Zealong Tea New Zealand Green and poffertjes (small pancakes). 8,5 grams of tea, 500ml of soft 70 centigrade water and a 1 minute steep. At least 3 infusions. What a beautiful tea!

Soybeans and Hōjicha. 8 grams of tea, 100 ml of 70 centigrade soft water, 1 minute steep. Interesting combination!

Brings our the puffed rice flavour in the waffle and the umami in the tea! Like matcha & popcorn. Sounds like blasphemy but I guess it will be a great combination

Yatsuhashi and a very light brewed Houjicha. Typical 1+1=3!

To bring out the umami in both tea and salsa: Japan Gyokuro. 14 grams in a Kyusu, 60 centigrade, 45 seconds

Shortbread meets a Myanmar Pindaya green tea. 9 grams on 110 ml 70 centigrade water. Infusion time of 40-45-50 seconds.

Green olives and a Japan Kabusecha. Wow really great combination! 9 grams on 500 ml, 60 centigrade soft water and a 1.5 minute brew.

In my Simon Lévelt shopping basket Il cuore di Mandorla. I tried many different combinations. Most black teas pair good but I was looking for a more exciting result. Their Otsuka Fukamushi Sencha gave me the result I was looking for. The umami of the tea did great things to the orange and almond flavours of the Mandorla. 5 grams in my hohin, 5 infusions of 1 second combined, water temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. A real tread!

A beautiful single origin chocolate from Kalimantan (Indonesia) and a roasted Japan Kukicha both bought during my visit to a Simon Lèvelt shop are a very good combination. The Krakakoa 75% chocolate is full bodied and has a nice fruity flavour. The roasted aroma of the tea brings out the spicy and fruity flavours of the chocolate in a beautiful way! In order to balance the full body of the chocolate I used a lot of tea: 10 grams in my kyusu. Filled the teapot for 2/3 with 75 degrees Celsius water and steeped it for 30-20-25-30-35-40 seconds to bring out the sweetness of the tea but keep the astringency out. Astringency and a high cacao content chocolate aren’t a great combination.