Grilled cheese sandwich and Taiwan Oriëntal Beauty / Dong Fang Mei Ren

China Wuyuan Rou Gui and a traditional fudge. Roasted aroma of the tea pairs great with the fudge. 7 grams of tea and 120 ml 95 centigrade water. 20-20-30-35-40 seconds brew time.

During my visit to Simon Lèvelt I bought this combination: a fruity nougat and a Da Hong Pao Oolong. Nougat made the tea very fruity, tea reduces the sweetness of the nougat and enhanced the nutty tones. 8 grams of tea in my gaiwan (they sell great ones at their shops), 110 ml of 90 degrees Celsius water and steeping times of 25-20-25-30-35-40-45 seconds.

Cacao butter from Ecuador, milk chocolate from Madagascar and 90% pure chocolate from Panama. Taiwan Aged Oolong (10 years old) is the winner with all three options. 9 grams of tea on 110 ml of boiling water. 30-45-60-60-70-80 seconds

Bought some great @krakakoa Sumatran chocolate at Simon Lèvelt. Paired it with a heavily roasted China Feng Huang Mi Lan Xiang Oolong. Chocolate became more complex and less sweet, tea lost some of its roasted aroma. Great combination! 8 grams of tea on 180 ml of 95 degrees Celsius water. 20-20-25-30-35 seconds brewing time.

A twelve month old Davidstow cheddar and a fresh Taiwan Oriëntal Beauty. Brings out the beautiful aroma’s of this cheese and makes the tea even sweeter and more complex!

Amaretti, apricot, clotted cream and Linden honey. Perfect with a Taiwan Dong Ding 2019 spring flush. 9 grams on 110 ml 95 centigrade water. 25-30-35-45-60 seconds. The flowery Oolong becomes fruity and flowery, the Amaretti very nutty. The mouthfeel is so creamy!

Rocky road and a roasted Tie Guan Yin. 7 grams of tea, 110 ml 95 centigrade water. Infusion time 10-5-10-15-20-20 seconds. Enhances caramel tones in both rocky road as the roasted Tie Guan Yin

A simple tomato and mascarpone pasta, some Asiago on top and paired with a China Tie Guan Yin spring tea. 9 grams on 110 ml of water and infusion times of 20-20-30-35-40 seconds

Beautiful evening on the balcony calls for a beautiful cheese from the Jura and tea from China: the Wuyuan Rou Gui. 14 grams of tea, 400 ml of 90 centigrade water and a 30 second brew!