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.

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.

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 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.

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!

Good book, great snack! Shrimps from the grill, China Milky Oolong (not steamed with milk or flavoured). 5 grams of tea in a small gaiwan. 25-30-35-40-45 seconds brew, water just off the boil. Umami all over the place!

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!

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

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.

@cornish.yarg a beautiful cheese made by Lynher Dairies and a Taiwan Dayuling. Brings out the nettles and makes the cheese even more complex.

Macaron and Taiwan Dong Fang Mei Ren. Reduces the sweetness of the macaron and makes them nice and chewy. The tea becomes even sweeter than it already is! 7 grams of tea on 500 ml 90 centigrade water. Infusion time of 1-1.5-2 minutes .

Rich Tea Fingers and a spring harvest Taiwan Dayuling. 9 grams on 110 ml of 95 centigrade water. Infusions of 10-10-16-15-20 seconds brings out the flowery aroma’s even more!

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

Yam biscuits and a China Guang Dong Phoenix Dan Cong. The Oolong brings out the Yam flavour of the biscuits and reduces the sweetness. Roasted aroma in the Phoenix gets more pronounced .

Emmentaler and China Da Hong Pao. 9 grams of tea, 110 ml of 90 centigrade water. 30-30-40-50-60 seconds brew time.

Dumplings and China Guang Dong Phoenix Dan Cong. 9 grams of tea, 110 ml of 85 centigrade water. Breaks the fatty mouthfeel and enhances umami flavour

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

Candy biscuit, cherries cooked with a little sugar and cream cheese. Paired with a 10 year aged Taiwan Oolong. Caramel in both tea and biscuit compliment each other in a special way. Fantastic!