Mary Berry Tea Loaf Recipe

Mary Berry tea loaf recipe makes a comforting loaf infused with fragrant Earl Grey tea that plumps juicy currants and sultanas overnight. Its moist, lightly spiced crumb perfectly pairs with a cup of tea or coffee, making it ideal for teatime or a simple breakfast treat.
(Use ordinary tea if you’re not an Earl Grey fan)

By Mary Berry
From Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets

Tea bread receives a Nutri-Score of B, reflecting its balanced energy from natural dried fruits and moderate sugar content from muscovado sugar. A wholesome choice for teatime treats.

Method

1. Soak the fruit (overnight):
   Put the currants and sultanas into a bowl. Pour over the hot Earl Grey tea, give it a quick stir, then cover and leave to soak overnight. This plumps the fruit and infuses the loaf with fragrant tea flavour.
2. Prepare your oven and tin (5 mins):
   Preheat the oven to 150°C (130°C fan/gas mark 3½). Grease your 900g/2lb loaf tin and line it with non-stick baking paper to prevent sticking.
3. Mix the batter (5 mins):
   Add the self-raising flour, muscovado sugar and beaten egg to your soaked fruit (a little extra liquid is fine). Mix thoroughly with a spoon until everything is well combined into a thick batter.
4. Fill the tin and level (2 mins):
   Spoon the mixture into your prepared loaf tin and smooth the surface with the back of the spoon or a spatula.
5. Bake (1¾ hours):
   Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour 45 minutes, but start checking at 1 hour 15 minutes. The loaf is done when it’s risen and just firm to the touch.
6. Cool the loaf (10 mins):
   Let the bread cool in the tin for 10 minutes before carefully removing it to cool completely on a wire rack or serving board. This resting helps set the crumb.

What can you serve with Mary Berry Tea Loaf

1. Strong black tea – Enhances the Earl Grey flavour and makes a classic pairing.
2. Butter or clotted cream – Adds richness and helps balance the loaf’s natural sweetness.
3. Fresh fruit salad – Provides a fresh, juicy contrast to the soft loaf.
4. Soft cheese spread – A mild, creamy topping that pairs well with tea bread.

FAQs for Earl Grey Tea Bread

• Can I soak the fruit for less time? Soaking overnight gives the best flavour and softens the fruit thoroughly, but a minimum of 2 hours can work in a pinch.
• Can I substitute Earl Grey for another tea? Yes, strong black tea or chai can be used for different flavour twists.
• Is this bread suitable for freezing? Yes, wrap well and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw before serving.
• What is the shelf life of the tea bread? It keeps best for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Can I use pre-mixed dried fruit? Yes, just make sure to soak it well in hot tea before mixing.

Nutri-score Health Check

This Earl Grey tea bread scores a B on the Nutri-Score scale, showing good nutritional balance for a sweet bread treat.

Positive Factors

• Dried fruit supplies fibre and antioxidants.
• Tea infusion adds aroma without calories.

Negative Factors

• Muscovado sugar adds natural sugars affecting the score.
• Egg adds fat content, though moderate.

The Nutri-Score is automatically calculated based on ingredients and serves as a general guide.