Tea Blog

I’m in a quandary.

Asking me about my favorite black tea is like asking about my favorite wine.

While I enjoy both on their own, I truly love them when paired with food—and that’s where things get complicated.

Although I can confidently say that my favorite black tea is

Yunnan Gold tea
,
and my favorite wine varietal is tempranillo, my preferences shift depending on what I’m eating.

That makes choosing a true “favorite” a bit of a challenge.

Why I Love Yunnan Gold

I’m especially fond of Yunnan Gold for its sweet, spicy character.

Each cup has its own personality—sometimes earthy, sometimes floral—and it works just as well hot as it does iced.

It’s also my go-to travel tea.

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a hot cup of Yunnan Gold alongside a hearty meal—like eggs scrambled with chorizo.

But Food Pairings Matter

That said…

When I’m having a classic breakfast of bacon and eggs, Yunnan isn’t always my first choice.

For that, it’s hard to beat

Keemun black tea
—though a robust

Assam tea

can also hit the spot.

Occasionally, I even crave strong CTC African teas with a traditional breakfast—though I rarely drink them on their own.

Tea and Sweet Pairings

Yunnan Gold isn’t always ideal with sweets or sandwiches either.

Its subtle complexity can get lost, and it doesn’t always have enough body to cut through richer, starchy foods.

In those cases, I reach again for Keemun, Assam, or even an autumn flush Darjeeling.

Final Verdict

Despite all this, Yunnan Gold still holds the top spot—for me.

If you’re new to black tea or want to start enjoying tea without milk or sugar, Yunnan Gold is an excellent place to begin.

It’s what introduced me to unflavored Chinese teas—and I’ve never looked back.

See what else Lainie is sipping on at

her blog
!

© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts allowed with proper credit.

“