Pairing food with wine or other spirits is something most of us like to leave to the experts — afraid to make "wrong" choices and seem foolish.

Yet the largest difference between the general consumer and a pairing expert is simply experience. It takes time and practice to identify and describe the flavors, textures, and aromas we experience when dining and pair them with complementary items. Every fragrance or sensation — no matter how light — will give you a richer experience and enable you to make more specific choices. Build your knowledge by beginning with broad descriptions and narrowing down to specific observations.

Of course, a good vocabulary doesn't hurt. Use the flavor descriptions in our chart below for with initial suggestions in your food pairings, or create your own based on your own palate's experience. Trust yourself to pinpoint the wonderful aromas and textures of our teas. The broad range of "notes" in any particular tea give you many avenues to explore successfully.

Remember when you select an item for a particular quality, to seek a pair opposite your flavor selection. Similar tastes will not bring out the qualities of either selection, while opposites will give your palate something to identify and savor in each item.