Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Iced Lavender Tea
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Crisp cucumber, herby cream cheese and soft bread with the crusts cut off. Add a pitcher of iced lavender tea and a plate of cookies and you're hosting a garden tea party, whether it's for a bridal shower or a Saturday with friends.
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Why this pairing works
Herbes de Provence gives the cream cheese a savory, garden-fresh flavor that plays perfectly with cool cucumber. Iced lavender tea echoes the lavender and keeps the whole spread light.
Makes 8 (24 tea sandwiches) Prep 30 min Cook 5 min
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp Herbes de Provence with Lavender, crushed very fine
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice, plus 1 tsp zest
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
- 12 slices soft white or wheat sandwich bread
- 3 Tbsp Lavender Loose Leaf Tea, or 6 black tea bags plus 1 Tbsp Culinary Lavender Buds
- 8 cups water, 4 hot, 4 cold
- 8 Lavender Honey Sticks (Peach), for sweetening the tea
- 8 Lavender Cookie (Lemon Sugar) or shortbread cookies
Directions
- Bring 4 cups water just to a boil, rest 1 minute, then steep the tea 5 minutes. Strain, add 4 cups cold water and chill.
- Lay the cucumber slices on paper towels, sprinkle lightly with salt and let stand 10 minutes. Pat dry.
- Beat the cream cheese, herbes, lemon juice and zest until smooth.
- Spread every slice of bread with a thin layer. Layer cucumbers on 6 slices and top with the rest.
- Cut off the crusts and cut each sandwich into 4 triangles. Serve with the iced tea over ice, honey sticks and cookies.
Serve it with: Lavender Wildflower Honey
How do you keep tea sandwiches from getting soggy?
- Salt the cucumber slices and pat them dry, as in step 2.
- Spread the cream cheese all the way to the edges of both slices; it acts as a moisture barrier.
- Use soft but firm sandwich bread, not very fresh, fluffy bread.
- Assemble no more than 2 hours ahead and cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap.
How many tea sandwiches per person?
Plan on 3 to 4 small sandwiches per guest when there are scones and sweets too, or 5 to 6 if sandwiches are the main savory dish. This recipe makes 24, enough for 6 to 8 guests on a full tea table.
What other fillings work for tea sandwiches?
- Egg salad with chives on wheat bread.
- Chicken salad with grapes and toasted pecans, like our honey lemon chicken salad.
- Smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill.
- Ham and Brie with a thin layer of honey mustard.
- Radish, butter and flaky salt.
How do you make iced lavender tea?
Steep the tea in hot water, just off the boil, for 5 minutes, then add cold water and chill. For a softer, smoother pitcher, cold brew it: steep the tea in 8 cups of cold water in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, then strain. Sweeten each glass with a snipped honey stick.
Make it your own
- Add thin radish slices and fresh dill for a pink-and-green platter.
- Serve with halved lemon lavender scones and jam.
- Cut sandwiches with small cookie cutters for a shower.
- Set them on a full afternoon tea board.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make the filling ahead?
Yes. The herb cream cheese keeps 3 days in the fridge. Let it soften before spreading.
Do I need to peel the cucumber?
Not with an English cucumber; its skin is thin. Peel regular cucumbers and scoop out large seeds.
What bread is best?
A soft, tight-crumbed white or wheat sandwich bread. Thin-sliced bread makes the most elegant sandwiches.
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