A Brief Guide To The Best Tea And Dessert Pairings
Niveditha Kalyanaraman
January 9, 2024
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A good, hot cup of tea never goes wrong with an after-meal dessert! While soft drinks are usually too sugary, tea offers a calming aromatic experience that blends so perfectly with the sweetness of cakes and tarts. The right dessert and tea pairing can enhance the gastronomic experience as well. Let’s take a look at a guide to tea and dessert pairings!
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White Tea Flavour
White teas have a very delicate flavour that is easily overshadowed by other strong flavours.
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Pairing With White Tea
Have white teas with ‘plain’ desserts with simpler flavours, such as classic butter sponge cakes, light and buttery puff pastries, or classic sugar rolls. Light fruit tarts like white grape or peach will also elevate the sweet scents of white tea while adding some complexity to the tasting experience of your dessert.
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Oolong Flavour
Oolong is a category of tea that’s neither black, green, or white. Its distinct feature is the smoky flavour imparted by how the tea leaves are roasted.
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Pairing With Oolong Tea
This unique flavour profile offers a brilliant juxtaposition with the sweetness of fruit, which brings out the different notes of oolong while tempering the sweetness of the fruit.
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Earl Grey Flavour
The classic Earl Grey tea is beloved for its citrusy notes, thanks to the bergamot in the blend.
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Pairing With Earl Grey
When you feel up for some zest, pair a warm cup of Earl Grey with some lemony desserts for a refreshing treat.
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Green Tea Flavour
Green tea has a slightly bitter and vegetative taste, which will go well with the intense notes of dark chocolate.
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Pairing With Green Tea
For fruitier green teas, the bitterness of dark chocolate highlights the fragrance and sweetness of the tea, offering a playful and pleasing contrast for the palate. When you find yourself craving a dark chocolate éclair or dark chocolate cookie, green tea’s your best bet.
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