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Telegraph
20-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Brioche infused with Earl Grey tea is UK's best loaf
A brioche loaf infused with Earl Grey tea has been crowned as the UK's best. It saw off competition from 200 other loaves to claim the top prize after impressing judges with its 'unique flavour profile'. The loaf, featuring Earl Grey tea and limoncello -soaked candied lemon peel, was combined with lemon curd and juice to provide a 'zesty, aromatic finish'. Its creator, Miyo Aoetsu, 55, said it had taken her 45 trial bakes before she created one worthy of entry to the competition, run by trade magazine British Baker. 'I was speechless when I won,' she told the BBC after winning both Britain's Best Loaf and the Innovation category. 'I was very happy, I was almost screaming on the stage.' Ms Aoetsu said the limoncello gave the loaf a 'kick' but that the secret ingredient had been yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit. 'In the last few years in Japan, the combination of Earl Grey tea and citrus fruits like lemon has been really trendy so people make a lot of cakes and cookies with these,' she continued. 'So I started to think about making a bread with these combinations. I like the subtle aroma of tea when used in baking.' It was the second time Ms Aoetsu had won the best loaf prize, after emerging victorious in 2023 with her green loaf flavoured with matcha, white chocolate and fruit. She now runs Kuma-San Bakehouse from her home in Darley Dale, Derbyshire, having started baking as a hobby. Ms Aoetsu moved to the UK to study at the University of Manchester before meeting her husband. The prestigious award has not left Derbyshire after another baker in the county, 4 Eyes Bakery, based in Staveley, near Chesterfield, won with its garlic and rosemary deep pan focaccia creation last year. 'It's a great thing to keep the award here,' she added.'I know Tom [at 4 Eyes Bakery] who won it last year... he's an excellent baker and I'm glad this award remains in the county. 'To have it still in Derbyshire is a wonderful thing, because the quality of bread in this area is fantastic.'
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Lemon and Earl Grey brioche crowned Britain's best loaf
A brioche bread infused with lemon and Earl Grey tea has been crowned Britain's best loaf. On a roll, Miyo Aoetsu - who started baking as a hobby - has now won the prize for the second time after her green loaf flavoured with matcha, white chocolate and fruit scooped the 2023 runs Kuma-San Bakehouse from her home in Darley Dale in Derbyshire, supplying businesses and baking loaves for customers to told the BBC she was delighted with the top award, and added: "I was speechless when I won... I was very, very happy, I was almost screaming on the stage." The bread won top spot in the Britain's Best Loaf competition, run by trade magazine British Baker, and also won in the Innovation said the loaf - which beat 200 others to the prize - impressed them with its "unique flavour profile" featuring Earl Grey tea and limoncello-soaked candied lemon peel, combined with lemon curd and juice for a "zesty, aromatic finish".Miyo, 55, said the limoncello gave the loaf "a kick" but the secret ingredient was a Japanese citrus fruit - commonly known as said: "In the last few years in Japan, the combination of Earl Grey tea and citrus fruits like lemon has been really trendy so people make a lot of cakes and cookies with these."So I started to think about making a bread with these combinations... I like the subtle aroma of tea when used in baking." But she added it was not a perfect bake from the start and made "about 45 loaves" before she was satisfied with the finished product."I baked and baked and baked until I was confident it would be ready for the competition," she winning for the second time on 8 April, Miyo added: "There's always a chance but I didn't really think it would happen... but when they called my name I was speechless but I was really glad and happy because of the effort I had put in."Born in Tokushima, about 93 miles (150km) from Osaka, Miyo first moved to the UK to study at the University of Manchester, where she met her couple later lived in Luxembourg and France, where Miyo got a taste for French bread. She then started baking her own bread after moving back to England. The prestigious award has not left Derbyshire since Miyo won with her green loaf in 2023. Last year, 4 Eyes Bakery, based in Staveley near Chesterfield, won with its garlic and rosemary deep pan focaccia creation."It's a great thing to keep the award here," Miyo said."I know Tom [at 4 Eyes Bakery] who won it last year... he's an excellent baker and I'm glad this award remains in the county."To have it still in Derbyshire is a wonderful thing because the quality of bread in this area is fantastic."On her next creation, Miyo said: "I'm always interested in combining both Western and Japanese cultures in my baking... I'm experimenting all of the time."
