M&S has introduced a limited-edition strawberries and cream sandwich, featuring strawberries, whipped cream cheese, and sweetened bread, drawing inspiration from the "furutsu sando," a popular dessert in Japan. The sandwich quickly became M&S's top seller in its first days, highlighting a growing fondness for innovative culinary fusions in the UK.
The concept of fruit in a sandwich may sound unorthodox to some, but it holds a rich history in Japan where it’s been a popular offering in fruit shops since the late 20th century. As desserts, furutsu sandos have recently surged in popularity, especially among Western tourists, thanks in large part to social media trends that have highlighted their aesthetic appeal and delightful flavor.
In Japan, these fruit sandwiches are typically made from soft, sweetened white bread, filled with a variety of fruits such as strawberries and clementines, accompanied by a whip of cream. Renowned chef Shuko Oda of London’s Koya restaurant explains that these sandwiches offer a delightful visual presentation and a playful textural experience, often being enjoyed with tea or coffee.
While such fruit sandwiches may feel novel in the UK, there are precedents using fruits like bananas or apricots in traditional British variants. The debate around what constitutes a sandwich is ongoing, given its varied international interpretations from savory options to more creative uses like jibaritos made with fried plantains.
Historically, the notion of a sandwich is attributed to John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, who famously requested meat to be served between slices of bread to avoid disrupting his card games. This simple act has since evolved into a global food phenomenon encompassing a wide variety of ingredients and styles.
For those inspired by Japan's strawberries and cream sandwich, there's a wealth of options to explore from around the world, including the Vietnamese bánh mì, French croque monsieur, New Orleans’ po' boy, and the beloved Venezuelan arepa. Indeed, the humble sandwich continues to evolve, blending culinary traditions while whetting the appetite for new discoveries in flavors and textures.
