Bara brith is a Welsh fruit bread traditionally made with dried fruit soaked in tea.
Its Welsh name means “speckled bread,” referring to the dots of dried fruit distributed through the loaf. The fruit is commonly soaked in strong tea before baking, which softens it and gives the bread a moist texture and lightly spiced flavour.
Bara brith is usually sliced and served with tea, often spread with butter. Recipes vary between a yeast-raised loaf and a quicker cake-like version made with self-raising flour or another raising agent. Both forms are associated with Wales, but their textures can differ considerably.
Bara brith should not be confused with Welsh cakes. Welsh cakes are small, griddle-cooked rounds, whereas bara brith is baked as a loaf and depends on its soaked dried fruit for its characteristic appearance and texture.