Roses, chocolates, and teas — things that say “I love you.” Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, it seems like a good idea to take a closer look at these and how they go together to whisper those three little words in the ear of your heart’s desire.

First, roses. They keep showing up in tea blends, such as Taylors of Harrogate’s China Rose, where rose petals are stirred in with the tea leaves and dry with them, passing on to them a gentle fragrance (just like how the best jasmine teas are made). And then there’s the Golden Moon Rose Tea, with rose petals sprinkled among the fine beautiful black loose leaf tea that steeps up a light rosy flavor. There are lots more options. Roses are added to black pu-erh, regular black teas, Oolongs, green teas, and white teas.

You could always go with another flowery option — a blooming tea. An obvious choice is Longing Heart Flowering Green Tea (the name says it all) from the Anhui Province in China. According to legend, this tea was designed by a Tea Master to soothe him on the way to market. He combined fine tea with chrysanthemum petals. This modern version is green tea, jasmine, and amaranth. Its bloom will bring joy to your loved one’s heart.

Next, chocolates. Since they will very likely be part of your Valentine’s Day giving and/or getting, you’ll want to know what teas pair with various types of chocolates.

• Teas to go with Milk Chocolates — Darjeeling, Gen Mai Cha, Dragonwell, Oolong, Sencha, Yunnan
• Teas to go with Dark Chocolates — Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Gyokuro, Pu-erh, Jasmine-scented Pouchong, Pai Mu Tan (Bai Mu Dan, White Peony), and Oolongs such as Bai Hao Oolong and lightly-oxidized Oolongs (see my post on Oolong rankings to see what this means)
• Teas to go with White Chocolates — Gen Mai Cha, Darjeeling, Dragonwell, Oolong, Sencha, Yunnan, Silver Needle, High Grade Matcha, Darjeeling Second Flush Muscatel (ideal)

Matcha has actually been a favorite of chocolatiers, especially in Paris, for the past couple of years. They use it with all types of chocolate, either in the filling, in the chocolate itself, or as a coating. Delightful to the palate and the eye.

Again, lots of options. You can send your message softly with a nice white tea and some dark chocolates or more loudly with rose-flavored tea, a dozen roses, and some chocolates to add that sweet touch. The choice is yours.

Print this out and leave it lying around somewhere for that significant someone to find in time to take the appropriate action. Hope it works!

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