Tea & Food Pairing

Farmer’s yogurt, apricots and a pumpkin honey to balance the acidity of the yogurt. Tea with an other fluid can be challenging (like soup and tea). We thought of pairing this cold desert with a cold tea. It was the hot China Huo Shan Huang Ya that did the job in a great way! 5 grams of tea on 110 ml of 85 centigrade water. First infusion 1.5 minute, following infusions 30 seconds longer. First infusion brought out the fruity, sweet aroma’s of the apricot, the second and third infusions the fresh, slightly acidic taste of the apricots. Beautiful to see how the tea “played” with this desert!

Nothing wrong with a peanut butter and chocolate sprinkles sandwich with a beautiful India Assam Ananda Second Flush

Banana pancakes and a strong cup of Nepal black tea. Reduces the fatty mouthfeel and brings out the sweetness of the tea.

More tea and more chocolates

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.

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.