#CHOCOLATE FRUIT CAKE …

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My hubby wanted a fruit cake, I wanted a chocolate cake. I looked in the cupboard and did not have enough fruit for a fruit cake so decided on a compromise and bake a chocolate fruit cake instead. It turned out rather nice so I thought I’d share the recipe with you.

Ingredients

175g Softened Butter or Margarine
175g Caster Sugar
3 Eggs (yolks mixed until yellow and whites whisked until light and fluffy)
140g Self Raising Flour (sieved)
85g Dried Mixed Fruit
½ tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Vanilla Essence
100ml Milk
4 tablespoons Cocoa Powder (sieved)
50g Chocolate chips
Grate Chocolate to decorate (optional)

Method
Heat oven to Gas Mark 4 / 180C/ 350F
Line or grease a loaf cake tin
Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy
Add flour, fruit, baking powder, vanilla essence, milk and sieved cocoa – mix for one minute
Fold in the egg whites and chocolate chips
Bake in the middle of the oven for 55-60 mins or until skewer comes clean
Rest for 5 minutes before taking out of baking tin
Grate some chocolate over the top (optional)

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It slips down rather nicely with a cup of tea 🙂

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THE #TEA LEAF COMPANY…

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The Tea Leaf Company have a delightful tea shop in Brighton, which stocks loose leaf tea, which is cultivated with a respect for tradition and people. They partnered with a family tea garden in Nagaland, North East India, to ensure just that. Their traditional growing methods mean no nasty chemicals end up in the ground and every leaf is hand-picked and rolled with a love and care that’s reflected in the way they treat their workers. Some of their uniquely named teas are –

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HIDE & SEEK BREAKFAST TEA..

NAGALAND BLACK TEA, HAND ROLLED SINGLE ESTATE

Whats with Hide & Seek then?

Well, the history of tea is a colourful one. It’s a tale of royals and rogues, heroes and villains. Like Robert Fortune, who was responsible for a fair bit of hide and seek in his time. Disguised as a local, he entered China seeking precious tea seeds and cultivation methods. Hiding them in many ingenious ways he smuggled them out of the country and introduced tea growing to India. So here’s to you Robert – you sneaky rascal!

INGREDIENTS: Nagaland Black Tea

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SMUGGLERS SPICE INDIAN SUMMER CHAI TEA...

NAGALAND BLACK TEA, HAND ROLLED SINGLE ESTATE

Whats with Smugglers Spice then?

Well, the history of tea is a colourful one. It’s a tale of royals and rogues, heroes and villains. Like fiery Irishwoman Anne Bonny and her lover, Calico Captain Jack Rackman, a ferocious couple who belonged to the infamous Pirates of the Caribbean crew.  Together they outwitted the British forces for years, wreaking havoc as they smuggled tea and spices across the West Indies. So bottoms up me hearties – before we make you walk the plank!

INGREDIENTS: Nagaland Black Tea, Ginger, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cloves, Green Cardamon, Star Anise

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ROYALS & ROGUES EARL GREY TEA…

NAGALAND BLACK TEA, HAND ROLLED SINGLE ESTATE

Whats with Royals & Rogues then?

Well, the history of tea is a colourful one. It’s a tale of royals and rogues, heroes and villains. Like Royal Governor of Boston, Thomas Hutchinson, who found himself in a spot of bother after famously refusing to let a British tea shipment leave the harbour. Things went pear-shaped for Tom when demonstrators against the British Tea Act, disguised as native Americans, boarded the ships and tipped all 46 tonnes of tea into the sea. And so, the biggest brew in history – now aptly known as the Boston Tea Party – marked the start of the American Revolution.

INGREDIENTS: Nagaland Black Tea, Italian Bergamot Oil

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HUSH HUSH TEA…

MINT & BLACK

NAGALAND BLACK TEA, HAND ROLLED SINGLE ESTATE

Whats with Hush Hush then?

Well, the history of tea is a colourful one. It’s a tale of royals and rogues, heroes and villains. Like gentleman bootlegger Bill McCoy, who rose to infamy during the Prohibition for producing the finest whiskey money could buy. Always on the lookout for the next raid, his speakeasy patrons would keep things hush hush by sipping their hooch out of dainty teacups.  These days we prefer our tea moonshine-free, but, just like Bill, our stuff is always the real McCoy!

INGREDIENTS: Nagaland Black Tea, Peppermint

If you can’t make it down to their shop then you can buy it from their online shop at The Tea Leaf Company.