02 Mar The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Tea and Chocolate for a Richer Experience
There are few things more comforting than a cup of warm tea and a creamy chocolate nibble. When they’re paired together, something quite exquisite and soothing happens.
However, with so many delicious teas and decadent chocolates out there, it can be confusing to know which ones to pick and how to pair them.
That’s why we’ve tailored this ultimate guide to pairing tea and chocolate especially for you!
Tea And Chocolate Pairing: The Basics
The flavour profile of both the tea and the chocolate is the first thing that you should keep in mind when tailoring the perfect pairing.
The best pairings tend to involve either two very similar flavour profiles or two very different ones. The first option serves to layer and deepen the flavour of the pairing, whereas the second one adds new and exciting contrasts that play wonderfully on the palate.
Both tea and chocolate tend to have distinct flavour profiles. Some may be light, whereas others may be stronger and bolder. Knowing how to pair these profiles is crucial for a richer tasting experience. When doing this, be wary of overpowering delicate teas with strong chocolates. You should always match the intensity of the tea to the chocolate so that one does not overpower the other.
The second thing to bear in mind when it comes to the perfect pairing is the texture of the tea and the chocolate. A bar of creamy chocolate would, for example, pair well with a floral, light tea. Whereas a bar of crunchy chocolate would do better with a more robust tea. The texture of the chocolate also influences the mouthfeel of the tea, so it should carefully be considered in the pairing.
While keeping the flavour profiles and textures in mind is essential, don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with some crazy combinations! You might be deliciously surprised by the outcome.
Choosing The Chocolate
Chocolate can come in all shapes, sizes, and flavours. But if you want to have a rich pairing experience, then you should look for gourmet chocolates with varying percentages of cocoa. The higher the cocoa percentage, the more bitter the chocolate.
It’s always a good idea to look for a variety of chocolates, so pick a few dark, milk, and white chocolates. Don’t be afraid to experiment with chocolates that you normally wouldn’t choose.
Displaying The Chocolate
Once you’ve purchased your chocolates, you should cut them into small pieces so that they allow for only a few nibbles. Arranging a display of dried tea leaves next to the chocolates can add to the experience.
There are so many yummy combinations to choose from. But try to limit your number of pairings per sitting, as too much may overwhelm your senses. Rather, opt for about three to five pairings at a time so you don’t get taste-bud fatigue.
Pairing The Chocolates To The Tea
Now that your pairing display is ready, it’s time to see which combinations work best.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Masala Chai tea and milk chocolate: Masala chai tea is known for its nutty and spicy flavour profile, which pairs beautifully with the sweetness of smooth milk chocolate. We would recommend our traditional masala chai for your pairing. Its woody aromas are sure to enhance any tasting experience.
Milky Oolong tea and milk chocolate: The creaminess of the milk chocolate seamlessly blends into the unique and natural milky flavour of our Jin Xuan Milk Oolong Tea. This is the perfect pairing if you’re looking for something soft and sweet on the tongue.
Earl Grey tea and milk chocolate: Earl Grey tea pairs exceptionally well with milk chocolate. This is because the citrusy notes often found within the tea work to balance out the sweetness of the milk chocolate.
Mint tea and mint milk chocolate: The mellow, refreshing, and herbal notes of our whole leaf peppermint tea will pair well with mint milk chocolate. The similar flavour profiles serve to layer and deepen the tasting experience.
Gyokuro Asahi tea and dark chocolate: Gyokuro Asahi tea tends to have quite a minerally feel which pairs well with the deep, rich textures found in dark chocolate.
Genmaicha tea and dark chocolate: The bitterness of dark chocolate is easily offset by the nutty notes and roasted rice aromas found within the Genmaicha tea, making for a very balanced and rich pairing.
Matcha Green tea and white chocolate: The bitterness of the Matcha Green tea contrasts and compliments the extreme sweetness of white chocolate, cutting right through it and allowing for a rich tasting experience.
Jasmine Phoenix Pearl white tea and white chocolate: The beautiful floral jasmine aroma of the white tea accentuates sweetness of the white chocolate and makes an exquisite pairing.
Chamomile tea and white chocolate: White chocolate helps to bring out the floral, smooth, and sweet flavours found within our Chamomile tea.
Further Tasting Tips
Now that you’ve decided on which teas and chocolates you’d like to pair, here are a few more things that you need to know before your tasting is a truly rich experience:
🍫 Consider tasting the tea and chocolate separately before tasting them as a pair. Doing this will allow you to appreciate their individual and unique flavours, and it will also help you to recognise the magic that happens when these flavours are brought together—whether that be through contrast or compliment.
🍫 Start with small portions of premium quality chocolates and little sips of tea when doing the tasting. The chocolates require savouring and if your portions are too large, you may become overwhelmed by all the flavours.
🍫 Make sure that the temperatures of the tea and chocolate are just right before you begin your tasting. You wouldn’t want to burn your tongue while holding onto a melting, sticky, chocolate for dear life, would you?
🍫 As you’re pairing your tea and chocolate, you should be engaging as many senses as possible to enhance your experience. Take a minute to smell the chocolate so that your olfactory receptors can tell your brain that it should be anticipating something delicious. Lend an ear to the sound of the chocolate as you break it with your teeth, savouring the satisfying snap. Doing this can help you to remain focused on the flavour and overall experience of the tasting.
Take Your Tea And Chocolate Tasting To New Heights
Tea and chocolate are a match made in heaven. And when they’re paired perfectly, they’re even more sublime.
Use these tips to create a taste sensation that makes eating chocolate and drinking tea more enjoyable than ever!
Teapro co-founder. Favourite tea - Long Jing Dragon Well Green Tea. Obsessed with film, photography and travelling.
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