Still more tea and cheese pairings for a “cheesy” tea time (continued from Part II). In the final installment, we’re some general guidelines for pairing up teas and cheeses. (Again, this is a consolidation of the wealth of pairing suggestions available online.)

Some General Guidelines I’ve Seen:

• Asiago cheeses pair with: Keemun (a Chinese black tea) and Pai Mu Tan (a nutty white tea also called White Peony or Baimudan).
• Brie cheeses pair with: Long Ching (a fine Chinese green tea also called Longjing or Dragonwell), Ha Giang, Darjeeling, and Tung Ting Oolong.
• Blue-Veined cheeses pair with: Teas that are sweet, nutty, and flavored with fruits, almonds, and spices such as ginger. These teas help balance the saltiness of cheeses such as Bleu and Gorgonzola, two well-loved examples that are known for their crumbly texture and distinct flavor.
• Camembert cheeses pair with: Dragonwell/Long Ching/Lungjing, Chun Mee (a special Chinese green tea), Gunpowder, Ha Giang, First Flush Darjeeling, and Sikkim.
• Cheddar cheeses pair with: Tung Ting Oolong and Darjeeling.

  

• Cream cheese cheeses pair with: Ceylon, Darjeerling, and Cameroon.
• Edam cheeses pair with: Ceylon, Autumnal Darjeeling, and Buddha’s Finger Oolong.
• Gorgonzola cheeses pair with: Chun Mee, Ha Giang, Ceylon, and Pouchong.
• Intense cheeses paired with: A smoky tea. For example, Gorgonzola with Lapsang Souchong.
• Muenster cheeses pair with: Tung Ting Oolong and Pouchong
• Nutty cheeses pair with: Nutty and more astringent black teas, plus earthy, bold teas. For example, Comte Cheese with Ceylon tea.
• Provolone cheeses pair with: Ceylon and Nilgiri.
• Salty cheeses pair with: Slightly sweeter, floral or fruity teas.
• Soft/Fresh cheeses paired with: The earthy flavor of green tea.
• Soft/mild creamy cheeses paired with:Astringent black teas.

  

• Soft, creamy cheeses paired with: A mild green tea. For example, Chèvre with Sencha.
• Try salty cheeses paired with: A sweet tea. For example, Stilton Blue Cheese with Lychee Congou.

There you have it. Lots of tea and cheese pairings to explore. Enjoy!

See also:
A Cheesy Tea Time

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