Nilgiri Tea and Cardamom Tea Cake
A tender, fragrant loaf cake infused with strong Nilgiri tea and cardamom—the tea's fruity brightness keeps each buttery slice light and aromatic.
This simple tea cake turns Nilgiri's fragrance into a dessert. Steeping the leaves in warm milk and butter infuses the crumb with a brisk, fruity aroma, while a little cardamom nods to the South Indian spice cabinet and amplifies the tea's natural perfume.
Nilgiri's gentle brightness is the secret to keeping this loaf from feeling heavy. Where a maltier tea might turn the cake dense and dark, Nilgiri lends an airy, aromatic lift that pairs beautifully with butter and sugar.
Brew the tea-milk infusion strong and strain it well so you capture all the flavor without any leaf grit. The batter comes together in one bowl, making this an easy bake for an afternoon tea spread.
Serve slices slightly warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, or toast them lightly and spread with butter. A fresh cup of hot Nilgiri alongside makes the fragrance bloom on both the plate and the palate.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 3 tbsp dried Nilgiri tea leaves (or 4 tea bags)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting
How to make it
- 1Heat the milk until just simmering, remove from heat, add the Nilgiri leaves, cover, and steep 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve and let cool.
- 2Cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
- 3Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt. Add to the butter mixture alternately with the strained tea-milk, mixing just until smooth.
- 4Pour the batter into a greased and lined loaf tin and smooth the top.
- 5Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 40–45 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 6Cool in the tin 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Dust with powdered sugar before slicing.
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