Tea sandwiches are small, crustless sandwiches made with thinly sliced bread and a spread to prevent sogginess. They are a common snack served at afternoon tea and can have various fillings, such as cucumber, chicken curry, and smoked salmon.
A tea sandwich is a special type of light sandwich commonly served at afternoon tea and designed to serve as a snack, rather than a serious meal. Numerous teahouses in Britain offer tea sandwiches, and establishments serving British-style tea around the world usually have several varieties on the menu as well. When prepared well, a tea sandwich is light and flavorful, with an even texture that lacks soggyness or lumps of ingredients.
A real tea sandwich has several basic characteristics, starting with the type of bread used. Thin, thinly sliced buns are used to make tea sandwiches, and the bread is traditionally white, although rye and rye dough are also sometimes used. A tea sandwich is also crustless: cooks cut the crust off the bread after the sandwich is assembled, so the ingredients run right up to the edge of the sandwich. Size is also a factor – a tea sandwich needs to be small. Traditional tea sandwiches are made by cutting a single sandwich into four triangular quarters, although more elaborate shapes made with cookie cutters are also available. Finally, a tea sandwich is always made with a thin layer of butter, cream cheese, or a similar spread on the bread, to keep the sandwich from getting damp.
Many cooks prepare bread and fillings for sandwiches in advance, but don’t whip up the sandwich until the last minute. This further reduces the potential for soggy bread, a very undesirable trait. Sandwiches are usually served on a tea tray, and a variety of sandwiches will be presented at the same time, so you can sample multiple flavors.
There are a number of common fillings for the tea sandwich, including the quintessential cucumber sandwich. Cucumber sandwiches are made by spreading a thin layer of butter on white bread and then layering peeled and sliced cucumbers. Cucumbers are usually patted dry with towels to remove some moisture, and the sandwich is sprinkled with lemon juice and pepper before putting on the top, for a spicier flavor. In some cases, watercress is added to the butter for an extra dimension of flavor.
Other fillings for a tea sandwich might be things like deviled eggs, chicken curry, peppered cheese, ham and cheese, smoked salmon, liver paste, and seafood mixes. In each case, the ingredients for the filling are finely chopped and mixed with flavorful accents such as chives, curry, mustard, pepper, capers and garlic. The filling is spread thinly and evenly over the bread and is sometimes pressed down to ensure it is even before being cut.
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