Borrowdale Tea Bread

By ClareC | February 27, 2019 |

We’ve recently started working with local tea suppliers, Dorothy’s Teas, which is a great excuse to talk about taking tea. Here’s the recipe for a local favourite, Borrowdale tea bread, so that you can enjoy tea in true Cumbrian style.

Ingredients

275ml hot black tea (Dorothy’s Low Sizergh Blend or Oolong are our favourite)

110g raisins

110g currants

110g soft brown sugar (dark)

1 organic egg

225g self-raising wholemeal flour

Method

1. Pour the tea over the fruit, and leave overnight.

2. The next day, beat the sugar and egg together, then stir in the flour and the fruit. Add enough of the soaking liquid to make a soft mixture. 

3. Pour the mixture into a greased and lined loaf tin (1lb). Bake for 45 minutes at 180, gas mark 4, or until cooked in the centre. 

4. Turn out of the tin and cool on a rack. Serve thinly sliced, spread with butter. 

The recipe features in Tess Baxter’s The Lake District and Cumbria in recipes and photographs (available in the farm shop shippon).

Posted in Recipes

8 Comments

  1. David Downie on January 23, 2021 at 3:23 am

    Missing visiting your lovely shop and having a tasty slice of your Tea Bread.
    Now I can have a go at making my own!
    Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
  2. Juliette on January 30, 2021 at 6:01 pm

    Can’t get to Cumbria for Feb Half term as planned… this tea bread recipe is fab, (and very easy.)
    Thank you, and hopefully see you all soon once lockdown is over.

    Reply
  3. Terri Metcalfe on February 12, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    Amazing! I didn’t have any sultanas so used the currants plus a mix of dried prunes and dates, it’s delicious. Will definitely make again. Bonus of reminding me of home!

    Reply
    • ClareC on February 14, 2022 at 10:52 am

      Really glad you enjoyed the recipe and found some great variations too. Enjoy a taste of the Lakes!

      Reply
      • Eileen Arthur on March 1, 2022 at 6:01 pm

        Hi ,
        Is the 180 temp for fan ovens
        Thank you

        Reply
        • ClareC on March 8, 2022 at 11:26 am

          Yes, it is. Your preferred baking setting is the one to use for this recipe.

          Reply
  4. Louise Hudson on May 1, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    What makes this bread rise? There is neither yeast nor baking powder or baking soda in the ingredients.

    Reply
    • ClareC on May 3, 2023 at 10:21 am

      Hi Louise, the secret to the rise is in the self-raising flour – and also in the eggs. Let us know how you get on if you make it.

      Reply

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