Earl Grey tea bread 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 gong.

She runs Kuma-San Bakehouse from her home in Darley Dale in Derbyshire, supplying businesses and baking loaves for customers to collect.

She 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 category.

Judges 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 yuzu.

Miyo 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 said.

On 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 husband.

The 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."

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