How to Pair Desserts with Teas
Tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years with many cultures forming their own rituals around tea. One such tradition is the popular worldwide custom of serving tea with dessert after an indulgent meal. Another is in the British "teatime" practice which commonly incorporates tasty baked goods. We also see people in Japan traditionally eating wagashi, desserts made of red beans or rice cakes, with a cup of matcha during tea ceremonies. And something we like to do at Art of Tea is take our favorite sweet treats and turn them into teas! So in honor of our shared love for having tea with sweet treats, we’re highlighting our Dessert Teas, which can be enjoyed alone or as excellent dessert pairings.
Dessert Teas and Their Dessert Companions
Dessert teas are tea blends that have a naturally sweet flavor profile that are often inspired by cakes, pies, cookies, and more! Dessert teas can be enjoyed on their own or with a splash of milk or creamer for a added boost. Another perk of dessert teas is that they pair wonderfully with dessert! Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Carmelized Pear Tea
Art of Tea’s Caramelized Pear Tea, for example, is a caffeine-free rooibos tea that has lovely sweet notes of caramel and pear, perfect for pairing with fruit tarts. You can also pair it with pear and apple tatin, a dish the French made popular by sautéing pears and apple slices in a caramelized sauce and baking in a skillet in the oven. Caramelized pears themselves are a dessert, but they are frequently served as pie filling or over ice cream. No matter how you serve the dessert, the accompanying dessert tea will harmonize with it.
Crème Brûlée Tea
While you're at it, consider Art of Tea’s Crème Brûlée Tea. This naturally sweet tea is perfect as a post-dinner treat by itself or you could pair it with warm crème brûlée fresh out of the oven. You should also try turning it into a milky tea with a little clotted cream or your choice of milk. Clotted cream is a heavy cream like whipped cream, but has a denser texture; it’s often added to sweet treats like scones or muffins for a deccadent flavor. Adding it to your tea will make it extra creamy and smooth, much like the creamy custardy filling of crème brûlée.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Tea
A popular holiday favorite is Dark Chocolate Peppermint Tea, complete with grated organic cacao nibs blended with peppermint tea leaves. The cooling mint and decadent chocolate combines to create an invigorating sweet treat; try pairing it with with dark chocolate cookies, chocolate truffles, or rich brownies and watch how the flavors play off of one another!
Aztec Spice Tea
Art of Tea’s Aztec Spice Tea brings together pu-erh tea, a post-femented tea that lends itself well to bold, earthy flavors, and chocolate notes. Inspired by Aztec chocolate, this tea blend has cinnamon, chocolate, and spicy chili flakes blended together with pu-erh tea leaves. You can sip this tea by itself or serve it with a dessert that compliments its flavors, such as cinnamon cookies, churros, or chocolate Babka.
Vanilla Berry Truffle Tea
Another dessert tea that is scrumptious all on its own or with a splash of milk is Vanilla Berry Truffle Tea. Its tangy and fruity with a light sweetness coming through from the vanilla. A little milk or cream makes it quite the dessert on its own. However, you might want to pair it with a little bit of raspberry cheesecake or New York-style cheesecake with strawberries on top for a truly decadent experience.
Try All of Our Dessert Tea Blends This Holiday Season
Our popular dessert blends of tea have something for every taste palate. Try them all in a sampler pack, or order one that sounds delicious to you. Pair and serve with a dessert when hosting this holiday season for a deccadent gift in the form of a one-of-a-kind delicious treat!
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