Sour fruit and sweetened black tea

Dumplings, an unidentifiable great and very spicy soup. Chya of a complex tea does the job. Milk in a great tea? When it comes to pairing it with a spice dish: absolutely! Milk balances the spicy notes of the dish, the complex character of the tea becomes more dominant. A real surprise to me.

No Vino Santo to dip in the Cantuccini alle mandorle but a very sweet China Fujian Golden Monkey. 10 grams on 400 ml of 75 centigrade water for just one minute. Multiple infusions needed.

On day three of cheese week a cheese from the Belgium producer Catarinadal. Their blue cheese is called Grevenbroecke. A very mild and complex cheese. I tried many different teas but a China unsmoked Lapsang was the best choice. 12 grams on 500 ml. 90 degrees Celsius water. Steeping time of 2-2-2.5-3 minutes.

Most common Dutch tea&food pairing: English blend and a stroopwafel (biscuit with a thick syrup). Biscuit on top of your hot cup of tea so the syrup gets warm and runny. Mmmm

@dorsetteauk and fresh crumpets. Why Dorset tea? The way they put it: there is only one T in Dorset 😁 2 bags in a huge mug, 4 minutes and a dash of milk. Simply perfect!

Cottage cheese and a tomato tapenade on a baguette. Nepal Shangri La Second Flush FTGFOP1 7 grams on 500 ml 95 centigrade water. 2 minutes infusion. Tomato and cheese really come together!

Stronger tea or just more of it to complement this pastry? This time I chose a huge mug. A Zealong New Zealand black tea, 7 grams and 500 ml 80 centigrade for two minutes did the best job! More savoury notes in the pastry and more fruity notes in the tea!

Chocolates and tea; great to play with all the possible combinations!

Italian nougat and a Ceylon Nuwara Eliya Lovers Leap Estate. 7 grams on 500 ml, 95 centigrade water and a 3 minute brew. Real delight!