[2] Fancier (photo © Marcolini Chocolate).

[3] Elegant presentation from Republic Of Tea, and…

[4] …Woodhouse Chocolate.

[5] White chocolate pairs with black, green, and herbal teas (photo © Lindt).

If you’re a tea lover, here’s an idea for just the two of you, or for a larger party of friends: Pair chocolate with tea.

Tea and chocolate are excellent pairing companions. There is so much variety of flavor in each, it seems that there are endless possibilities.

If you have an educated chocolate palate, go further in your exploration. As you would with wine pairings, see what works with what.

We’ve provided some guidelines, but before you start, the rules are:

 
 
TEA WITH DARK CHOCOLATE

Dark chocolate also calls for a hearty black tea. The aforementioned Assam, English Breakfast, and Masala Chai work here.

But for adventure, try:

 
Here’s more information on single origin chocolate flavors.
 
 
TEA WITH MILK CHOCOLATE

Milk chocolate should be paired with a hearty black tea that takes milk.

 
 
TEA WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE

White chocolate is milky, often with caramel notes. These teas both compare and contrast:

Bonbons and chocolate bars and bark can be flavored with particular seasonings, but single-origin chocolate bars carry the flavors of their particular origins.

When we say a chocolate bar has, say, a profile of “red fruits,” it doesn’t mean that raspberries have been added to it. Rather, the beans are produced in that particular area. Here’s more about single origin chocolate flavors.

But whether the red fruits—or citrus, or coffee, or other flavors—is inherent to the bean or an added flavor, the pairing strategy is the same.

 
 
SUPPORTING INFORMATION

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*For food geeks: Most of the tea grown is the original Chinese tea plant, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, known for thousands of years. The only other known variety, the larger-leaf Assam plant (C. sinensis var. assamica), was observed by a Scottish explorer. It was sent to Calcutta There, for classification and the plant was finally identified as a variety of Camellia sinensis, but different from the Chinese plant. While most of the tea grown in the world is Camellia sinensis, Assam is the largest tea-growing region in the world. The region is extremely hot and humid, which contributes to Assam’s unique malty taste. Darjeeling, also an Indian-grown tea, grows in the highlands and is the original Camellia sinensis varietal.

†Oolong is semi-fermented or semi-oxidized (semi-green) tea that falls between green and black tea on the fermentation continuum (black tea ferments for two to four hours; for oolong, the fermentation process is interrupted in the middle).

‡Pu-erh is a special category of tea from Yunnan province of China. The tea is fermented and aged so that the flavors and aromas are very earthy. Pu-erh teas are available in black, brick green, oolong, and white. Here’s more about it.
 
 
 

Since childhood, our favorite part of a birthday cake has been the buttercream roses.

No matter whose cake it was, we had to have a slice with a rose.

You too?

Then Valentine’s Day is your opportunity to practice piping frosting roses.

Do we have to mention, you get to eat all the “learning mistakes?”

(We don’t want to demotivate you, but tutorials often recommend that beginners work with Crisco until ready to take on frosting. Rationale: You can put the Crisco flowers back into the can and re-use it. Bah!)

There are numerous tutorials on YouTube. We’ve included two below:

 
If you don’t have a piping set and don’t want to buy one until you’re sure you want to pursue the craft, see if you can borrow one.

People often have a set they rarely use (we have two sets!).
 

HAVE A PIPING PARTY

You can turn piping flowers into a friends-and-family event.

 
If you’d like to make the chocolate cupcakes with pink roses (top photo), here’s the recipe.

There’s chardonnay in the frosting!
 
WHAT NEXT?

If you really get into it, pick up a copy of The Contemporary Buttercream Bible.

After you master roses, there’s an entire garden of frosting flowers to pursue—from anemones, sweet peas and ranunculus to billy balls (like pom moms), succulents and sunflowers.

We found the chart below on Pinterest, attributed to the Instagram account of My Sister Bakes.

(Attention social media gods: We need a reliable system for attribution so the originators can get credited.)
 
NEED INSPIRATION?

Here it is: Envision a cupcake party you created, with these different buttercream flowers.

Yes you can! Start practicing, and if you need an incentive, have a cupcake piping party.[1] Photo courtesy Kendall-Jackson. [2] Photo courtesy My Cake School. [3] Photo courtesy The Sugar Fairy | Pinterest. [4] Photo courtesy Taste Made. [5] Get serious with a copy of The Contemporary Buttercream Bible (photo courtesy David & Charles).

It’s even easier to frost a cupcake:

[1] [2] [3] The Valentine gift box from VineBox, with artisan chocolate bars from Ritual Chocolate.

There’s no need leave home to get them. Just click below to order these online.
1. FOR THE WINE DRINKER: A WINE & CHOCOLATE PAIRING

VineBox is a monthly wine-by-the-glass subscription service; but for Valentine’s Day, it has teamed up with artisan chocolatier Ritual Chocolates to offer gift box that anyone can order.

Three red wines have been paired with two different 75% cacao origin chocolate bars, from Belize and Madagascar.

The wines include a Chianti from Tuscany, a Crozes-Hermitage from the Rhone Valley of France, and a Don Paolo from the Pompeii area of southern Italy.

Beautifully packaged—you’ll want to repurpose the empty box or wine vials—the gift includes two separate boxes, with a total of

 
Both boxes are $69 at VineBox.com; shipping is included.
 
 
For More Wine & Chocolate Pairings

Check out THE NIBBLE’s favorite pairings, and our master pairing chart.

Here’s a guide to pairing sparkling wines with chocolate.

Here’s how to pair wine with chocolate desserts and other desserts.

This herbal blend from one of our favorite artisan blenders combines red rooibos, baby rose buds and petals, marigold petals, almonds and saffron (a well known aphrodisiac).

Whether hot or iced, we guarantee the recipient will love it. A four-ounce tin is $16 at Tay Tea.

The company has another rooibos blend we love, with bits of Belgian dark chocolate and peppermint, called Better Than Sex.
 

3. ORGANIC TRUFFLE HONEY

Many truffle-flavored products are flavored with a chemical approximation of truffle flavor and aroma.

But this jar of Acacia honey, certified USDA organic, is flavored with real white truffle pieces.

We love dipping it by the spoon from the jar; but more genteel uses include:

 
Truffle honey turns something simple into something joyous.

Get yours from Murray’s Cheese, $26.99 for a 4.25-ounce jar of heaven.

[4] Lovers’ Tea from Tay Tea is an elegant herbal blend. [5] Honey in a perfect marriage with truffles, from Da Rosario.

[1] Cut heart shapes for Valentine’s Day (photo courtesy Kavemania | Facebook). [2] Use cookie cutters to create special designs (photo courtesy Martha Stewart and [3] SXC). [4] These artisan marshmallows are delicious, but too tall and pillowy to cut into shapes (photo The Nibble).

HOW TO CUT MARSHMALLOWS

Instead, use sharp kitchen scissors. Dip them in warm water, or use a paper towel to apply a very thin coat of neutral cooking oil, like canola or grapes.

You can try both methods to see which you prefer.

Then, snip away and use the smaller pieces.

Slices can be placed into petal designs. If your palate and doesn’t like supermarket marshmallows (or prefer vegan marshmallows, sugar-free marshmallows, etc.), this is also the way to get mini marshmallows.
 
WAYS TO USE MARSHMALLOWS

Beyond garnishing hot chocolate, you can:

 
MAKE YOUR OWN MARSHMALLOW DESIGNS

It’s easy to make flatter marshmallows in the shapes you like, as special garnishes. Use the marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

We adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. The process is the same if you want regular size marshmallows. Just use fill a baking pan to the height you want, and cut the marshmallows into the size and shape you like.

Ingredients

 
Plus

 
Preparation

1. SPRAY the baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper and spray the parchment. Set aside.

2. ADD the water to the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle with gelatin and let the mixture soften (about 5 minutes).

3. PLACE the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the second 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Remove lid; then cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the syrup reaches 238°F (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.

5. POUR the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand uncovered at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

6. CUT: Coat a 1- or 2-inch snowflake-shaped cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent it from sticking. Cut out individual marshmallows as possible, re-spraying the cookie cutter as needed. Use the marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. If they become hard, pop them in the microwave for 2-3 seconds (not longer or they’ll begin to melt).
 
USING MARSHMALLOWS FOR KITCHEN TASKS

A marshmallow can stop ice cream cones from dripping, soften brown sugar, steady tapers in candle holders, and more.

Plus, tips to keep them soft, unstick th em and freeze them, and Check ‘em out.
 
THE HISTORY OF MARSHMALLOWS

The ancient Egyptians were the first to use sap from the root of the marsh mallow, a swamp plant, to make candy. (It was also used medicinally.)

Here’s the history of marshmallows.

[2] Jasmine-scented tea (photo courtesy Par Avion Tea).

[3] Earl Grey Extra Bold has more bergamot flavor (photo © Twinings).

[4] A bergamot orange: a sour orange popular for marmalade and flavoring (photo © Clove Garden).

Earl Grey is one of America’s most popular flavored teas, a Keemun base flavored with a splash of bergamot oil, the latter pressed from the peel of the bergamot sour orange from southern Italy.

The tea is named for Charles Grey (1764-1845), the second Earl Grey. A distinguished aristocrat, he served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1830 to 1834.
 
 
WHO INVENTED EARL GREY TEA?

There are different legends to explain how the tea recipe came to bear the Earl’s name.

According to the one told by the Grey family, the tea was specially blended for Lord Grey by a Chinese mandarin*, at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, England. The Earl never visited China.

The mandarin particularly chose bergamot to offset the preponderance of lime in the estate’s well water.

Lady Grey, a political hostess, used it to entertain in London. She had her tea blended at Twinings, beginning in 1931.

The blend proved so popular that Lady Grey was asked if it could be purchased by others. This is how Twinings came to market “Earl Grey” as a type of flavored tea.

The Greys (ostensibly lacking good business advice) did not to register the trademark. As a result, they have never received a penny from the worldwide sales.

However, they are sporting about it: Today’s boxes are signed by the current Earl Grey.

Traditionally, “Earl Grey” was made from black teas, but tea companies have since begun to offer Earl Grey in other varieties as well, such as green and oolong, along with dual-note flavors, such as the new varieties from Twinings.
 
 
TWININGS NEW EARL GREY BLENDS

Twinings North America has added to its line of Earl Grey black teas with the introduction of three new blends:

 
Stephen Twining, the tenth-generation manager of Twinings, commented:

“Lavender and jasmine compliment the bold flavor of bergamot. Extra Bold is perfect for Earl Grey lovers who crave an intensified, more vibrant taste. We know these new blends will resonate with a new generation of tea drinkers.”

In addition to enjoying the teas at home, you can visit the gardens at Howick Hall, the home of Earl Grey, and have tea in the Easrl Grey Tea House.

Here’s more information.
 
 
DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEA TERMS?

Take a look at our fully illustrated Tea Glossary, one of the most popular of our 100 food glossaries.

*In imperial China, a mandarin was bureaucrat scholar in service of the government.