Earl Grey Tea Loaf

Bergamot-scented sponge with a soft, close crumb and a citrus glaze.

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time55 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Yield1 loaf, 10 slices
Earl Grey Tea Loaf
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Before You Start

Earl Grey is really a citrus cake in disguise, since bergamot is a fruit. Grinding the tea leaves straight into the sugar puts the flavour everywhere, not just in the milk. It is a plain-looking loaf that tastes far more expensive than it is.

Instructions

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  1. Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F and line a 900 g / 2 lb loaf tin. Blitz the tea leaves with the granulated sugar in a spice grinder or small blender until the leaves are fine specks.

  2. Warm the milk and steep 1 tbsp of the tea sugar in it for 10 minutes, then let it cool to lukewarm. This doubles the bergamot without adding bitterness.

  3. Beat the butter with the remaining tea sugar until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes, then beat in the eggs one at a time and add the orange zest.

  4. Fold in the flour, baking powder and salt alternately with the steeped milk, starting and ending with flour, until just smooth.

  5. Scrape into the tin, level the top and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Tent with foil at 35 minutes if it is browning fast. A skewer should come out clean.

  6. Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then turn out. Whisk the powdered sugar with the orange juice into a thick glaze and pour over the cooled loaf.

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💡 Baker's tips

  • Cut the bags open rather than buying loose leaf. Bagged tea is already finely cut, so it grinds down quickly.
  • Do not steep whole leaves in the batter itself. Ground into sugar they melt away; left whole they go leathery.

🔀 Make it your own

  • Swap Earl Grey for London Fog by adding 1 tsp vanilla bean paste to the batter.
  • Use lemon zest and juice instead of orange for a sharper glaze.

📦 Storing & freezing

Wrapped at room temperature for 4 days; the flavour deepens overnight. Freeze un-glazed slices for 3 months.

❓ Frequently asked

Can I use any black tea?

Yes, but you will lose the bergamot, which is the point of the loaf. If you use plain black tea, add an extra tablespoon of orange zest to compensate.

How many grams is a cup of powdered sugar?

About 120 g per US cup when spooned in lightly. Sift it before glazing, since lumps will not dissolve in only 2 tablespoons of juice.

Baking in a different unit? Use the cups ↔ grams converter or the recipe scaler to halve or double this recipe.

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