A pot of high-quality tea, some lightly paired snacks, and a relaxed mindset are essential to truly appreciate the essence of tea, to feel its rhythm and charm. Enjoying tea should be complemented with snacks to enhance the experience. The pairing of snacks and tea requires a focus on harmony between the characteristics of both, as well as an emphasis on the unique flavors of the snacks and the local traditions associated with them.Different regions have different tea-drinking habits and varying culinary traditions, which lead to different snacks being paired with tea. For example, the northern Jiangxi province is rich in tea, especially known for its Jiujiang Lushan Yunwu tea. Local residents have developed classic tea snacks like Jiujiang tea cakes, crispy candies, glutinous rice cakes, and Ai Mi Guo based on the characteristics of their native teas.
The Minnan region of Fujian and the Chaoshan region of Guangdong enjoy brewing Gongfu tea, which is characterized by its strong and fragrant qualities, so it is paired with small snacks. These snacks are quite refined, not only delicious but also elegantly presented, mainly including South sugar, mung bean paste pastries, coconut cakes, mung bean cakes, and also local specialties such as “taro dates” along with various puffed snacks and candied fruits. Beijing also has many tea houses, which differ from those in the south. There are fewer traditional tea houses in old Beijing, while book tea houses are quite popular, where drinking tea is merely supplementary, and listening to storytelling is the main attraction. Therefore, the snacks served during tea tasting are mostly simple snacks like sunflower seeds. So how do we choose suitable snacks when we drink tea daily? Different teas match with different snacks, and there are rules to follow.
Compatibility of Flavor and TasteThe food’s flavor should adapt to the nature of the tea, and the taste of the food should match the taste of the tea, so both must be compatible in flavor. Experts have summarized it in three sayings: “Sweet with green, sour with red, and melon seeds with oolong.” Grasping these three sayings means you have understood the essence of tea and tea snacks.Visual MatchingDifferent types of tea have distinct intrinsic qualities and flavors that require different matching food tastes. Different types of tea also differ in their appearance and color, necessitating food that comes in various shapes to accompany them. This creates visual harmony, just like Longjing tea, which is clear and light, pairs well with crystal dumplings that are transparent and sparkling. In short, the compatibility should not compromise the style of the tea; the paired snacks should also be both delicious and visually appealing.Tea and SnacksGreen tea is a type of non-fermented tea. Its flavor is fresh and elegant, with a refreshing and beautiful color, so it pairs best with light and fresh snacks. Light oil pastries and moderately sweet desserts, such as pineapple cakes and nougat, are good matches. They can highlight the fragrance of green tea and enhance the taste of the snacks, making it a perfect pairing.Black tea is a fully fermented tea. Its flavor is richer and stronger, making it suitable to pair with salty or slightly sour snacks, such as wild sour jujube cake, dried plum cake, and candied fruits. It also pairs well with cake-like foods such as donuts, apple pie, and milk cakes; the sweetness of these snacks enhances the sweetness of fully fermented tea.Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea. Its flavor is also mild, so it is not suitable to pair with overly strong snacks. It can be paired with low-sugar or low-salt snacks such as seeds, peanuts, green peas, and kidney bean rolls.Black tea belongs to post-fermented tea. It can be paired with hawthorn, aged orange peel, pickled plums, and dried mango. The unique sourness of candied snacks is balanced by the heavy brew of black tea. What was originally sour transforms into a charming fruity aroma. As for the tea, it has a more flexible taste.Pu-erh tea has a rich flavor that goes well with stronger-tasting snacks such as beef jerky and various types of dried meat, as well as dairy products like cheese and milk skins, or nuts with higher fat content, such as salted peanuts, cashews, and almonds.White tea and yellow tea are lightly fermented teas. They pair well with sunflower seeds, pistachios, and almonds, as these foods carry the original oil fragrance of the nuts, complementing the aroma of lightly fermented teas.
The existence of tea snacks is not because one becomes hungry from drinking tea and needs food to fill the stomach. The choice of tea snacks should follow the principle of harmonizing flavors of food and tea. Tea snacks should not only give the tea drinker a sense of fullness but also enhance the fragrance of the tea, as both complement each other. A good cup of tea, paired with exquisite snacks, along with a relaxed mood, makes drinking tea much more enjoyable.
AYM Pu’er
Black Tea Puerh Tea is harvested directly from the source, supplied directly from the tea plant to Europe, simple, easy to store and easier to brew.Coffee lovers will love YM’s tea!
