Tart blackcurrants make an excellent summer teabread that is fruity without being too sweet, while mint adds a fresh, herbal note. If you have a glut of blackcurrants, make a few loaves and freeze for up to 2 months.
Make blueberry teabread by substituting fresh blueberries for the blackcurrants. * For cranberry pecan teabread, substitute roughly chopped fresh cranberries for the blackcurrants. Replace the mint with ½ tsp ground cinnamon, sifting it with the flour, and stir in 100 g (3½ oz) pecan nuts with the sugar.
Blackcurrants are an excellent source of vitamin C – weight for weight, they contain 4 times as much vitamin C as oranges. They also provide useful amounts of potassium, and are rich in a group of phytochemicals called bioflavonoids, which may help to protect against heart disease. * The oils menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate, responsible for the characteristic flavour of mint, are believed to have powerful antiseptic properties. Naturopaths prescribe mint to help to relieve toothache, stress headaches and digestive problems.
Good source of vitamin C. Useful source of potassium, vitamin B1.
Made this with blueberries instead of blackcurrants for my boyfriends diabetic mum. Perfect and really easy to make, tasted lovely and was safe for diabetics, so whats not to love? My only qualm is i didn't understand why mint was in the recipe so i took it out and it still tasted fine. - 19 Mar 2010
I made this as I was looking for something to use up all of my home grown blackcurrents this year. It made a tasty snack for my 4 and 2 year old sons. I think the mint is essential if you are using blackcurrents as it adds a bit more sweetness while keeping down the amount of sugar. We liked it toasted and spread with a bit of butter. Thanks for the recipe I will make it again and again. - 05 Aug 2013
I made this as the kids school sent home a load of blackcurrents so I made 2 loafs. It was delicious and the school were very impressed and said it was the nicest tea bread they had. I only had white sugars and I didn't have any mint. I will definitely make this again. Thank you for the recipe. It is a bead not cake so you do need to put butter on to eat - 03 Oct 2015