Scone queen rises to world record challenge hoping to create 150 flavours

Jo Watson so far has created no less than 130 unique scone flavours. Photo / Facebook

By Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan for RNZ

If you're adventurous with your scones, don't pass through the beachside town of Urenui without visiting The Old Town Hall Cafe.

Jo Watson runs the tea room from her historic home and so far has created no less than 130 unique scone flavours. She's working to create 150 flavours by December and scoop a Guinness World Record.

Watson grew up in the south of England where Devonshire teas were really popular, and three years ago she opened The Old Town Hall Cafe with a plan to specialise in those.

But although she thought real clotted cream would be her cafe's point of difference, the generous range of scone flavours turned out to be her best drawcard.

So much yumminess today! And the place is lovely and WARM! #sundayfunday #brunch #urenuinz #taranakilikenoother #guinnessworldrecord

Posted by The Old Town Hall Café & Tea Room on Saturday, July 17, 2021

Now The Old Town Hall Cafe sells a number of varieties each day, including their signature - Double Ginger and Pear with lemon curd and homemade coffee cream.

On the menu the day before Watson spoke to Jesse Mulligan, the scones on offer were: Apricot & Cream Cheese, Cheese & Slow-roasted Garlic, Date & Crystallised Ginger and Date & Cinnamon ('cause Kiwis love date scones).

It wasn't until Watson realised that she'd already created 80 unique scone varieties that she started wondering if there was a world record for it.

To reach Jo Watson's record-setting goal, her stepson Matthew is coming up with new flavours. Photo / Facebook

She discovered that an English couple named Jackie and Colin Nevin were registered with the World Record Academy for producing 99 varieties of scones, but there is no such Guinness World Record.

Flavour number 128 has arrived and it is a licorice scone which I think we will serve with blackcurrant jam with clotted...

Posted by The Old Town Hall Café & Tea Room on Thursday, August 5, 2021

To help Watson reach her record-setting goal of 150 unique scone varieties by December, her stepson and "righthand man" Matthew is coming up with new flavours, too.

He recently devised eight scone flavours that represent the earth's elements, including Fire (Jalapeno & Cayenne pepper) and Earth (Kawakawa & Hazelnut).

Even though the number of scone varieties Watson has created is now "bonkers", she says each new flavour combination must be appealing.

"[Our scone flavours] have to make sense. They must be delicious. They must be tasty."

-RNZ