Do you enjoy a cuppa with breakfast?
In the UK, tea with toast, cereal or a full English is commonplace, yet we rarely drink it with our dinner. This is quite different across Asia and the Middle East, where tea is widely consumed with food. One reason is that the tannins in tea are known to aid gut health and digestion. So, can my suggested tea pairings convince you to serve tea at mealtimes?
Tea & Food Pairings
I’ve recently delivered several talks on tea and food pairings. This included an event at the Thermomix Studio in Aylesbury. Here, I served my recommendations to accompany the food the team had prepared for the event.
Spring Orchard Oolong with Coronation Chicken
For an April event, my Spring Orchard blend seemed a natural choice. This combination of Chinese Tie Guan Yin Oolong with sweet pear pieces and subtle aromatic lavender is light and refreshing. Delicate in flavour, I recommended this as the ideal tea pairing for the quiche and coronation chicken on fresh bread prepared by the Thermomix team.
Fruit Bouquet Tisane with Fresh Salad
Not everyone likes tea or caffeinated drinks, so my hibiscus, apple and rose tisane was next in the tea tasting. This can be enjoyed hot or infused as a cold brew in the fridge overnight. The translucent red colour is delightful! The aroma and flavour of Fruit Bouquet have sweet and acidic notes, which work well with fresh and fruity foods. I’d recommended it as a tea pairing for the blueberry and white chocolate cake. It also proved a great accompaniment to a fresh pepper, broccoli, and pine nut salad that was whizzed up in a demonstration.
Emporium Breakfast & Chocolate Brownies
A more traditional tea is Emporium Breakfast, which blends premium quality Indian, Kenyan & Sri Lankan black teas for a rich, malty flavour. This stronger tea is well balanced with richer foods, including red meats and the baked chocolate brownies on offer.
Cheese & Tea Pairings
I’m always open to collaborations with food producers and makers. For example, I enjoyed a cheese and tea pairing evening at No.2 Pound Street. They offer an extensive selection of wonderful British cheeses, along with continental favourites, which are usually served with wine. Could a tea pairing work?
We discovered several winning combinations, including my Chic Lady Grey with a cave-aged Cheddar. In contrast, I’d suggest Bai Hao Yin Zhen, also known as Silver Needle Tea, balances the mild, nutty flavours of Comte or Emmental.
I also enjoyed several fun evenings of tea pairing at Bread & Brew in Wendover.
“Wonderful to try different teas and pair with different foods, under Poonam’s expert guidance and the cosy atmosphere of Bread and Brew. She gently introduces new teas, their ingredients and was more than happy to answer our questions. Came away with a new understanding of what good tea tastes like, a reminder to spend more time on the ritual of tea, and the health benefits. Thank you.”
Please get in touch if you are a food specialist who is interested in collaborating on a tea pairing.
Green Tea & Asian Food
Do you love Thai, Chinese, Japanese or other Asian foods? If so, have you paired them with green tea? This is a perfect combination for many reasons.
Firstly, green teas have a fresh, astringent taste which balances the flavours of popular steamed and stir-fried dishes without overpowering them. Compounds in the tea cut through oils in the food to both aid digestion and cleanse the palate. Tea is also effective at naturally boosting your antioxidant intake and improving blood sugar control.
Across Asia, green tea is served with meals. So, for an authentic experience, why not swap your usual beverage for a cup of Japanese Sencha? Alternatively, add the wow factor with a Jasmine Dragon Flower tea.
Have I convinced you to try tea with your meals?
If you visit my stall at an event, I’m happy to recommend food pairings for my bespoke tea blends.
