Fresh Cup Magazine, providing specialty coffee and tea professionals with unique insight into the trends, ideas, products and people that shape their world.
Issue link: http://freshcup.epubxp.com/i/232179
THE WHOLE LEAF by Ahmed Rahim CY NTH IA M EA DOR S The magical pairing of tea and chocolate C hocolate has been captivating the palates of humans molé) and familiarity (the simple, sweet taste of your favorite around the world for centuries—first in its raw cacao childhood treat). Americans are also increasingly recognizing form in the Amazon, and now in everything from chocolate for its energizing and healthful benefits; dark chocosweet candy bars to culinary dishes and myriad desserts. The late is known for its antioxidant properties and ability to proscientific Latin name for chocolate, duce feelings of satiety. Anecdotally, Theobroma cacao, actually translates chocolate is also celebrated for its to "food of the gods." The qualities ability to ease feelings of sadness. Chocolate, like tea, comes in many varietals and that make chocolate such a perNumi launched its first organhas many different characteristics, both in taste fect pairing for food and sweets— ic chocolate tea blend, Chocolate its rich flavor, earthiness, depth Pu-erh, in 2008, with the rollout and in the ways it complements other ingredients. of character and subtle bite—also of our original line of pu-erh tea Whether the dominant flavor of any given chocomake it an ideal complement to blends. Pu-erh is a fermented tea late is earthy, sweet, bitter or vegetal, the purpose many types of tea. grown on ancient 500-year-old As Numi Organic Tea's co-founder organic tea trees in Yunnan, China. of a pairing is to either enhance or complement and CEO, as well as the chief alcheIt has a bold, earthy flavor and is that flavor quality. mist behind Numi's blends, I love smooth with slightly sweet hints the versatility of chocolate, both for of malt. Pu-erh's rich earthiness is its uses in tea and in pairings that go a natural pairing for the matching beyond the average chocolate bar. Almost everyone, especially characteristics of chocolate. Both chocolate and pu-erh have in the United States, loves the taste of chocolate; it evokes feel- strong, deep flavors and an exotic richness that is unsurpassed ings of both indulgence (think rich desserts or exotic dishes like by other ingredients. The blend also contains cinnamon, vanilla 56 Fresh Cup Magazine | freshcup.com