The Great British sandwich: What’s your flavour?

Mike Cheetham | 4th September 2018

 

We’re falling out of ‘loaf’ with the classic BLT – in favour of more modern fillings, such as brie, cranberry and pulled pork, it has emerged.

 

Researchers who carried out a detailed study found a string of traditional sarnies have now fallen by the wayside, including tuna mayo, ham salad and cheese and pickle.

 

They have been replaced by cooler varieties such as hummus and falafel, avocado, chicken and über trendy pulled pork.

 

 

Despite the evolution of fillings, sandwiches remain a firm UK favourite, with more than a third listing them as a much-loved meal.

 

 

The study was conducted by Warburtons to mark the launch of Mighty White, made with 50 per cent wholemeal and 50 per cent white flour – available exclusively at Iceland.

 

And when it comes to generational changes, almost half of respondents said they are more adventurous with their sandwich options than their parents.

 

Taking a look at the numbers, the research revealed we don’t rush the construction of our trusty sandwiches, spending an average of four and a half minutes getting it just right, and consuming five sandwiches a week, on average.

 

Between the fifties and seventies there were ‘infomercials’ that gave us instructions on ‘how to construct the perfect sandwich with the right filling’, created by our ever so helpful friends in America. ‘There’s sandwiches and then there’s sandwiches!’ – LOL.

 

 

According to the data the humble ham salad reigned supreme as the most popular sarnie of the 1970s in Britain, chicken salad topped the charts in the 1980s and the BLT took the vote as the 1990s favourite.

 

Smoked salmon and cream cheese beat other popular fillings for the noughties, with more adventurous options now on trend in the current decade, with hummus and falafel coming out on top.

 

The Great British Sandwich Evolution over the last 50 years: 
Pre-1970

Jam
Corned beef
Cheese
Plain ham
Cucumber

 

1970-1979

Ham salad
Ham and cheese
Ploughman’s
Cheese and onion
Egg mayonnaise

 

1980-1989

Chicken salad
Tuna mayo
Tuna and cucumber
BLT
Tuna salad

 

1990-1999

BLT
Tuna mayo
Chicken mayo
Tuna salad
Chicken Club

 

2000-2009

Smoked salmon and cream cheese
Chicken mayo
Brie and cranberry
Salmon and prawn
Brie and grape

 

2010-present

Hummus and falafel
BBQ pulled pork
Avocado
Chicken and avocado
Brie and grape

 

What’s your flavour, VIVA readers?