someone say Cherry Ripe?!
— mademoiselle délicieuse Feb 23, 11:22 PM #
Love love love Tara Tearoom! What a great review, you took me right back there under the oak tree out back. I might just need to take myself right back there for the real thing :)
For all the knitters out there, keep an eye open for the communal knitting basket when you visit ..bit difficult when your fingers are full of yummy scones, though ;)
— Meg Feb 24, 12:09 AM #
Ooh- there must be something in the universe- last weekend we went to Cornwall in search of the ultimate Devonshire tea. Not quite sure if we found it, but went a little over the top on the clotted cream. Lots more lunges needed at the gym this week :)
— Tori (@eat-tori) Feb 24, 04:08 AM #
“Best scones in Sydney” – now that’s a big call and certainly has me all perked up. I adore the quaint feel of the tea room; spruces up some sort of something-or-other-Shire/Dilly feeling. Expect me there.
— Jenny @ Musings and Morsels Feb 24, 11:15 AM #
Great place for scone lovers. Love the concept of the menu!
— Ellie (Almost Bourdain) Feb 24, 11:16 AM #
pumpkin scones are just great. come to think of it, I’ve never had a sweet scone before… funny!
— Gastronomy Gal Feb 24, 02:57 PM #
yum, oooo I love scones! I might try this place out sometime.
— Jenny (minibites) Feb 24, 10:29 PM #
What a great idea, do one thing and do it well! I’d definitely give this place a go! Thanks for sharing your experience. :D
— Gummi Baby Feb 24, 11:43 PM #
Mmmm!! I miss cream and jam scones! I always have to head to English tea places here (there are not many) to satisfy my hankering.

Gorgeous pic of you Suze!!
— Stella Feb 25, 01:34 AM #
I’m a total clotted cream whore… mind you it’s hard to find really amazing, yellow-crusted stuff like I used to eat in the UK. I love this place, it’s a cute spot to stop by. Great review !
— foodie and the chef Feb 25, 05:26 AM #
Awww it’s been years since I’ve had a scone! This looks like the place to be! Love EVERYTHING about it!!
— angie Feb 25, 09:50 AM #
Scones has to be my favourite comfort food of all time, this place looks immense will have to take a stroll down there to check it out!
— Rhonda (The Dainty Baker) Feb 25, 10:05 AM #
I don’t like clotted cream either. The transformation from cream to artery clogging isn’t ambiguous enough for me cos it feels like it already starts in your mouth! hahahaha
— FoodieChat Feb 25, 10:11 PM #

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Scones at Tara Tea Room, The Rocks