Coffee & Tea Pairings You Never Knew Could Taste This Good

Coffee and tea are two of the most popular beverages in the world and it is not difficult to see why. From the irresistible aroma of coffee to the wide ranging flavours in the different types of tea, these beverages are part of many people’s daily lifestyles, whether they are casual drinkers who enjoy the occasional cuppa or those who need to drink multiple cups a day to get their fix.

Great on its own, coffee and tea also go well with a variety of food and snacks such as pastries, chocolate and desserts. Like wine pairings, picking the right type of coffee or tea can unlock and enhance flavours and textures of your food. Here are six lesser known food pairings with coffee and tea to delight your taste buds.

The fresh, herbaceous elements in green tea are a great pairing for cheese, especially lighter cheeses which tend to have a less pungent flavour profile. These would include fresh cheddar, goat cheese or creamy soft cheeses like brie. The grassy elements of both the tea and the cheese complement each other and provide a flavour backdrop for the creamier textures of fresh and soft cheeses.

If you prefer stronger cheeses like blue or aged cheese, pair them with teas that have more robust, full-bodied flavours such as pu’er or black tea. 

It might initially sound weird to pair intense coffee with black pepper but this combination works surprisingly well. Black pepper not only adds a kick to bold black coffee, but can give a floral or tangy aftertaste – depending on the kind of pepper you use – to refresh your palate. While some people do add a few dashes of pepper to their coffee, you can instead pair your java with a pepper-centric dish such as Singapore’s iconic black pepper crab. 

Durian, the king of fruits is an acquired taste that its fans love for its distinctive taste profile and creamy texture. To enhance the durian eating experience, pair it with a light, floral tea on the side. The floral notes of the tea provides the perfect counterpoint to durian, so that your tastebuds fully experience the flavours of the fruit with every bite.

Ideally, pick a tea blend which contains osmanthus or chrysanthemum as according to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, these flowers have “cooling” properties to dispel the “heat” from durian.

Briny and flavourful, salted egg sauce, which is made from duck eggs, adds a multi-dimensional savoury touch to just about any kind of food, from potato chips to croissants and even seafood like prawns and crab. Pair your favourite salted egg dish with black coffee and enjoy the way the notes of your cuppa further enhances the umami taste of salted egg.

Rich and buttery, the French delicacy foie gras is always a treat to savour. Instead of the usual glass of red wine, how about pairing it with some earl grey tea instead? The tannins in black tea balance out the fat in foie gras while the fruity notes of bergamot in earl grey complements the savoury taste of the dish.

There is a reason why avocado on toast tastes so good with a cup of coffee. The mellow creaminess of avocado balances the acidity of coffee, making this combination so addictive. Naturally, any other dish containing avocado, such as avocado sushi or guacamole would go nicely with coffee. If you would like to take this pairing one step further, you could even make an avocado-coffee shake. Add a scoop of smashed avocado, condensed milk or vanilla ice cream and a cup of full-bodied coffee to a blender and pour it over ice for a hearty treat.

With these fresh pairings, take time to appreciate the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of both the food and coffee or tea with every sip and bite. Who knows, these unique flavour combinations may even inspire you to regard these food and drinks in a different light!