Today, I’m sharing 3 classic Afternoon Tea Sandwiches from The Ritz London that you can easily recreate in your own kitchen. They have mastered the art of serving English tea, and this iconic trio provides the perfect savory balance. Cucumbers with herbed cream cheese on barnyard bread, lemon butter smoked salmon on sourdough, and ham with whole grain mustard mayo on brioche. Roll out your sheets and put the kettle on – it’s time to enjoy authentic afternoon tea for two at home.
How to Make The Ritz’s Classic Tea Sandwich
Here’s how to bring three of the most iconic stars to life on a tea tray:
Classic Cucumber and Cream Cheese
- Bread: Granary bread (US readers: look for soft-textured, multi-grain bread for beautiful grains).
- Atmosphere: The absolute foundation of afternoon tea. This sandwich is based on thinly sliced, crunchy cucumber combined with a soft, herb-flecked base.
- Spread: Soft cream cheese mixed with chopped chives, fresh dill and a pinch of sea salt.
Scottish Smoked Salmon & Lemon Butter
- Bread: Sourdough (the slight tang from the sourdough cuts through the richness of the fish beautifully).
- Atmosphere: Smooth, smoky, and very luxurious. The secret here is to let the salmon’s qualities shine by pairing it with a bright, citrus-flavored base.
- Spread: Mix in the unsalted butter (to offset the saltiness of the salmon) and fresh lemon zest until light and fluffy.
Ham & Wheat Mustard Mayonnaise
- Bread: Soft, buttery brioche (which perfectly balances the savory and salty taste of the ham).
- Atmosphere: This is the most savory and comforting sandwich. Enhanced with a smear of sharp and textured spices so it doesn’t feel heavy.
- Spread: Whisk together equal parts high-quality mayonnaise and whole grain Dijon mustard.
How to Prepare and Trim Finger Sandwiches Like a Pro
To get clean results, keep these four golden rules in mind:
- Spread Edge-to-Edge: Even if the crust is cut off, you should butter or spread it all over the edge of the bread. This layer of fat functions as a waterproof protector so that the bread doesn’t get wet. It also supports the bread under the knife so the edges don’t flatten when slicing.
- Use a Serrated Knife: A sharp, long bread knife is non-negotiable. Saw gently, do not press so that the soft bread is not pinched.
- Cool Before Cutting: Assemble the sandwiches, wrap in plastic wrap, and let cool in the refrigerator for about 15 to 20 minutes before slicing. This will strengthen the basting and filling, making it easier to get clean cuts.
- Trim Final Crust: Always build the sandwich thoroughly, then cut the crust into one clean slice to ensure perfect, identical finger shapes.
Goldilocks Layout: Match Your Filling to Your Bread
It’s all about finding the ‘right’ balance for your bread. Not all bread is created equal. Whether you use standard square flatbreads, long Pullman/sandwich loaves, or wider artisanal slices, match the layout of your fillings to the right size of bun. Arrange the ingredients in an even layer and reach all the way to the edges. This ensures that once the crust is trimmed, each finger sandwich is perfectly filled from corner to corner.
Other Sandwiches on the Ritz Menu
Nothing beats the serene elegance of Palm Court. The stunning glass-domed salon in the heart of The Ritz London where their legendary afternoon tea is served. They are the only hotel in the UK to employ certified Tea Masters, who travel the world to source their exclusive leaves.
To truly understand the art of English tea service, we must take a look at the Ritz’s traditional menu. While we’re focusing on our current flagship trio, the full Ritz lineup often features variations of the following classics to complement the service:
- Cheddar Cheese with Chutney: Sharp, mature English cheddar is combined with sweet, spiced chutney pickles (like Branston pickles) on thick-cut bread.
- Chicken Breasts with Creamy Tarragon Mayonnaise: Sliced chicken breast sprinkled with fresh tarragon with dill in a creamy sauce, served on rich malted bread.
- Egg Salad with Chopped Red Onions and Watercress: Creamy egg salad topped with finely chopped shallots for a snack, topped with fresh watercress and served in a soft brioche bun.
How to Make Afternoon Tea in Complete English
If you want to serve a truly authentic English afternoon tea, these savory finger sandwiches are just the starter. A proper tea service follows a traditional three-tiered progression. Starting with savory, moving on to warm scones, and ending with soft sweets.
Creating a Full Experience at Home:
- Welcome Drink: Start the experience like they do at Palm Court – with a crisp, chilled glass of Champagne to toast before the tea is poured.
- Tea: Pair this savory and sweet dish with traditional black tea (English Breakfast). Classic Earl Gray works well, or you can serve the signature Ritz Royal English Blend (which can only be purchased directly from the hotel).
- Scones: No tea service is complete without the right accompaniments. Serve these sandwiches alongside my Classic English Scones. Serve with a big bowl of strawberry jam and creamy Clotted Cream.
- The Sweet One: End the afternoon on a sweet note with a selection of bite-sized cakes. Think miniature fruit tarts, French macarons and delicate cakes like sponge cake or petit fours that can easily be enjoyed in two bites.
Looking for more tea time inspiration? If you want another refreshing crunch, be sure to check out my recipe for Horseradish and Herb Butter Sandwiches.
Golden Rules of Tea Sandwiches: Size and Shape
When it comes to afternoon tea, size matters. A proper tea sandwich doesn’t require a big, unpleasant bite. Instead, they should be two gentle biters. The portions are neat so guests can easily carry on a conversation without having their mouths full. Just remember, because bread sizes vary. The exact results will change if you don’t use standard bread slice sizes.
To get the perfect image look, aim for standard dimensions of about 3 x 1.5 inches (7.5 x 4 cm). Regarding the shape, you have several classic lines to choose from:
- Royal Rectangle: This is the gold standard of afternoon tea. They are very easy to eat and look beautifully uniform.
- Math Behind Cutting: If you’re serving traditional high tea for two people, a base of 6 full sandwiches makes about 18 finger sandwiches. A standard 4 x 4 inch loaf of bread will shrink to a 3.5 inch (9 cm) square once the crust is removed. Slicing each full sandwich vertically into three equal pieces will yield three tiny fingers measuring approximately 3.5 x 1.5 inches (9 x 3 cm). Leaving you with 18 perfect two-biters to split.
- Tiny Triangle: If you want a traditional, home-style look, a diagonal cut is your best bet. Simply cut your square sandwich corner to corner to make two large triangles, or cut again to make four mini triangles.
- Elegant Twist: For a modern and unique touch, you can use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to make round sandwiches. While it looks pretty and different, remember that you will have more bread leftovers with this method.
Pro Tip: Always cut your sandwiches after assembly, not before. Refrigerating the assembled sandwiches for 15 minutes first will firm up the spread, ensuring the filling doesn’t ooze out. When cutting, use a very sharp, serrated bread knife and a gentle sawing motion to get perfectly clean edges.
3 Classic Afternoon Tea Sandwiches from The Ritz London
Recreate the legendary elegance of The Ritz London at home with this trio of afternoon tea sandwiches for two. Featuring a classic cucumber concoction, orange butter smoked salmon, and savory ham, this is the ultimate guide to mastering the perfect crustless finger sandwich.
For Cucumbers, Cream Cheese, and Herbs:
For Smoked Salmon and Lemon Butter:
For the Ham and Mustard Mayonnaise:
Mix the Spread in 3 Separate Bowls:
Gather:
-
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over both slices of barnyard bread. Layer cucumber ribbons over one slice, then place the remaining bread slices on top.
-
Spread the orange butter evenly over both slices of sourdough. Arrange the smoked salmon on one slice, then top with the remaining slices of butter.
-
Spread mustard-mayo on both brioche slices. Layer the ham over one slice, then finish with the remaining bread slices on top.
-
Wrap each assembled sandwich tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. This helps organize the filling so it’s cleaner and easier to slice.
Cut and Slice:
-
Using a sharp serrated knife, cut off the crust with a clean motion (save for eating later), then cut each sandwich vertically into 3 equal finger slices measuring 3 x 1.5 inches/7.5 x 4 cm. Serve immediately.
Portion: 2people, Calories: 530kcal, Carbohydrate: 39G, Proteins: 18G, Fat: 29G
PakarPBN
A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.
In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.
The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.