Irish Teatime Breads

What is the most popular drink in Ireland? Is it that well-known dry stout? Is it whiskey? It’s Assam black tea. The Irish consumed 4.83 pounds per capita of tea in 2016; that’s second in the world after the Turks. Irish tea is generally brewed strong, served with milk and enjoyed with a variety of breads, cakes, and other baked goods. This month, we have two teatime favorites, soda bread and barmbrack. Our soda bread recipe is a vegan take on the Irish classic with a gluten-free option, while our variation on barmbrack features dates and goji berries along with Indian chai spices.

Vegan Soda Bread

Prep Time 15 minutes

Wait Time 10 minutes

Bake Time 35 minutes

Makes one round loaf

3 ½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour (or cup-for-cup gluten-free bread blend, such as Pamela’s)

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups coconut milk beverage

1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 425˚F. Very lightly grease and flour a cookie sheet. Stir together all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, stir together coconut milk beverage and apple cider vinegar; let sit for ten minutes. Then mix the coconut milk and apple cider vinegar “buttermilk” a little at a time into the dry ingredients to form clumps. Mix with a dough hook or knead with hands for about one minute, until blended. Form into a ball and flatten into a six-inch diameter by two-inch high round. Pat it with flour. Place it on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 32–35 minutes, until it sounds hollow when tapped. Cool the bread completely on a rack. Serve with butter, cheddar or your favorite nut spread.

Chai Spiced Barmbrack

Prep Time 10 minutes

Wait Time 3 hours

Bake Time 60–70 minutes

Makes one loaf

1 cup chopped dried dates

½ cup dried goji berries

6 ounces (¾ cup) brewed black tea, cooled to room temperature

½ cup confectioner’s sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup quick oats

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chai spice blend*

1 tablespoon quick oats

2 tablespoons turbinado sugar

In a bowl, mix dried fruits and cooled tea. Let the fruit soak up the tea; this takes about three hours.