Are You Searching For An Unforgettable Gastronomic Christmas Experience This Year?

We have a few suggestions that may surprise you!! Let’s check our latest tea blog written by Camellia’s Co-Founder Lubna Madan.

This is my favourite time of the year as Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas fast approaching; it makes me wonder how can I make this festivity extra special whilst living through covid-19 restrictions? For those who know me, understand that nothing excites me more than drinking tea all day paired with lots of delicious food!!!  What gives me even more pleasure, is to share tea and food pairing tips with delicious tea cocktail recipes to give your Christmas that extra special factor!!

Welcoming your guests – Cheese and Tea Pairing

A lovely way to start the celebration is to delight your guests with an attractive display of cheeses accompanied by delicious hot tea to bring out the wonderful complexity of flavours. I personally love aged Gouda and find that it pairs well with Pu-erh tea. When I combine the two, my taste buds are filled with earthy, sweet and pungent notes. Pu-erh is an aged tea with very little astringency offering a rich and deep body. Generally, pu-erh’s leathery, earthy notes complement creamy cheeses.  

Tea and Alcohol – Pu-erh Tea Cocktail

If you prefer an alcoholic variation, then I suggest a concoction straight from our recipe book, combining gin and Pu-erh tea. I like to make a large quantity of the gin and tea infusion to have over the festive period and for that, you need to steep 10grms of Pu-erh tea leaves with 500ml Gin. Let the mixture sit for 2 hours and then strain. If you prefer a stronger flavour, then infuse it for longer or even over-night.

The Lunch 

Throwing a Christmas lunch is about creating meaningful memories and not to mention, having fun and laughter with your dearest ones. Small touches make a big impact, such as a colour theme or a floral display for the table. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, I start planning in advance, but one thing that never changes is my favourite roast turkey recipe accompanied with a beautiful blooming jasmine flowering tea ball served in a large wine glass to create an extra beautiful experience. I find that the delicate flavours of jasmine balance the herby chicken wonderfully. I always gift a tea ball to all my guests so that they can take away the experience and try it in their own homes.

Tea and Alcohol – Berry Bellini

For an alcoholic option, I like to serve a flute of prosecco or champagne with a small pinch of Very Berry tea to bring out subtle sweet and tart notes to the glass. Simply, add a pinch of tea to the glass and slowly top with your choice of bubbly. As it sits on the table, observe how it changes colour to pink and eventually red.

The Dessert

I love a traditional Christmas and can’t do without a Christmas pudding and mini mince pies to finish off the hearty feast. A Christmas pudding is very similar to a fruitcake. The flavours and texture are deep, dark and dense and is served with a rich and creamy sauce. Far East Tea or Christmas Tea is bursting with festive flavours of cinnamon, orange and vanilla. A Christmas pudding, or mince pies with a cup of Far East Tea or Christmas Tea, is simply one of the best gastronomic pleasures I have ever had and to continue this heavenly experience, I repeat the process with leftovers over the next coming days!

To Finish – Probiotic in a Cup

Before your guests leave, I like to brew up a cup of probiotic, Happy Tummy tea to help with digestion, bloating and that overall stuffed feeling. Believe me you will be loved for it!! Happy Tummy Tea has been designed with star anise, orange peel, liquorice, rose hips and refreshing spearmint; nothing helps me more than this wonderful infusion to settle down the digestive system.

I would love to hear from you with your favorite tea and food pairings for the holiday season. Let me know in the comments down below.