- Earl Grey Tea is black tea flavoured with oil of bergamot.
- Legend has it that the secret recipe was given to Earl Grey by the Chinese.
- However he never visited China, though he might have received it as a diplomatic present.
- Who was Earl Grey?
- Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764 – 1845) was a Member of Parliament for Northumberland.
- He was British Prime Minister from 1830-1834.
- Two important Acts of Parliament were passed during his time as Prime Minister:
- 1832 Reform Act
- 1833 Slavery Abolition Act.
- The earliest mention of Earl Grey Tea appears to be in the 1850s, several years after his death.
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- This cake is called a Tea Bread in England and is a cake made using tea.
- Using Earl Grey Tea makes most recipes even tastier.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of loose leaf Earl Grey Tea
- 250 ml boiling water
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- 300g sultanas
- 1 tablespoon honey
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- 80g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- 280g plain flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
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- Icing sugar to dust
Method
- Grease and line a 23 cm circular cake tin or use a cake liner.
- Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves and leave for 3 minutes.
- Put the honey and sultanas into a bowl
- Strain the tea leaves and pour the tea over the sultanas and honey.
- Stir and leave for 3 hours.
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- Pre-heat the oven to GM4 – 180°C
- Strain the fruit but also keep the liquor.
- Whisk sugar and eggs till pale, thick and creamy.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together.
- Stir in the drained fruit, zest and flour.
- Add the rest of the tea liquor and mix well.
- Spoon the mixture into the baking tin.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
- Leave to cool for 5 minutes in the tin before turning it out.
- Leave to cool on a baking rack.
- Dust with icing sugar to serve.

