What do you munch on with your tea? There are a lot of choices to fit different tastes, but chances are, if you’re a purist, you like to enjoy a delicious tea sandwich. It’s the perfect companion to a warm brew. Light, fluffy and filling enough to tide you over right before a bigger meal.
The tradition dates all the way back to 1840, when Anna Maria Stanhope, seventh Duchess of Bedford, decided that a shorter, lighter meal between lunch and dinner was needed. And so, the afternoon tea was born and tea sandwiches quickly became part of the tradition.
There’s no right or wrong way to make a tea sandwich, but there are a few key characteristics. The bread is typically white and fluffy and the filling is typically something light. It’s also typical to cut the crust of the bread completely off. It’s best to make a variety (maybe two or three types) to make sure even your most finnicky guest can find something to please them.
Some classic recipes for sandwiches include ingredients like egg salad, shaved carrots, cucumbers, grapes, ham salad, and chicken salad. The flavors don’t always have to add up to something savory though. You can just as easily go the sweet route and make a marmalade tea sandwich.
In honor of Thanksgiving, and the huge pile of leftovers we’ll all soon be scratching our heads over (‘What do we do with all this?!–Turkey sandwiches again?!’), here’s a really creative idea from “Tea with Friends” that will join your love of tea and Turkey Day with a truly memorable presentation.
All you need are some almonds, cranberry sauce, your favorite kind of bread and leftover turkey. If you have a Turkey-shaped cookie cutter, that’ll help you get the shape just right. Feeling extra fancy? Why not whip up and slather on some sun-dried cranberry aioli?
Enjoy!