Put the kettle on - never underestimate the importance of tea to an ...

Put the kettle on.? A phrase used every day in every house in Ireland.? Everyone knows it means make a cup of tea.

Are you a Barry's family or a Lyons one?? Or the new kid on the block - Campbell's?

Tea covers all ails - sympathy, encouragement, a little chat, family crises, bereavement or celebration.? What would we do without it??

Our emigrants ask that Barry's tea is sent to them in their new homeland? but then complain it tastes different.? "It's the water" is the usual explanation.?

But tea tastes different whether you use tea bags or tea leaves.

Whether it's Barrys or Lyons or Campbells.

Whether you put the milk in first or last.

Whether you drink from a china cup or a mug.

Whether you use a tea pot or not.

The Irish drink a higher grade of tea than our neighbours in the UK.? This apparently is because, during the war the British had to make do with a cheaper blend which they then grew accustomed to, and so never changed back once the war was over.

An old favourite is a tea brack.? Often enjoyed by non-tea drinkers.? Try it out - after all it's the time for brack, coming up to Halloween.

Irish Tea Brack

Using a small loaf tin (an old fashioned 1lb tin)

1 mug of hot tea poured over 1 mug full of dried fruit (sultanas, California raisins mixed)
A handful of unsulphured dried apricots chopped (unsulphured are much nicer than the orange ones and are usually available in health food shops)
A handful of whole almonds chopped
A handful of dates chopped
Some grated nutmeg

Soak the fruit, nuts and spice in the hot tea for an hour or until the fruit has absorbed most of the liquid.? Melt 100g butter and add to the tea and fruit.? Add 75g of? brown sugar and two eggs beaten.

Fold in 150g of sieved flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.? Pour the mix into the greased tin and bake in a pre-heated oven at 160C for an hour approximately or until a skewer comes out clean when put in center of the cake.

This is the most forgiving cake to make, so you don't have to stress over measurements.? I often measure by eye and it always works.

Cut a big slice, butter generously and enjoy with your favorite cup of tea.

See more: Irish drinks, Irish food, Halloween, Irish recipes

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Source: http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/the-irish-foodie/put-the-kettle-on---never-underestimate-the-importance-of-tea-to-an-irishman-175066671.html

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