TEA PAIRINGS: CHOCOLATE
Our partner for this tasting is ChocAffair, based in York, England.
darjeeling black & salted caramel
If you're a tea lover, you may already know that tea and chocolate are a match made in heaven. The richness of chocolate and the complexity of tea can create a delightful flavor experience. But have you ever tried pairing Darjeeling black tea with salted caramel chocolate? If not, you're in for a real treat!
Darjeeling black tea is known for its floral and fruity notes, with a slightly astringent finish. It's often described as the "Champagne of teas" due to its delicate flavour and high quality. Salted caramel chocolate, on the other hand, is a decadent treat that balances the sweetness of caramel with a touch of saltiness.
When paired together, Darjeeling black tea and salted caramel chocolate create a harmonious balance of flavors. The tea's floral and fruity notes complement the sweetness of the chocolate, while its astringency helps to cut through the richness of the caramel. The saltiness of the chocolate also brings out the subtle earthy notes in the tea, making for a truly indulgent experience.
To enjoy this pairing, start by brewing a cup of Darjeeling black tea. Allow it to steep for 3-4 minutes to extract its full flavor potential. While your tea is brewing, break off a piece of salted caramel chocolate and allow it to melt in your mouth. Take a sip of tea, and notice how the flavors combine and enhance each other.
In conclusion, Darjeeling black tea and salted caramel chocolate is a delicious pairing that can satisfy your sweet tooth while also providing a delicate and nuanced flavor experience. So why not give it a try the next time you're looking for a special treat? You may just discover a new favorite indulgence!
Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate
sencha green, gin & tonic
Gin & Tonic is a relatively new flavour on the market, and it has been gaining popularity among chocolate enthusiasts. This chocolate has a unique combination of botanical and citrus flavours, just like a classic gin and tonic cocktail. The chocolate is smooth and creamy, with a slightly bitter taste that blends well with the other flavours.
On the other hand, Sencha green tea is a classic Japanese green tea that has a fresh, vegetal flavor profile. It has a delicate sweetness and a slight astringency that makes it a perfect drink for any time of the day. Sencha green tea is high in antioxidants and has several health benefits, including improving heart health, reducing inflammation, and boosting brain function.
Pairing gin and tonic flavoured chocolate with sencha green tea may sound like an unlikely match, but the two complement each other well. The citrus and botanical notes in the chocolate enhance the fresh and vegetal flavor of the green tea. The bitterness of the chocolate is balanced out by the natural sweetness of the tea, creating a unique flavour profile that is both refreshing and satisfying.
To experience this tasting pair, we recommend starting by brewing a cup of Sencha green tea. The water should be heated to around 70-80 degrees Celsius to avoid over-brewing and bitterness. Take a few sips of the tea and notice its flavor profile.
Next, try a piece of the gin and tonic flavoured chocolate. Let it melt in your mouth, and notice the flavors that come through. The chocolate has a creamy texture that complements the bitterness and botanical notes.
Finally, take another sip of the Sencha green tea and notice how the flavors of the chocolate and tea interact. You'll notice a delightful balance of bitterness, sweetness, and citrus notes that create a unique and delicious flavor profile.
In conclusion, pairing gin and tonic flavoured chocolate with sencha green tea is a unique and satisfying experience for your taste buds. The flavors of the chocolate and tea complement each other well, creating a refreshing and delicious taste.
Gin & Tonic Flavoured Milk Chocolate
alkaline tea & blood orange gin
If you're a fan of herbal tea, you've likely heard of the many health benefits that come with it. From improving digestion to reducing inflammation, herbal teas have long been used for their medicinal properties. But did you know that herbal teas can also be paired with chocolate? Here we explored the pairing of our alkaline tea blend with blood orange gin dark chocolate.
The alkaline tea blend contains a variety of ingredients, including elderberry, burdock root, dandelion root, sarsaparilla root, ginger, and soursop leaf. The final flavour profile is warm, spicy, and deep, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. This blend is designed to support overall health and well-being, with many of the ingredients known for their detoxifying properties.
On the other hand, blood orange gin dark chocolate is a unique and delicious flavour that combines the bitterness of dark chocolate with the bright and tangy flavour of blood oranges. This chocolate has a rich, smooth texture with a slightly bitter taste that is balanced out by the citrus notes.
When pairing the alkaline tea blend with blood orange gin dark chocolate, you'll notice that the warm and spicy notes of the tea complement the bitterness of the chocolate. The sweetness of the tea helps to balance out the bitterness, while the tangy flavour of the blood orange enhances the overall flavour profile.
To experience this pairing, we recommend starting by brewing a cup of alkaline tea. Bring the water to a boil, leave the tea to infuse for 5 minutes. Take a few sips of the tea and notice its warm and spicy flavour profile.
Next, try a piece of the blood orange gin dark chocolate. Let it melt in your mouth and notice the tastes that come through. The bitterness of the chocolate is balanced out by the sweetness and tangy flavour of the blood orange.
Finally, take another sip of the alkaline tea and notice how the flavours of the tea and chocolate interact. You'll notice a delightful balance of warm and spicy notes from the tea and the bitterness and tangy flavour from the chocolate that create a unique and delicious combination of flavours.
Blood Orange Gin Dark Chocolate