How to prepare afternoon tea sandwiches

Sandwiches, or the savoury course, is the first course served to guests at an afternoon tea party. They say first impressions count, so if you are hosting an afternoon tea at home, you want to make sure that the first course sets the scene for your tea party.

 I have put together some of the most common questions when it comes to preparing sandwiches for afternoon tea at home.

 How important are sandwiches when it comes to laying out the perfect afternoon tea?
Sandwiches are a staple part of afternoon tea and it would be wrong to leave them out. If you’re making afternoon tea at home, then one or two filling choices is fine. If you’re in a hotel or tea house that has a large kitchen, then I would expect to see a selection of different types of sandwiches.

Where do you stand when it comes to cutting sandwiches? Is cutting them into triangles the way to go?
Generally, I think triangle sandwiches are great for lunchtime but for afternoon tea a finger sandwich is best. If you wanted, you could cut out shaped sandwiches to suit a particular theme, this is especially great for kids sandwiches.

What, in your view, are the best fillings to serve at afternoon tea? Which fillings should be avoided?
There are some iconic fillings associated with afternoon tea such as cucumber or Coronation chicken. Everyone has their favourite and people do expect to see some of the classics, even ham and cheese or egg mayonnaise. Smoked salmon sandwiches are also popular now for afternoon tea. Fillings that should be avoided are ones that are perhaps an acquired taste or are more unusual. If you’re making afternoon tea at home, always check if your guests have any dietary requirements first. Serving cheese to a vegan is a big no-no so make sure you make sure you know what your guests needs are.
What common mistakes do people make when serving sandwiches? What are some of the worst errors you've seen?

There is nothing that I find more annoying than to be served a sandwich on stale bread. It might be the case the bread was fresh yesterday or even earlier in the morning but a lot of people don’t realise how to store sandwiches correctly before an afternoon tea. If I make them earlier that morning, I always cover them with clingfilm and then put a damp tea towel on top to ensure they don’t go stale.

Common afternoon tea mistakes can be when people go crazy over the savoury course. Of course, a small coronation quiche would be nice but we don’t really need mini-burgers or cocktail sausages.

Should the crusts be cut off?
It is nicer at afternoon tea to have the crusts cut off as it makes the sandwiches nice and dainty. Did you know that the reason why the crusts were cut off is down to hygiene when the bread would be on the kitchen counter and the cook would cut the crusts off to ensure the bread was clean.
Where do you stand on 'crispy butties'?

For anyone who knows me, they would know that I would say “Absolutely not.”

How do I stop my sandwiches from going soggy?

In order to stop the sandwich filling from seeping into the bread, it is important to make sure you butter the bread first to the edges. If you don’t like butter you can use mayonnaise but either one will act as a barrier and protect the bread from getting soggy. In terms of how much butter, you want it to act as a seal rather than for its taste so lightly butter each side ensuring the corners are reached

What bread pairs with which fillings?

Most breads will work with all fillings, but you can jazz up your sandwich offering and use something a little different to what you would use every day. Smoked salmon goes well with darker breads like rye or seeded bread. If you were trying an Italian ham sandwich then why not use focaccia or ciabatta. One of my favourite sandwiches would be homemade egg mayonnaise on soft white bread.

Are there any unusual fillings we should try/ that are underrated?

I find a roast vegetable sandwich to be really underrated. I’m thinking red pepper and courgette roasted can make a lovely sandwich or filled roll. A lot of vegetarian sandwiches are actually underrated but can make some of the most delicious. Think of the cucumber sandwich, very few ingredients needed but perfect for a refreshing afternoon snack.

Are they any don'ts when it comes to making the perfect sandwich?

When it comes to afternoon tea sandwiches, I am quite particular (funnily enough) of how the sandwiches are made. I definitely think they should be cut into fingers with the crusts removed. You can’t really go too wrong with sandwiches but a big no-no for me is making them too early which means the bread goes stale. If you need to make sandwiches in advance. Put them on the serving tray and cover them with a layer of cling film. Then cover them with a damp tea towel and put them in a cold room until you are ready to serve. Oh and another thing I hate to see is to over fill then sandwich. Try and follow the rule of three, one third bread, one third filling and a final third of bread.

Why do we as a nation love a sarnie so much?

Ever since the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu accidentally created the sandwich when he didn’t want to leave the games table, it has been a firm favourite for lunches and snacks across the Nation. Given

the fact they are so easy to make, can be relatively cheap and easy to take with you on the go, they are the perfect lunchtime meal. They also take centre stage at quintessential British pastimes like afternoon tea.

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