Breakfast and Brunch

People in the West generally prefer black teas for breakfast for their higher caffeine content, compatibility with milk, and complementary to Western breakfast foods. Examples of good breakfast teas are English Breakfast, Scottish Breakfast, and Irish Breakfast.

General

• Assam (Assam Loose Leaf), Breakfast Blends (Breakfast Blends Loose Leaf), Pu-erh, Yunnan
• Higher Tannin: Ceylon (Ceylon Loose Leaf), Irish Breakfast (Irish Breakfast Loose Leaf), Kenya pair best with milk
• Heartier Greens: China green tea such as Green Pu-Erh or Gunpowder
• Stronger Blends with Brunch Foods Earl Grey ( Earl Grey Loose Leaf), Lapsang Souchong

Cheese and Tea Pairings

Just like wine and cheese go together so does tea and cheese.

• Asiago: Keemun ( Keemun Loose Leaf), Pai Mu Tan
• Brie: Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf)
• Camembert: Gunpowder , First-Flush Darjeeling, Dragonwell, Ha Giang, Tung Ting Oolong, Sikkim
• Cheddar: Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Tung Ting Oolong
• Cream Cheese: Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Cameroon
• Edam: Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Autumnal Darjeeling, Buddha’s Finger Oolong
• Gorgonzola: Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Pouchong , Chun Mee, Ha Giang
• Muenster: Pouchong , Tung Ting Oolong
• Provolone: Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Nilgri

Chicken and Tea Pairings

The preparation of the chicken dish determines what tea to use.

• Curry: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Pouchong , Jasmine Green, Dragonwell
• Fried: Assam (Assam Loose Leaf), Ceylon (Ceylon Loose Leaf), Nilgiri
• Lemon: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Ceylon (Ceylon Loose Leaf), Gunpowder , Tung Ting Oolong
• Roast: Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Gunpowder , Assam ( Assam Loose Leaf)

Fish, Seafood and Tea Pairings

Japanese green teas, oolong, and smoky black teas pair well with fish and seafood.

• Fried: Gunpowder , Dragonwell, Chun Mee
• Grilled: Gunpowder , Dragonwell, Chun Mee, First-Flush Darjeeling
• Smoked: Any Oolong ( Oolong Loose Leaf), Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Ceylon ( Ceylon Loose Leaf), Dragonwell
• Crab: Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf)
• Lobster: Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf)
• Scallops: Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf)
• Shrimp: Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf)

Dessert and Tea Pairings

Tea and sweets can compliment one another very well.

• Carrot Cake: Sencha, Ceylon Green and Black, Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Assam (Assam Loose Leaf), Dragonwell, Vietnamese Green
• Cheesecake: Sencha , Ceylon Green and Black, Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Keemun (Keemun Loose Leaf), Dragonwell, Vietnamese Green
• Crêpes: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf)
• Dessert With Bananas: Pouchong , Ceylon (Ceylon Loose Leaf), Ti Kuan Yin, Tung Ting Oolong
• Dessert With Raspberries: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Ceylon Green and Black, Vietnamese Green
• Desserts With Strawberries: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Dragonwell, Ti Kuan Yin
• Pecan Pie: Any Oolong (Oolong Loose Leaf), Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Assam (Assam Loose Leaf), Ceylon(Ceylon Loose Leaf)
• Pumpkin Pie: Darjeeling (Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Ceylon Green and Black, Dragonwell

Chocolate and Tea Pairings

Tea pairs well with chocolate, so long as the flavors do not overwhelm one another.

• Dark Chocolate: Assam ( Assam Loose Leaf) , Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Earl Grey ( Earl Grey Loose Leaf), Gyokuro , Oolong ( Oolong Loose Leaf) or Pu-erh
• Milk or White Chocolate: Darjeeling ( Darjeeling Loose Leaf), Dragonwell, Oolong ( Oolong Loose Leaf), Sencha , or Yunnan