An Irish tea brack is a traditional Irish cake, made from fruit macerated in black tea. For the record, the word Brack comes from an old Irish word“breac” meaning stained. A word that could not be more explicit, when you consider the final appearance of the cake!
In Ireland, we’re particularly fond of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)… all the more so when they’ve been marinated for several hours in black tea (a tea particularly popular with the Irish). The result is a daring cake with an assertive character, moist and delicious!
This Irish tea brack is often drunk on St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween. But of course it can be eaten at any time of year!
The final result is intriguing, halfway between a loaf of bread and a cake. And the result is delicious! The fruit naturally nourishes the crumb, resulting in a well-balanced, generous cake! The tea counterbalances the sweetness of the cake, for rounded, mouth-watering flavours.
Enjoy it at teatime, with a comforting cup of tea and a view of the rainy Irish countryside!
Add to that a peat fire, and you’ll feel deliciously at home!
This type of cake is often found in Irish patisseries and tea rooms. Very economical, they’re easy to access, and can be eaten on the go, or as a formal snack.
But the Irish also like to do it at home. It has to be said that it uses accessible and inexpensive ingredients. The recipe is simple and easy, but requires a little forethought: the dried fruit absolutely must be marinated in the tea for at least one night!
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