Rice waffle, young cheese and a thick Kei matcha

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

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.

White bread, fried egg and a very fresh (1 day old) Nepal Tinjure green tea. Just great! 2 grams of tea and 180 ml of 80 degrees water. Just keep on pouring water!

@wensleydale_creamery cheese and the China Fujian Cloud & Mist green tea. The tea makes the cheese so nice and creamy. Delicious!

A good way to start the day. Chocolate croissant and a Japan Gyokuro. 7 grams in a Houhin, 60 centigrade water, 45 seconds.

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!

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

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

Wow what a beautiful combination