Planning the Menu - Food Pairings
"The Academy of Food & Wine has discovered that by pairing certain teas with specific foods and in some cases wine, not only is the flavor of the food and wine enhanced, but the specific quality of the tea is highlighted". - Tea Council of the UK
The following food pairing suggestions will be helpful when planning a menu with tea.
General Tea Pairings
Teas
paired with...
continental breakfast; rolls, toast, fruit, cereal
Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Dooars, Indonesian, Kenya, Nilgiri, Terai,
Travancore
eggs, meats and fried foods
Assam, African blends, Ceylon, Kenya, Lapsang, Souchong and Tarry Souchong
light meals; tea sandwiches
Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Green, Lapsang, Oolongs, Souchong, Yunnan
spicy foods
Ceylon, Darjeeling, Green Teas, Keemun, Jasmine, Lapsang, Souchong
strong cheeses
Earl Grey, Green Teas, Lapsang, Souchong
fish
Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Green Teas, Oolong, Smoked Teas
meat and game
Earl Grey, Jasmine, Kenya, Lapsang, Souchong
poultry
Darjeeling, Jasmine, Lapsang, Oolongs, Souchong
Recommended Tea Pairings with Specific Foods
Sandwiches - Desserts - Cheese
Ceylon Tea (black)- mellow, brisk, full yet delicate
Sandwich - cucumber or tomato
Dessert - Tarte Au Citron
Cheese - Mature Cheddar
Kenya Tea - (black) strong, hearty, earthy with smoky notes
Sandwich - Beef and Horseradish or Ham
Dessert - Chocolate Cake
Cheese - Austrian Smoked
Darjeeling Tea (black) - hint of Muscat grapes, hint of wildflowers,
slightly astringent
Sandwich - Cream Cheese or Egg and Cress
Dessert - Cream Desserts
Cheese - Cream Cheese
Lapsang Tea (black) - smokey, tarry aroma and flavor
Sandwich - Chicken or Smoked Salmon
Dessert - Walnut Cake
Cheese - Stilton
Earl Grey Tea (flavoured black) - flavoured with oil of Bergamot,
orangey, delicate flavour
Sandwich - Pate or Ham and Mustard
Dessert - Creme Brulee
Cheese - Leicester
