Cucumber Sandwich has become the emblem of the art of tea: cool, gracious, impeccable.
Peel a cucumber and cut it into thin slices. Sprinkle these transparent disks with a little salt and vinegar. After a half an hour, drain off the excessive moisture in a sieve. Cover a slice of brown bread –“as thick as a leaf”- lightly buttered, with two layers of cucumber and cover with another slice of bread. Apply firm but gentle pressure with the palm of the hand. Cut off the crusts and divide into three rectangles. Pile them carefully on a china serving plate and cover with a damp cloth until tea is served.