February, known for Groundhog’s Day where we see how much more Winter weather we’ll need to endure, is thankfully punctuated in the middle with romance. Valentine’s Day on the 14th is an occasion to say “I love you” in a number of ways that have become traditional through the years – some date it as far back to the 3rd century BC in Rome. Exchanging cards (including some charming “olde tyme” ones), gifts of candy and flowers, candlelit dinners, and even marriage proposals are most usual. But a Valentine’s Day tea time is another event that is becoming fairly common.
Start with a gift basket, something that can set the mood with a cute plush bear and/or plenty of chocolates, like one of these:
- Valentine’s Gift Basket – Truffle Teddy Bear – contains an adorable 12-inch Fuzzy Valentine’s Bear sure to capture your loved one’s heart and various chocolates to add a bit of sweetness to your special event.
- Cupids Choice Valentines Chocolates Gift Basket – contains a whole lotta love (aka “chocolates”) in a Keepsake red heart Valentine gift box.
- Valentine’s Gift Basket – A Big Kiss for You – contains a fuzzy 8-inch Plush Valentine’s Bear and a treasure of chocolates in a closed and sealed Red Gift Box ready to be given to a special someone as a care package.
- I’m Sweet on You Valentines Chocolates Gift Basket – contains an array of chocolates, including Chanberry Truffles and Chocolate Fudge Popcorn, in a 14-inch Gloss Red Basket.
- Say You’ll Be Mine Valentine Gift Basket – contains a cuddly 12-inch Be Mine teddy bear plus Angelina’s Buttery shortbread cookies, various chocolates, and a Valentine’s plant pick in a 14-inch gloss red basket with a handmade Valentines bow on top!
Time to select a tea to go with your gift basket. Depending on the type of chocolates included, you will want a certain type of tea. Here are some pairings that tea and chocolate lovers have found good:
| Tea | Goes with |
| Pai Mu Tan (White Peony, Bai Mu Dan) | milk, dark, and white chocolate |
| Silver Needle | white chocolate |
| Dragonwell | milk and white chocolate |
| Genmaicha | milk and white chocolate |
| Gyokuro | dark and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Hojicha (Houjicha) | milk, dark, white, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Jasmine Green Tea | milk, dark, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Matcha | milk, dark, and white chocolate |
| Sencha | milk, white, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Oolong teas in general | milk, dark, bittersweet, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Bai Hao Oolong rich in Honey notes | dark chocolate |
| Ti Kuan Yin and other floral Oolongs | dark chocolate |
| Wu Yi Oolong | milk chocolate |
| Oolong such as Dung Ti | white chocolate |
| Assam | white, milk, and dark chocolate |
| Darjeeling teas in general | milk, dark, and white chocolate |
| Earl Grey | dark, milk, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| English Breakfast Blend | milk chocolate |
| Keemun | dark chocolate |
| Lapsang Souchong and similar smoked teas | dark and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Pu-erh in general | dark chocolate |
| Yunnan Black Tea | milk and white chocolate |
| Masala chai (spiced tea) | milk, white, and flavored/filled chocolate |
| Vanilla Cream Tea | dark chocolate |
| Citrus flavored tea | citrus flavored chocolate |
| Fruit flavored tea | fruit flavored chocolate |
| Floral scented tea | floral flavored chocolate |
| Herbal infusions | milk and white chocolate |
| Spicy ginger yerba maté | milk chocolate |
Be sure to set the stage with a lovely teapot, delicate teacups, a vase of flowers, candles, and some nice mood music to suit your tastes. Then, get set for an evening that will start out sweet and go…well, who knows!
See also:
Selecting the Perfect Valentine Tea Gift
“Valentine, Sweet Valentine!” Tea Time and Beyond
Valentine’s Day Postscript — Tea-for-Two Sets Revisited
5 Ways to Add a Touch of Romance to Your Valentine’s Teatime
How to Prepare for the Perfect Valentine Tea Time
Taking Tea to Heart — A Tea Gift for Your True Love
Teas That Say “I Love You”
Teddy Bears and Chocolates and Tea — Oh, My!
Seeing Red at Tea Time
See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.
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