Bara brith

Bara brith, or "speckled bread" is a cherished traditional Welsh bread made either with yeast or self-raising flour and filled with dried fruits, tea, and spices. It is a favorite during tea time, often enjoyed sliced and buttered. Despite its charms, bara brith experienced a decline in popularity, leading a major supermarket chain to stop selling it in 2006. Around that time, a survey revealed that many Welsh teenagers had never even tasted it. Fortunately, celebrity chefs like Bryn Williams have since revived interest in this classic treat. Today, you can even find chocolate and ice cream versions of bara brith!

The name bara brith comes from the Welsh words "bara" (bread) and "brith" (speckled). Legend has it that a Welsh chef invented it by adding dried fruit and spices to regular bread dough. When Morrisons, a UK supermarket, discontinued bara brith in 2006 due to low sales, it caused quite an uproar. Since then, the bread has made a comeback, appearing on popular TV shows like "This Morning" and "The Great British Bake Off" where it received high praise.

A typical bara brith recipe includes flour, yeast (unless you’re using self-raising flour), butter, mixed dried fruit, spices, and an egg. Some recipes recommend soaking the dried fruit in tea for extra flavor before baking. After the dough rises, it is baked to perfection and usually served with a generous spread of butter. There are even international versions, like Argentina's "torta negra" and chefs have put their own twists on it using ingredients like lard, marmalade, and even tea oil.

Bara brith has inspired some delicious variations, including a chocolate version and even bara brith ice cream. Pemberton's Victorian Chocolates created a chocolate inspired by the bread, and Prince Charles himself sampled bara brith ice cream on a visit to Ammanford. The enduring appeal and evolving forms of bara brith highlight its cultural significance in Wales, making it a delightful slice of Welsh heritage.