Tea and chocolate are often served at the end of a meal, especially on special occasions. While tea is more popular in British and Eastern cultures, wine is favored in France and Italy. Dark chocolate pairs well with black, pu’er, or herbal teas with berry, rose, or citrus flavors. On the other hand, milk chocolate or chocolate desserts go nicely with first flush or oolong teas.
Amy Sherman, a tea enthusiast and editor-in-chief of The Chocolate Professor in San Francisco, believes that the same principles apply to pairing chocolate with tea as with wine. This can involve contrasting or complementing flavors through experimentation. For instance, dark chocolate pairs well with black tea, and Earl Grey tea with its bergamot flavor complements chocolate beautifully.
When pairing chocolate with tea, consider the flavors you want to enhance or balance. For example, mint chocolate can be paired with mint tea to enhance the mintiness, or with black tea like English Breakfast to cut through the mint flavor.
To balance the sweetness of chocolate caramel, a smoky black tea like Lapsang Souchong works best. For milk chocolate, a milder green tea can help cut through the sweetness. Red tea (rooibos) pairs well with bittersweet chocolate or fruity chocolates, while matcha tea complements chocolates with sea salt or chocolate-covered popcorn. White chocolate goes well with herbal teas or chamomile due to its delicate flavor.
Tea-flavored chocolate bars have become a popular trend in the market. Brands like Raaka Chocolate have been producing chocolate tea bars since 2014, offering unique flavor combinations like Earl Grey dark chocolate. Just as these pairings enhance the taste experience, the health benefits of tea and chocolate can also work together harmoniously.
When it comes to using chocolate and tea as mood enhancers, Mullen explained, “Theobromine and caffeine are both stimulants, and they can help with focus and mood. If you want to get something done and be peppy and focused, a little chocolate and a little tea, chemically, can be a very advantageous thing in the right dose.”
