Dear Tea Lovers,
We hope you're enjoying the weather this summer! We've been experimenting with tea and fruit pairings as a fun way to enjoy some of our favorite teas. We've been sipping tea, eating fruit and sipping tea again to see what combinations work well. A successful pairing is one where both the tea and fruit balance each other and bring out characteristics of the other without being overwhelming. We'll be using #teaandfruit to share our favorite pairings. Here are some that we really enjoy:
Four Seasons Oolong + Pineapples
The sweetness of our Four Seasons balances the acidity of pineapples and leaves a refreshing coconut aftertaste.
Red Water Oolong + Strawberries
The fruitiness of both the tea and the strawberries works to enhance each other's flavors where they taste like sweet candies. But this pairing depends on the types of strawberries. Sour strawberries yield a sour fruit candy flavor and sweet strawberries make for even sweeter fruity candy flavors.
2009 Bulang Raw Puerh + Bananas
Bananas surprisingly rounds out the roughness of Bulang Raw Puerh, which is naturally quite bitter. The tea becomes quite smooth and the textures enhance each other.
1998 Shou Puerh + Green Grapes
Green grapes brings vibrancy and freshness that is a welcome addition to the earthy and medicinal flavors of the Shou Puerh. Green grapes have a naturally bright flavor that makes Shou Puerh taste like grass growing on soil. Both end up sweeter and more fruity when paired.
But not all pairings work well. Here are some we really didn't enjoy.
Four Seasons Oolong + Strawberries
Strawberries turn Four Seasons sour. We don't recommend it.
Four Seasons Oolong + Bananas
The tea seems to bring out astringency and rough aftertastes that are not so enjoyable.
2009 Bulang Raw Puerh + Green Grapes
Green Grapes make the sharp aftertaste of Bulang last too long for our liking.
Try some pairings yourself! Explore what teas and fruits you like to have with each other and let us know! Use #teaandfruit and tag us on Instagram or Facebook. And have fun sipping and eating your way through summer.
T Shop