Pairing tea with food is like a perfectly coordinated dance: each sip and bite enhances the other, creating a flavour journey far beyond what you’d get from tea or food alone. Just as people love to match wine with dishes, exploring “tea and food pairing” opens up a whole new world of taste. With each unique tea type, you get different notes that complement a variety of foods in exciting ways. As part of our drinks tips section, this post will explore the topic of tea and food pairing. Ready for a delicious tour through the world of tea?
Chinese Teas: Tradition Meets Timeless Flavours
Chinese teas carry centuries of tradition, each with distinctive qualities that can highlight your meal beautifully. Start with green tea, especially a delicate Dragon Well (Longjing), known for its fresh, slightly grassy taste. Paired with foods as gentle as itself—think sushi, steamed fish, or a vibrant garden salad—it enhances without overwhelming.
For more robust dishes, oolong tea offers a warm, floral experience that pairs well with roasted meats or a satisfying bowl of dim sum. Picture sipping oolong with pork dumplings; its warmth and richness are a perfect foil to the savoury depth of the dumplings, creating a comforting, layered taste.
Then there’s pu-erh tea—bold, earthy, and full of character. Its deep flavour is ideal with intense dishes like mushroom risotto, truffle-based dishes, or a wedge of aged cheese. My favourite pu-erh moment? Paired with blue cheese, it was a vivid interplay of flavours, both earthy and bold, in a way that felt like a taste adventure.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Japanese Matcha: A Bold Green Companion
Matcha, the vibrant green Japanese powdered tea, has a reputation for a strong umami taste that pairs best with creamy, smooth foods. The tea’s natural bitterness is balanced out by pairing it with avocado toast, buttery pastries, or mild cheeses. My personal favourite? A slice of cheesecake with matcha, where the creamy richness complements the tea’s unique bitterness.
Matcha also shines with foods from its homeland. Try pairing it with mochi, fresh sashimi, or a delicate tempura dish. The lightness of Japanese cuisine pairs beautifully with matcha’s intense flavours, giving you an experience that’s at once refreshing and utterly satisfying.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Yerba Mate: A Taste of South America
Yerba mate is known for its slight bitterness and smoky notes, making it a natural companion for hearty dishes. It’s particularly popular in South America, often paired with foods rich in flavour. Grilled beef, for example, is a traditional and delicious match for mate, offering a balance of smoky and savoury tastes.
Mate’s strong flavour works well with foods like empanadas, roasted vegetables, or even dark chocolate. I once paired mate with a rich chocolate cake, and the experience was like a tango in flavour—unexpected but memorable. There’s a reason mate is traditionally a social drink: it pairs well with foods that bring people together.
Rooibos: Naturally Sweet and Versatile
Rooibos, often called “red tea,” hails from South Africa and is caffeine-free with naturally sweet, nutty notes. This makes it ideal for pairing with desserts, especially those with spices or honey. Rooibos with a slice of carrot cake or pumpkin pie? Absolute bliss.
But rooibos isn’t just for dessert! Try it with mild cheeses, like Gouda or Havarti. The tea’s gentle sweetness brings out the creamy texture of these cheeses. It’s also a delightful addition to breakfast foods like pancakes topped with maple syrup. Rooibos, to me, feels like a warm embrace in a cup—perfect for those cosy mornings.
Wellness Teas: Beyond Health Benefits
Wellness teas crafted to enhance mood or energy are becoming a joyful part of daily routines. Each tea for wellness has its own unique flavor and qualities, perfect for pairing with foods that amplify their effects.
- Chamomile: With its calming floral notes, chamomile tea pairs beautifully with light treats like shortbread biscuits or apple slices. Its soothing properties make it ideal for an evening snack, adding a sweet, gentle end to your day.
- Peppermint: Known for its refreshing zing, peppermint tea works wonders with chocolate desserts. Imagine a chocolate mousse paired with peppermint—refreshing, cooling, and rich. It also pairs well with lamb dishes or citrus salads, offering a bright, surprising twist to savoury meals.
- Ginger Tea: This warming tea complements spicy foods well, balancing their heat with its soothing, spicy warmth. Try ginger tea with sushi or spicy Asian dishes. It’s equally satisfying with a ginger cookie, for a perfectly cosy snack.
Wellness teas are a chance to be creative with food pairings. When you enjoy these teas with foods that reflect their properties, it feels like a form of self-care—a way to enhance both your meal and your mood.
The Joy of Experimenting
What makes “tea and food pairing” so rewarding is the sense of discovery. Tea doesn’t carry the same social pressure as wine, so there’s more freedom to explore without any “rules.” Pairing a cup of green tea with a savoury crepe or enjoying a slice of carrot cake with rooibos may lead you to a delicious revelation. Each tea brings a different character to the table, encouraging you to experiment and find what you enjoy.
Tea and food pairing is a journey into taste, culture, and comfort—each cup a new experience waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a lifelong tea lover or simply curious, there’s no better way to enjoy the art of tea than by pairing it with the perfect dish. Happy sipping!
Andrew is the founder and CEO of StickerYou, a global, e-commerce leader in custom-printed, die-cut products that empowers consumers and businesses to create high-quality materials for personal expression, marketing, and packaging.
