Serves 6-8.

INGREDIENTS

110g (4oz) plain flour

10g (1/2 oz) green tea powder (optional)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

110g (4oz) caster sugar

4 eggs

75 (3oz) butter, melted and cooled

crème fra�che, to serve

for the green tea syrup

2 tablespoons green tea leaves

150ml (1/4 pint) boiling water

150g (5oz) caster sugar

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1. Preheat the oven to 180˚/350˚/Gas 4. Grease a 20cm (8in) round cake tin and base-line with greaseproof paper.

2. Sift the flour, green tea powder (if using) and baking powder into a large bowl. Put the sugar and eggs into a large heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Using an electric whisk, beat the sugar and eggs for 2-3 minutes until the mixture trebles in volume, lightens in colour and is the consistency of lightly whipped cream.

3. Sift in flour mixture and drizzle the melted butter down the side of the bowl, then gently fold in until incorporated. The mixture should not be beaten or over-worked.

4. Pour into the prepared tin. Bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is golden and firm to touch and coming away from the side of the tin. A skewer should come out clean.

5. While the cake is cooking, make the green tea syrup. Stir the green tea leaves into the boiling water and leave to stand for 2-3 minutes.

6. Strain the tea into a small pan with the sugar and set over a very low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Increase the heat and boil rapidly for 5 minutes until you have a light syrup. Remove 3-4 tablespoons of the syrup and set aside to cool. Keep the rest of the syrup warm while the cake is cooking.

7. As soon as the cake is cooked, remove from the oven but leave in the tin for a few minutes to cool slightly. 8. Skewer the cake surface and drizzle the warm syrup over slowly and evenly. Leave to cool completely in the tin. Mix the cooled reserved syrup with the crème fra�che, then cover and chill.

9. Remove the cake from the tin and peel away the greaseproof paper. Serve with a dollop of green-tea-spiked crème fra�che.

To try more delicious dishes and enjoy the full wagamama experience, find your

nearest wagamama at the Oracle riverside.