riff is sometimes defined as 'improvisation' or 'variation on the original' - I made some Bara Brith Welsh teabread, but tweaked the recipe, so I guess it is Bara Briff. Kirsten had sent me a pack of interesting tea in the last Postcard exchange.
When freshly made, it started out an alarming blood red hue, but settled down to a crimson liquid. [I think the sumac berries gave it the colour] You could smell the floral, rose notes, and taste the citrussy notes. It was OK - but not my first choice for a fruit tea. But I couldn't waste it. So I made a jugful and used it for this tea bread...[recipe based on my 1982 Cranks Cookbook]
- 250g mixed dried fruit
- 50g sugar
- 50g chopped walnuts
- grated rind of ½ an orange
- 400ml of tea
- 350g plain flour [sift and stir in the bp]
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1 free range egg, beaten
- Put fruit, sugar, rind and tea in a pan,
- Simmer 20 mins
- Allow to cool
- Stir in nuts, flour, egg and baking powder
- Pour into greased, lined 2lb loaf tin
- Bake at 180º for 45 minutes
- Serve sliced and buttered
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It was delicious - even without butter! Thank you Kirsten, for sending me "Paddington's beloved marmalade infused tea"
UPDATE Apologies - I omitted 50g sugar from ingredients, thank you Marilyn for letting me know. Recipe duly amended
I'm not a big fruit tea fan. I'll have lemon balm or lemon verbena but anything else just tastes like bath water to me! The bara brith was a good idea!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I did know that about Inspector Morse. It is an ostinato-a repeated pattern!
Thanks, I knew you'd understand about the Morse Music!
DeleteSounds like you found a delicious use for the tea! :)
ReplyDeleteIt proved very successful. I've just discovered this company has a small shop in Norwich, I must visit it sometime.
DeleteLooks delicious. Regine
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Thanks Regine!
ReplyDeleteHi, Angela! Being of Welsh extraction with a lot of Welsh relations in Pennsylvania I have learned to make Welsh cakes (totally unknown here in Texas so they make me somewhat of a baking celebrity — but only with Welsh cakes). I have heard of Bara Brith but never attempted it. Difficult? Is is sweet or savory? I might have to expand my Welsh repertoire of recipes.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good Welsh site explaining things https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/food-and-drink/Welsh-food-and-/bara-brith-recipe. I do hope you have a try at making some. Delicious buttered with a cup of tea (or coffee)
DeleteThat sounds amazing. I haven't had a proper tea bread in years.
ReplyDeleteSome of the fruit teas are less appealing than others and that was a great idea to use yours for the Bara Brith which sounds like it was quite successful. I have made a similar recipe using regular tea and now I'm thinking it might be fun to use a fruit tea for a change.
ReplyDeleteYou could add in some different fruit (eg dried cranberries) too
DeleteI'm glad the tea was a success, even if not as a drink!
ReplyDeleteThank you K - it made a splendid loaf!!
DeleteI often use fruit tea bags in making tea bread - especially those that are less successful as tea! Yours looks a good recipe.
ReplyDelete