The Ultimate Cornish Picnic Guide
Picnic season is here — and with a little planning (and the right food), yours can be absolutely brilliant. Whether you're heading to the beach, the park, the garden, or the Cornish cliffs, this is your complete guide to packing the perfect summer picnic.
At Just Cornish, we take care of the hard part: the baking. Our handmade cream teas and gourmet Cornish pasties are freshly made in our family bakery and delivered chilled to your door — ready to form the centrepiece of your picnic spread. But a great picnic is about more than just great food. Here's everything you need to bring, prep, and think about.
We do the baking. You just need to find a sunny spot.
What's Already Sorted: Your Cornish Food
When you order from Just Cornish, the food side is well and truly covered. Here's what arrives at your door — and a few tips on how to get the best out of it on a picnic:
Cream Tea — included in your order
- Handmade scones, baked fresh in CornwallBest eaten within 24 hours — or warm them in the oven for 5 mins before you head out. They'll stay lovely for a few hours once cooled
- Full-size Rodda's clotted creamKeep this in a cool bag until you're ready to eat. It doesn't need to be ice cold — just out of direct sun
- Cornish strawberry jamPre-portioned, no mess, no arguments over who got more. Well — one argument, but the fun kind
Gourmet Pasties — included in your order
- Handmade Cornish pasties, freshly bakedPasties are the original packed lunch — designed to travel. They're brilliant eaten on the go, straight from the wrapper
- Delicious hot or coldTo serve warm: reheat at 180°C for 15–20 mins before you leave. Wrap in foil and they'll stay warm in a cool bag for a good hour or two
- A proper, generous Cornish portionOne pasty per person is plenty. These aren't dainty — they're built for hungry people enjoying the outdoors
Cream first, then jam. And yes, that pasty is as good as it looks.
The Most Important Thing: Your Tea
A cream tea without tea is just scones. And while we love a scone, it deserves a proper brew alongside it. Here's how to nail the tea situation when you're eating outdoors:
Tea — how to do it properly outdoors
- Option 1: Brew ahead in a flaskMake a pot at home, brew for 3–4 minutes, then pour straight into a pre-warmed flask. Stays hot for 4–6 hours. Use a strong tea — it mellows slightly as it sits
- Option 2: Flask of hot water + teabagsBoil the kettle just before you leave, fill a well-insulated flask, and bring teabags separately. Steep for 3–4 minutes in your mug for a fresher cup
- Option 3: Camping stoveFor longer days out, a small travel kettle or portable stove is a game-changer. Freshly boiled water makes the best brew, full stop
- Bring milk in a small sealed containerA small Tupperware or a clean baby bottle works perfectly. Keep it in the cool bag alongside the Rodda's cream
- Use enamel mugsUnbreakable, lightweight, and they just feel right outdoors. Bonus: they keep tea warmer than thin plastic cups
That's how you take your tea at a Cornish picnic.
What to Add to Your Picnic Basket
We've sorted the cream tea and pasties. Here's what to add to round out your picnic into a proper spread — enough to keep everyone happy from arrival to the last crumb:
Extra food to bring along
- Fresh fruit — strawberries, grapes, melon, or cherriesJuicy, zero-prep, and perfect alongside a cream tea. British strawberries in summer are genuinely hard to beat
- A small cheeseboard with crackersA mature cheddar, oat biscuits, and chutney is a brilliant contrast to the sweet cream tea. Keeps well in a cool bag
- Crisps or savoury snacksGreat for filling gaps, keeping kids occupied while the cream tea is assembled, and general snacking between courses
- Something sweet for puddingA slice of cake, some chocolate, or Cornish shortbread if you want to keep it properly local. We sell shortbread too, for the record
- Refreshing drinks — cordial, cider, sparkling water, or lemonadeElderflower cordial with sparkling water is a British picnic classic. Bring a big bottle and some cups, or a chilled drinks flask
The Complete Packing List
Beyond the food, a great picnic lives or dies on having the right kit. Here's everything worth throwing in the basket before you head out:
Kit & Equipment
- Picnic blanket or rugGo bigger than you think you need. A waterproof-backed one is worth every penny for damp British grass
- Cool bag or cool boxEssential for the Rodda's cream, milk, and anything perishable — especially on warm days. A cool bag with ice packs will keep things safe for several hours
- Plates, cups, and cutleryA reusable lightweight camping set is far nicer than disposable and barely takes up any space in the bag
- Napkins — and plenty of themCream teas are a beautiful, delicious, slightly chaotic eating experience. Pack more than you think you'll need
- A small knife and boardFor halving scones, slicing fruit, and cutting cake. A compact travel set makes this easy
- Flask(s) for tea and hot waterIdeally two — one for brewed tea, one for hot water. Maximum flexibility, no arguments
- A bag for rubbishEspecially important in areas of natural beauty. Take everything home — always
- Wet wipes or a small hand washClotted cream on your fingers, jam on your elbows — it happens. Be prepared
Comfort & extras worth having
- Sun cream and sunglassesBritish summers can surprise you — and outdoor eating is much more enjoyable without a sunburnt nose
- An extra layer or light jacketEven in summer, it gets breezy near the coast. A light layer means you can stay out longer
- A portable speakerOptional, but a good playlist in the background takes a great picnic up a level
- A book or garden gamesAfter the cream tea, you'll want to linger. Rounders, frisbee, or just a good novel all work perfectly
Perfect for Every Kind of Summer Day
A Cornish picnic works for just about any occasion. Here are some of our favourite excuses to pack one:
One Last Thing: Jam First or Cream First?
We can't write a Cornish picnic guide without addressing the most important question in the South West. The correct answer — the Cornish way — is cream first, then jam on top. The thick layer of clotted cream provides the base. The jam sits beautifully on top. It's structural. It's logical. It's right.
Devon does it the other way. We love Devon. We just disagree with them on this one.