Japanese fruit sando hits high streets

Strawberries and cream – An emblematic British combo since the 1800s. But do they belong together to a sandwich?

M&S has deployed limited edition strawberries and a cream sandwich, made of strawberries, whipped cream cheese and sweet bread, which, according to him, is inspired by the “Sando of Viral Japanese Fruits”. The supermarket chain says it was its best -selling sandwich both days after its launch.

Strawberry sandwiches are available in certain Japanese bakeries in the United Kingdom, but M&S’s offer seems to be the first time that they have been widely available on supermarket shelves.

The idea of ​​serving fruit in a sandwich may seem unusual, but it is not new in Japan. Known as “Furutsu Sando”, they became popular after Japanese fruit stores opened salons selling desserts so that customers taste their goods.

They have recently been wanted in the world after having become viral on social networks, Western tourists on Tiktok rush to get their hands on the version sold in the 7-Eleven Japanese convenience store.

Fruit sandwiches are generally in sweet, soft and spongy white bread filled with whipped cream and fruit, usually strawberries or clementine, explains Shuko Oda, chef of Koya restaurant in London. They are generally cut into triangles so that the fruit is exposed.

“It looks pretty pretty,” said Shuko, adding that sandwiches are a “fun game on texture”.

Some people in Japan do them at home, but they are more commonly bought in convenience stores, dining rooms or dedicated fruit sando stores, she says. People often appreciate them as a snack with tea or coffee or served on a plate alongside tasty sandwiches.

In the United Kingdom, it is not as rare as you might think of coupling the fruits with slices of bread for a sandwich. Think of banana sandwiches, served with trenched or puree fruits, or nostalgia for childhood jam sandwiches. The coronation chicken sandwiches are also made with dried apricots or sultanas.

What is a sandwichBasically? Should he be salty? And should it even be made with typical wheat bread – take jibarito, for example, which is made with fried plantain.

What about Scandinavian open sandwiches? And if they count like sandwiches, when what about French toasts garnished with fruit and sauce?

The Oxford English Dictionary says that the sandwiches are made of two slices of thin bread, generally buttered, “with a salty … or another garnish”.

Although humans have been making bread for thousands of years, the sandwich as we know it today owed its popularity to John Montagu, the fourth count of Sandwich. The story tells that he asked his staff to bring him meat between two slices of bread so that he can continue to play cards without stopping to eat.

Some of the sandwiches we eat in the United Kingdom raise eyebrows in the world. Take crisp sarnies, coronation chicken sandwiches or the humble chip. But if you feel inspired by Japan Sandos strawberries and want to improve your sandwich game, here are a few more sandwiches from around the world.

Bánh Mì is a Vietnamese sandwich served in a baguette, generally filled with meat, pâté, pickles and spicy sauces. It is usually consumed for breakfast. BBC Food Has a recipe based on sweet and spicy pork belly and chili sauce.

Croque sir is a French sandwich served hot with sticky melted cheese. It is made of white sauce, cheese, ham and mustard, cooked under the grill. To mix it, served with a dish on the top on top and – voila – you have a ma’am croque.

A boy from Po ‘, who comes from the “poor boy”, is a sandwich with rue de la New Orleans who celebrates Louisiana seafood. A wide variety of fillings are available, but the most popular include fried shrimp, crab or lobster nestled among lettuce, remoulade and pickles. BBC Food has a simplified version that you can do at home more easily using Frozen scampi.

Rather than using bread made from typical wheat flour, arepas are made using corn flour. They are also popular in Colombia, but it is Venezuela where they are most often transformed into sandwiches. A popular garnish is Reina Pepiada, who combines chicken, avocado and coriander.

We are not foreigners to double on carbohydrates in the United Kingdom – and the Australian Jaffle Spaghetti relies on the same principle. It is made by serving remaining spaghetti with tomato sauce inside a toastie. In Japan convenience stores, you can also collect a Yakisoba pan – noodles served in a hot dog bread.

Franceinha, a Portuguese sandwich from Porto, is the paradise of a lover of cheese and meat. The impressive structure is made by filling a slightly grilled bread with a steak, sausage, cheese and ham.

More cheese is then placed on top, and the whole sandwich is generally baked until the cheese melts then served with an egg on top. A spicy sauce based on port, beer and tomato is then paid on the whole. If this did not already fill enough, it is generally served with fries on the side.

Additional reports by Polly Weeks, BBC Food