Egg cake, strawberry’s and China Keemun Hong Cha Hao Ya

Simple but delicious breakfast. A @nobartea.ir Black tea is the perfect companion! 7 grams of tea on 500 ml of 85 degrees centigrade water and a steeping time of 3 minutes.

Couldn’t resist picking up some beautiful chocolates at my local Simon Lèvelt store. The shop owner suggested their Yunnan Gold to drink with these beauties. She was right! Brewed it real strong in order to taste both tea and chocolates. 9 grams of tea on 500 ml of 90 degrees Celsius water and a steeping time of 3 minutes. Normally I would use 80 degrees Celsius water and a 1-2 minute steep but the tea really needs more extraction in order not to taste like hot water. The slight astringency balances the sweetness of the chocolates and brings out the chocolaty flavour much more.

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.

Cornish pasty and Cornish Tea. You can’t go wrong.

Noodles, peas and a Tinjure Golden! 8 grams of tea, 500ml, 80 degrees water, 1.5-2.0-2.0-2.5 minutes. Sweet tea reduces the spicy notes of the food and brings out all the delicious aroma’s.

Nepal meets The Netherlands. @ctcfnepal Golden Tips meets Venco Apothekers drop (sweet liquorice) @theehoffje brought with her. Beautiful soft mouthfeel with typical liquorice aroma’s and fruity aroma’s of the tea!

Sometimes you accidentally come across a very special product. We visited a farmers shop called the Kastanjeboom, located just outside the small town of Bunschoten-Spakenburg. They sell a lot of beautiful local products but they also make their own clotted cream. The best I ever tasted. Read their story. Scones, Blueberry Jam and their great cream. Paired with a China Fujian Golden Monkey. 7 grams of tea on 500 ml, 75 degrees Celsius water. A true delight!

@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!

Roti, vegetables, potato and a China Mi Lan Xiang black tea. 8 grams of tea in a gaiwan. 30-20-30-40-45 seconds infusion time, water temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. Let the tea cool down a bit to gain sweetness. Just perfect.