Despite the fact that most people are not aware of it or they have never thought about it, tea can be combined with several types of food. The combination of food and tea is not only about adding tea to the food while being cooked but also accompanying it with delicious delicacies. We found the most fantastic food and tea combinations, and we are glad to present them to you.
Tasty dishes accompanied with tea in order to enjoy a unique gastronomical experience or to establish a new, healthy habit. Tea will add flair to your dishes while its taste will not cover any elements of the taste of food. The great coexistence will excite and should you wish to impress your guests the following combinations with hot tea will help you make a striking impression.
In addition, tea is a drink coming in a great variety of tastes and smells. As some wines are combined with cheese, red meat or poultry, so can the taste or smell of tea accompany harmoniously specific tastes and textures. There are ideal combinations based on the body, the taste, the intensity and the texture of the tea. You can find tasty ideas such as jasmine tea or chamomile which matches with rice, green tea which can be combined with pasta or spice tea with other grains.
Black teas and ideal combinations
Black tea is rich and full, with intense tannins which can be combined ideally with foods rich in scents. It can be combined perfectly with foods which in turn are usually accompanied by red wine, such as meat, dishes with a lot of spices and desserts. Black tea also matches with lentil soup and this combination is full of anti-inflammatory and anti oxidants as well as natural fibers and proteins.
Citrus scents of the Earl Grey ideally accompany sweets such as crème brûlée, fruit tarts or milk chocolate. Earl Grey is uniquely combines with dark chocolate as well and lemon. This tea is essentially black tea with bergamot scent, thus it will match ideally with the taste of lemon. You can also taste it with chicken cooked with lemons.
English Breakfast makes the first choice when it comes to warm tea and especially black tea. Take advantage of the timeless value of English Breakfast for dishes which could match with coffee, such as: French toast, sausages and other foods served for breakfast. The spicy taste of Chai tea (tea with milk and spices) is ideal for sweet delicacies, such as bread with fruits of the forest and nuts, brownies, crunchy cookies and milk chocolate. Don’t be scared to try a recipe with black tea based on the above mentioned combinations and you will be extremely excited.
Black tea provides a smoked taste combined ideally with beef meat, mushrooms and dishes with more tasty and fatty ingredients. Black tea adds light scent hues to the meat during cooking and toy can try to combine it with smoked black tea with beans.
Green tea
When combined correctly, green tea can bring out the tasty elements both of the food and the tea itself. Green tea has a light taste and that is why it matches with dishes normally served with white wine, such as sea food, chicken, salads, fruit or white chocolate.
Green tea is a great accompaniment and adds balance to dishes with vegetables, fish cooked in steam and poultry, providing salty and more mature hues. A basic rule you should follow is to combine tastes that complement one another. Try a warm green tea with salmon cooked in steam, to benefit from omega3 fatty acids and proteins. You can also try fish in broth of jasmine green tea along with fresh ginger and onions. Last but not least, matcha green tea gives to rice a fresh and light ground flavor.
Oolong Tea
Oolong has become more popular recently because of the small amount of caffeine it contains but also for the health benefits it provides. They have a sweet blossom taste but also intense scents from ripe fruit and spices. Oolong tea is ideal with roast chicken. This tea is as complicated as wine and varies depending on the season, the color and the taste. This unique characteristic allows several combinations, the best of which is roast chicken. This tea will bring out a sweeter taste from the chicken and the proteins will help your body to absorb the beneficial ingredients of the tea.
Herbal Tea without caffeine
There are drinks and tea made by herbal, spice or other plant extracts in warm water without caffeine. The fruity drinks make an ideal accompaniment to desserts and appetizers with citrus fruit while the ground taste hues of other drinks match better with milder, as far as taste is concerned, dishes, such as soup and stew. One of the most delightful combinations is the mint tea along with chocolate desserts.
General guidelines for the most ideal combinations
Generally, it is wise to note that every tea variety boasts a unique taste profile and personality. The more intense foods match with tea varieties with similar intensity. Strong tea varieties can be pleasantly combined with blue or ripe soft French cheese and smoked fish. On the other hand, green or white tea usually with flower of fruit scent match perfectly with light sweets.
Several restaurants now follow the path of the non-alcoholic gastronomic experience, matching food with tea. Tea is not served in a mug, but it is served from wine bottles in wine glasses, so that it looks more suited to the environment and the food of the restaurants. The reasons why this trend started and the desire for non-alcoholic meals increased, is basically the healthy note that many want to give to their meal. Many restaurant customers and people who dine at home combine tea with their food because they are looking for lighter drinks and non-alcoholic beverages to accompany their meal. Try the above combinations and in addition to delicious enjoyment, you will benefit your health.
