The Sencha isn’t a hit with all Cuore di Mandorla. Just had some friends over so I needed a tea to pair all different cookies. The intense roasted Dong Ding Oolong is a good friend! 8 grams of tea in my gaiwan, after a good rinse, infusions of 30-35-40-45-50-60 seconds. Great way to start the weekend.

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!

Vondel speculaas (spiced biscuit) I picked up at Simon Lèvelt and their Assam Goudblad zomerpluk (very tippy Assam second flush) is one of the first tea and food pairings I discovered. The spices and sweetness of the biscuit are balanced so beautiful by the Assam tea. It’s almost as if it becomes a masala chai! 7 grams of tea on 500 ml 95 degrees Celsius water and a infusion time of three minutes. It really needs hot water and a relatively long steep in order to do it’s job 😁.

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.

Breakfast. Plain and simple. Great Iranian tea doesn’t need much to pair with.

Another great lunch. The local Iranian black tea is once again the hero of the dish! Sweet tea and a spicy dish can be such a delicious combination!

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.

Iranian cookies and @amard_tea tea are a perfect combination! Sweet, fruity tea and nicely baked cookies 🎉.

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.

Katwijkse knip (a typical cookie from the Dutch town of Katwijk aan Zee)and a China Ripe Pu Er Green Mandarin. The citrus aroma of the tea and spices in the cookie enhance each other. The sweetness of the tea brings it all together. 1 Green Mandarin in a Yixing pot, 95 degrees Celsius water and at least 20 infusions 🎉.

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!

My favourite breakfast. Dosa. Perfect with a malty Assam tea! 7 grams on 500 ml, 95 degrees water, 3 minutes.

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!

Fresh cinnamon roll and a absolute perfect made sweet and fruity Golden tea!
6 grams of tea, 500 ml of 85 degrees, 2 minutes steeping time.

Chocolate cheesecake and a China Yunnan Hong Cha Bi Luo. 7 grams on 500 ml 80 centigrade water. 1-1.5-2 minute brews. Brings out the chocolate notes in the cheesecake in a wonderful way!

A great local goat cheese of @dekastanjeboom, whole wheat bun paired with a China Shui Xian Oolong. Cheese aroma’s become more powerful, even more mineral aroma’s in the tea.

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

Italian nougat and a Ceylon Nuwara Eliya Lovers Leap Estate. 7 grams on 500 ml, 95 centigrade water and a 3 minute brew. Real delight!