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you may remember that tea and chocolate have a lot in common. did you know that they also make fantastic pairings? two years ago at the world tea expo, we learned from expert pearl dexter that there are three ways to look at tea and chocolate pairings. the first is a “friends,” teas and chocolates with similar characteristics. the second is as “lovers,” teas and chocolates that compliment each other through their differences. the third happens when both combine — pearl called it a “perfect match.” when pairing, remember that it’s all subjective — eat and drink what you love! — but to get you started, here are a few of our suggestions for tea and chocolate pairings:
white chocolate’s friend, organic silver needle — the subtle sweetness of both plays across the tongue. this is especially appealing if your white chocolate has honeyed notes like our silver needle white is known for.
white chocolate’s lover, ceremonial grade matcha — delicate sweetness and bold astringency couldn’t get more different, yet this pairing heightens the sense and plays up the nuances inherent to the chocolate and the tea. a white chocolate with tart berry notes can add a new dimension of flavor to this already adventuresome pairing.
white chocolate’s perfect match, organic darjeeling second flush muscatel — the delicate sweetness of both works with the depth and complexity of the darjeeling black tea for a perfect pairing.
spiced milk chocolate’s friend, cha cha chai with a splash of milk (or soymilk) — the spiciness, sweetness and creaminess all overlap in perfect harmony.
milk chocolate’s lover, organic spicy ginger yerba maté — spicy, bold and daring meets sweet, rich and classic for an ideal love match.
almond milk chocolate’s perfect match, almond cookies — green tea is a wonderfully refreshing foil for milk chocolate, but almond cookies brings magic to this pairing by highlighting the chocolate’s sweetness and nuttiness. delicious!
raspberry or strawberry dark chocolate’s friend, chocolate & strawberries — the richness of black tea and chocolate combine with the tartness of berries for a treat you won’t soon forget!
dark chocolate’s lover, serenity — it doesn’t get any more relaxing than chamomile, lavender and chocolate. dark, decadent chocolate is complimented by bright, playful floral notes for a “lovely” pairing.
spicy dark chocolate’s perfect match, vanilla cream – the richness of deep, dark chocolate and bold, black tea meld together, while spicy notes and vanilla make for an unexpectedly dynamite match.
what are your favorite tea and chocolate pairings?
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we’re reading “the way to tea: your adventure guide to san francisco tea culture.” not only does it lavishly illustrate sf’s blossoming tea scene with gorgeous (and abundant) photography, the text is informative and poetic. one of our favorite quotes: “like wine, each tea has its own characteristics and disposition. even more interestingly, that character is influenced by the water used in tea preparation, the person brewing the tea and the pot in which it is brewed. so each time a tea is brewed, it can and will manifest a nuanced variation.” we couldn’t agree more!
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stressed out? experts suggest relaxing over a cup of tea, or dropping caffeine in favor of botanicals (a.k.a. “herbal teas”).
apparently, a chemical unique to tea and a rare type of mushrooms used only in some asian cuisines contain l-theanine. it is shown to increase alpha waves in the brain — the waves responsible for increasing left-right brain connectivity and non-lateral (creative) thinking. it’s also shown to elevate mood and (with the caffeine in tea) cultivate a sense of focused calm, or what some people describe as “zen.” no wonder buddhist monks often drink matcha (a concentrated source of l-theanine and tea’s many other nutrients) as a meditation aid! l-theanine is also unique in that it is a stimulant and a relaxant, so some studies show it helps you stay alert but won’t keep you from falling asleep when you’re ready. unlike caffeine, its effects are long lasting — many say they feel l-theanine’s effects for about six hours — and it doesn’t induce a crash like so many get from colas and coffee.
if teas’ caffeine levels are still too much for your shaky nerves, try a soothing botanical. our favorites are tranquility (the name says it all), blueberry (antioxidant-rich and totally relaxing) and golden chamomile blossoms (a real “knockout” botanical). be sure to also check out rooibos, a nurturing, caffeine-free herb from south africa that makes for some great blends, like chocolate spice, macadamia nut and rooibos chai. find your favorite and wash your worries away with a pot of tea…
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apparently, the days of espresso-and-red-bull fueled techies are fast fading. now, the cool technorati drink tea. digg.com founder kevin rose told wired magazine, “it’s one of those things where you want to turn to something really natural and from the earth — and from something that isn’t going to give you a big crash. once you start consuming tea it makes sense: this is the best of all worlds.” we couldn’t agree more! rose’s current favorites include pu-erh and green tea. we find that a lot of people who are switching from coffee initially prefer black tea because of its relatively high caffeine levels, bold taste and natural added flavors, like rich, warming spices and soothing vanilla. regardless of your coffee preferences, we’re sure you can find something to meet all your coding, tweeting and white-board-writing needs after you read more about making the switch from coffee to tea on our blog. enjoy!
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