Bara Brith

About This Recipe

A beloved Welsh tea bread made with dried fruits that are plumped in strong tea overnight. This moist, aromatic loaf is perfect for afternoon tea and improves with age. Rooted in the everyday cooking of Welsh kitchens, Bara Brith balances technique and tradition: the mixed dried fruits is treated with care, drawing on time-honoured ratios that locals have refined across generations. The dish carries an unmistakable sensory signature — aromas that fill the kitchen as it cooks, layered textures that reveal themselves bite by bite, and a depth of flavour that comes from patient seasoning rather than shortcuts. Whether served as a weeknight bread or as the centrepiece of a celebratory table, it reflects a regional pantry where local produce, seasoning habits and cooking vessels shape the final result. Home cooks who make this dish often note how forgiving it is once the core method is understood, and how a few small choices — the freshness of the mixed dried fruits, the order of additions, the resting time at the end — separate a good version from a memorable one. This recipe walks through those choices so the dish arrives with the character it has on its home turf.

Ingredients

Serves 10

• 250 gmixed dried fruits
• 300 mlstrong black tea(cooled)
• 200 gself-raising flour
• 100 gbrown sugar
• 1 eggegg(beaten)
• 1 tspmixed spice

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak fruits

   Pour cooled strong tea over mixed dried fruits and soak overnight or for at least 2 hours.

   This plumps the fruits and adds moisture to the bread

2. 2

   Prepare batter

   Mix soaked fruits with their liquid, add beaten egg, brown sugar, and mixed spice.

   Don't drain the tea completely — you need the moisture

3. 3

   Combine dry ingredients

   Sift self-raising flour and fold gently into the fruit mixture until just combined.

   Don't overmix or the bread will be tough

4. 4

   Bake

   Pour into greased loaf tin and bake at 170°C for 60 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean.

   Cover with foil if browning too quickly

Variations

• •

  Add grated ginger or nutmeg for extra spice

• •

  Use rooibos tea for a different flavor profile

• •

  Soak fruits in brandy instead of tea for a special occasion version

• •

  Vegetarian: replace the main protein with mushrooms, paneer, tofu or hearty beans for a meat-free version.

• •

  Spicier: add fresh chilli, a chilli paste or a pinch of cayenne with the aromatics for a warmer profile.

Storage

Wrap in foil and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Freezes well for up to 2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions