Spicy Chai Latte Loaf

Last weekend we went to a barbecue at a friend’s house. We had so much fun, and you know, as the time goes by, conversations tend to turn unexpected and amazingly interesting and funny.

So after a couple of wine glasses and feeling slightly overfed, we started talking about where are we from and where do we think we belong to.

One of my friends is English, with Ukrainian ancestors, and she said she was convinced she should have been born Mongolian.

The other one, blond and blue eyes prototypical British lady, assured she should have been born in Japan.

Both discussed how out of context they feel in the UK, and how happy and fully integrated within the society they felt when they visited Japan and Mongolia. They talked about their experiences and anecdotes, and the reasons why they were utterly convinced to have been born and raised in the wrong place.

Then they looked at me. I said that I also used to feel like a complete stranger in Spain, being unable to fit within the given living patterns, personalities and sense of humour. They were pleased, I think, to know they were not the only ones to feel that way.

They asked where do I feel I belong to. Maybe they were expecting me saying the name of a really far tropical country, where you could be drinking cocktails out of a coconut shell laying in the golden sand all day; or maybe a really cold country, building igloos and cuddling puffins in the snow.

But then I looked at them and said that the first time I felt like I was at home was when we moved to the UK. I love the way people is, the acid-sarcastic-pungent sense of humour that Brits have, the landscape, the food, the quality and style of life that this country offers and how this community has made me feel welcomed since the first day we came.

They were a bit shocked. I presume that, as with everything in life, sometimes is difficult to be able to acknowledge and appreciate some things just because they have been given to us without the need to ask. As it will probably happens to me when someone moves to Spain and I can’t understand why.

This week’s recipe is a tribute to the cultures mixture, a cake to enjoy at 5 o’clock with your most rootless friends.

WHAT YOU NEED

320gr Self Raising Flour

80gr Butter

2 Chai Latte Tea Bags (or any other tea)

4 Eggs

150gr Condensed Milk

150gr Golden Sugar

A pinch of salt

A pinch of ground cloves, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger

WHAT YOU DO

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a cake tin with olive oil. Dust the sides of the tin lightly with flour, then tap the tin to get rid of any excess.

Melt the butter and the chai tea and allow the tea to brew for 3-4 mins. Add the condensed milk.

In a big bowl, separate the eggs, placing the whites into a large mixing bowl and adding the yolks to the tea mixture. Set the whites aside.

Add the sugar and spices to the tea mixture. Finally add the flour and mix until well combined.

Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and with the help of an electric whisk, whisk until you have stiff peaks.

Use a spatula to fold the egg whites into the tea mixture. Try not to over mix.

Add the mixture to the prepared cake tin and spread out evenly using a spatula.

Bake for 40 minutes or until done.

Once baked allow the cake to cool for a few minutes in the tin before removing and allowing to cool completely on a cooling rack.

Serve with a hot cup of tea and some cream.