This Classic Tea Sandwich Was Not Invented In Britain After All

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Food History

This Classic Tea Sandwich Was Not Invented In Britain After All By Lottë Reford Oct. 19, 2025 3:39 pm EST

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If you know anything about afternoon tea, then you will know that cucumber sandwiches are a non-negotiable part of the spread. Afternoon tea seems to have been invented in the 1840s, however, the first few decades of this snacky afternoon ritual probably didn't include them at all. This is because cucumber sandwiches were not actually invented in Britain. They were, however, invented by Brits abroad, so it is an easy mistake to make. British people living in India at the time of the British Raj were always looking for new ways to beat the heat. One of their cooling culinary inventions? Cucumber sandwiches, of course.

The cucu