Hosts planning a small afternoon tea
Choose portions and warming instructions that work for your guest numbers, while checking individual food preferences before serving.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers looking for sourdough
If a toasted crumpet is acceptable instead of a pancake, Jason’s sourdough crumpets offer a clearly identified sourdough option. They contain wheat.
Hosts accommodating a specific dietary requirement
Check the exact product and pack for allergens or a gluten-free requirement. For a guest with an assessed swallowing plan, follow their prescribed food texture rather than relying on a description such as “soft”.
What should you check?
Decide whether sourdough character or a pancake is essential, then check preparation, ingredients and each guest’s requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough or pancake | Check the product name and ingredients, not just its bakery-style description. Waitrose & Partners describes Jason’s product as sourdough crumpets; crumpets are not pancakes. | I want sourdough and am happy to serve toasted crumpets instead of pancakes. |
| Serving method | Check the pack’s warming directions and portion count. Ocado lists microwave, toaster and pan methods for M&S Buttermilk Pancakes. | Warm pancakes shortly before tea would suit my plans better than toasting crumpets. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current pack, including the ingredients of any toppings. A sourdough label does not establish gluten-free suitability; Ocado describes Genius pancakes as gluten-free and wheat-free. | One guest needs a gluten-free product, so I need to check the exact pack and keep their serving separate from wheat-based food. |
| Protein per portion | Compare the stated serving sizes before comparing figures. Sainsbury’s lists 7g protein per two Warburtons Protein Pancakes with Blueberry. | If protein content matters for a guest’s own food choices, I want to know how much is in the portion I plan to serve. |
| Prescribed texture | For an assessed swallowing plan, check the required texture and the finished serving, including toppings. Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust describes Level 6 food as soft, tender and breakable with a fork or spoon. | Where a guest has a prescribed texture level, I cannot assume a fluffy pancake or toasted crumpet meets it. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming sourdough means gluten-free
Jason’s sourdough crumpets contain wheat, so their sourdough name does not make them suitable for a guest who requires gluten-free food.
Choose a product specifically labelled for that requirement, check its current pack and use separate serving utensils where cross-contact is a concern.
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Judging swallowing suitability by appearance
A pancake that looks soft, or a crumpet after toasting, has not thereby been shown to meet an individual’s prescribed food texture. Toppings also affect the finished serving.
Follow the guest’s assessed swallowing plan and seek advice from their speech and language therapist if the food or topping is in doubt.
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Treating different labels as the same requirement
Protein content, gluten-free labelling and sourdough character describe different things. Warburtons Protein Pancakes with Blueberry and Genius Gluten Free Pancakes are not identified as sourdough products.
Settle the guest’s essential requirement before selecting a product, rather than substituting one label for another.
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Using an online listing as the final serving check
The ingredients, allergens and preparation directions on the pack are the details to use for the product you serve.
Read the current pack before purchase and again when preparing the afternoon tea, including any topping packs.
Relevant product lines
Jason’s
Waitrose & Partners describes Jason’s 6 Sourdough Crumpets as white sourdough crumpets made without yeast, sugar or additives.
- A named sourdough option when crumpets can take the place of pancakes.
- They are not pancakes, contain wheat and need toasting.
M&S
Ocado lists microwave, toaster and pan methods for M&S Buttermilk Pancakes.
- Several stated ways to warm the pancakes shortly before serving.
- The pancakes are not identified as sourdough and contain wheat, milk and egg.
Warburtons
Sainsbury’s lists Warburtons Protein Pancakes with Blueberry at 7g protein per two pancakes.
- A stated protein figure with a clear two-pancake serving basis.
- They are not identified as sourdough; check the pack’s ingredients and allergens for the guest.
Genius
Ocado describes Genius Gluten Free Pancakes as gluten-free, wheat-free and milk-free.
- A labelled pancake option to consider when gluten-free and wheat-free food is required.
- They are not a sourdough substitute and contain egg.
Joybuy product option
This filled Japanese pancake is an option for serving without warming, rather than a sourdough crumpet or a plain buttermilk pancake.
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Marukyo Tsubuan Dorayaki Japanese Pancakes with Adzuki Bean Filling, Original Flavour, 6 Pieces, 320g
These ready-to-eat, sweet adzuki bean-filled pancakes can be served without heating. They are not sourdough or plain buttermilk pancakes. The product information lists wheat, egg, soya and milk; check the current pack before serving.
Common questions
Are sourdough pancakes or crumpets automatically gluten-free?
No. Sourdough does not guarantee gluten-free suitability: Jason’s sourdough crumpets contain wheat. If a guest needs gluten-free food, check for a specifically labelled product and read its current pack.
Can I serve pancakes to a guest with a swallowing plan?
Only serve them if the pancakes and every topping meet that guest’s assessed texture requirements. Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust describes Level 6 food as soft, tender and breakable with a fork or spoon; a pancake’s appearance alone does not establish that it meets an individual plan.
Which allergens should I check in these pancakes?
Read the current physical pack for the exact product and any toppings. The M&S buttermilk pancakes are described as containing wheat, milk and egg; the Warburtons protein pancakes contain wheat, milk, soya and egg; and the Genius gluten-free pancakes contain egg.
Can I prepare the pancakes ahead of the afternoon tea?
Use the storage, freezing and heating directions on the pack you buy. M&S Buttermilk Pancakes have several warming options, so you can choose a stated method that works near serving time.
Does every older guest need a higher-protein pancake?
No single pancake choice follows from a guest’s age. Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and the British Dietetic Association’s 2023 guidance discusses nutrient-rich diets for people over 65; consider the guest’s own requirements and compare the protein figure using the stated serving size.