Tea & Food Pairing

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!

A fig cake made out of figs and nuts. To balance the sweetness and bring out the fruity and nutty flavour I paired it with a strong China Pu-Er Mannong. One toucha in a Yixing pot, 30-20-20-30-35-40-45 seconds steeping time, 95 degrees Celsius water.

Fried cod, a fresh salad and a China Mi Lan Xiang. Brings out the pine nuts in the salad, fish notes in the cod and the flowery notes in the tea. The typical “fried” aroma’s seems to disappear.

Lovely lunch. Sandwiches and a big mug of Japan Asatsuyu black tea. 7 grams on 500 ml 80 centigrade water. 1-1.5-2 minute infusions.

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.

Iranian food is among the best food I have ever tasted. Iranian black tea is among the sweetest, most fruity and flowery teas I know. They seem to be a match made in heaven! 14 grams of tea on 1 liter of 95 degrees Celsius water and a steeping time of four minutes.