If you love tea, chances are you love it best with the perfect accompaniment to your teacup, whether crumpet, scone, or biscuit. But what makes the ideal tea-and-food combination?
To find out, we talked to experts in the food industry and found out what foods go best with some of the most popular kinds of tea!
With this handy guide to pairing your favorite teas with the right food products, you’ll always have something to eat when you sit down with your favorite drink!
Here is what to eat with tea. Enjoy!
Sandwiches
When it comes to tea time and thinking about what to eat with tea, there’s nothing more classic than a sandwich.
While enjoying a spot of Earl Grey or a refreshing green tea, sandwiches are the perfect complement.
There are endless possibilities when filling your sandwich, from cucumber and cream cheese to smoked salmon and dill.
So, have a delicious sandwich next time you’re enjoying a cup of tea.
Brownies
When it comes to tea, there are endless possibilities for what to eat with it. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, there’s bound to be a perfect complement to your cuppa. Brownie is one of the options. It has an excellent taste that makes it perfect with tea.
Lemon Drizzle Cake
One of the most classic British tea-time snacks is lemon drizzle cake. This zesty and sweet cake perfectly accompanies a cup of Earl Grey or Darjeeling tea. Lemon drizzle cake mixes lemon juice and zest into a sponge cake batter and drizzles lemon syrup over the top of the cake while it’s still warm. Serve this cake with a dollop of clotted cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly indulgent treat.
Florentines
A Florentine is a thin, crisp biscuit usually made with almonds, candied fruit, and chocolate. It’s the perfect size for dunking in your tea, and its delicate flavor won’t overpower your drink. Plus, it looks pretty on a plate! When booking what to eat with tea, look no further.
Cupcakes
Delicious and moist, cupcakes are a classic treat that goes great with tea. Choose a light-flavored cupcake so it doesn’t overpower the tea. Vanilla is always a good choice. To impress your guests, try making your cupcakes from scratch. They’ll be sure to enjoy them with their tea!
Victoria Sponge
Are you looking for what to eat with tea? Victoria Sponge is the one for you. A Victoria sponge is a classic English cake perfect for afternoon tea. It is made with two layers of sponge cake, filled with jam and cream, and dusted with sugar.
A Victoria sponge is traditionally made with raspberry jam, but you can use any flavor. Serve your cake with a pot of tea, and enjoy!
Banana Bread
There’s nothing quite like a freshly brewed cup of tea. But what do you eat with it? If you’re looking for the perfect complement to your cuppa, look no further than banana bread. This delicious treat is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and pairs perfectly with various teas.
Plus, it’s easy to make! Mix some ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, and baking soda, and you’re good to go. So, next time you’re craving tea, reach for some banana bread, too.
Muffins
There are endless possibilities when it comes to what to eat with tea. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, there’s bound to be a perfect pairing. Muffins are among the options available. They have a flavor and taste that blends well with tea.
Macaroon
A cup of tea is not complete without a delicious macaroon! These little French cookies are the perfect bite-sized treat to enjoy with tea. Macaroons come in various flavors to pair perfectly with your favorite tea. Whether you like your tea sweet or savory, there is a macaroon for you. So, next time you sit down for a cup of tea, enjoy it with a delicious macaroon!
Fairy Cake
A fairy cake is a small sponge cake topped with icing and decorations like sprinkles. It can be store-bought or homemade and is often served at children’s birthday parties or afternoon tea.
When choosing a fairy cake to pair with your tea, look for one with light flavors, such as vanilla or lemon. These complement the sweet taste of tea well. Choose an orange or lemon-flavored cake if you do not like sugar in your food but still want something sweet. It won’t make the taste of your tea too intense.
Danish Pastry
There’s nothing like a freshly baked Danish pastry to go with your tea. The flaky, buttery dough pairs perfectly with Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea. If you’re feeling adventurous, pair your Danish with a cup of pu-erh tea. The earthy flavor of the pu-erh will perfectly complement the pastry’s sweetness.
Iced Bun
When looking for what to eat with tea, the iced bun is a classic accompaniment. They’re sweet and fluffy and have that perfect crispy and chewy crust. Plus, they’re easy to eat on the go. I like to get mine from my local bakery, but you can also find them at most supermarkets.
Tea Loaf Cake
A classic English tea loaf cake perfectly complements your afternoon cuppa. This cake is usually made with black tea, but you can use any tea.
The key to a good tea loaf cake is to let the tea infuse into the cake overnight so that the flavors meld together. I like to serve mine with a dollop of clotted cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
Bundt Cake
There’s nothing like a cup of tea and a slice of cake. But what kind of cake should you eat with your tea? We think bundt cake is the perfect complement to your cuppa.
Here’s why we love bundt cakes for tea time: They’re made for sharing, and not just because they’re in a handy shape that makes it easy to break them into equal pieces. They are rich in spices, nuts, fruits, chocolate, or other flavors that match your tea or coffee. Bundts can be made as big or small as desired. One large one will feed many people, while one small one will make just enough for two cups of steaming hot water–making them great for sharing!
Bundts are also simple to bake since they don’t require fancy piping work (you can find out how!).. Once cooled, bundts are easier than sheet cakes to transport home from bakeries because they have fewer crumbs.
Scotch Eggs
A Scotch egg typically consists of a soft-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried. While the dish is commonly associated with a pub lunch, it can also be a delicious accompaniment to afternoon tea.
When pairing Scotch eggs with tea, look for a light, refreshing blend like Earl Grey or Darjeeling. The tea will help cut through the dish’s richness and satisfy you.
Lamingtons
Lamingtons are the perfect complement to your cup of tea when thinking about what to eat with tea. They are light and fluffy, with a hint of sweetness in the icing. Plus, they are easy to make and can be made beforehand. Lamingtons also goes well with ice cream as an added dessert option.
Honey Toast
Or yeasted toast, as it’s called in some regions. Yeasted toast is usually served warm, so devour it before it cools down too much. And while you’re at it, why not add some jam?
Mousse
Regarding what to eat with tea, there are a few key things to remember. First, think about the type of tea you’re drinking. Is it light and delicate green tea? Rich and robust black tea? A fruity herbal blend? Once you’ve considered the type of tea, you can then move on to thinking about complementary flavors.
For example, a light and delicate green tea would pair well with a lemon mousse. At the same time, a rich and robust black tea with chocolate mousse would be delicious. So, remember these tips next time you plan to have tea. Choose the perfect food pairing for your cuppa!
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Regarding what to eat with tea, there’s nothing quite like a chocolate fudge cake. This rich, decadent cake complements your cuppa and will satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.
Plus, it’s easy to make and can be enjoyed any day. So go ahead and indulge yourself with a delicious chocolate fudge cake. Your taste buds will thank you!
Cheese Scones
Scones are a delicious and classic accompaniment to tea. They are quick and easy to make and can be savory or sweet. Cheese scones are delicious and pair perfectly with Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea.
To make cheese scones, combine self-rising flour, grated cheese, butter, milk, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and knead into a soft dough. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, and use a biscuit cutter to cut out scones. Place on a baking sheet at 200 degrees Celsius for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with butter and jam.
Chelsea Buns
There’s nothing like a freshly baked Chelsea bun to enjoy with your tea. The sweet, sticky buns are loaded with fruit and spices, making them the perfect complement to a cup of Earl Grey or Darjeeling. Plus, they’re easy to make at home so that you can enjoy them anytime!
Carrot Cake
There are endless possibilities for tea pairings. But one of our all-time favorite pairings is carrot cake with black tea. The sweetness of the cake pairs perfectly with the rich flavor of the tea, and together, they create a delicious and comforting experience. Plus, who doesn’t love a good slice of cake as what to eat with tea?
Biscotti
Biscotti are the perfect tea pairing because they are not too sweet and have a crunch that pairs well with the tannins in tea. They are also easy to eat with one hand. You can keep holding your cup of tea with the other.
Sausage Rolls
Sausage rolls are the perfect complement to your cuppa. They’re savory, filling, and have just the right flaky crust. Plus, they’re easy to eat with one hand, so you can keep holding your teacup.
When choosing a sausage roll, look for one with a good meat-to-pasta ratio. Be sure to get one with a bit of spice, as it’ll bring out the flavor of the tea.
Battenburg Cake
Battenburg cake is the perfect complement to your cuppa. Its light, fluffy texture pairs perfectly with the delicate flavor of the tea. Plus, the cake’s colorful layers add a touch of whimsy to your afternoon tea break.
To make your Battenburg cake, bake a pound cake and cut it into four equal pieces. Then, use food coloring to tint two pink and two blue pieces.
Next, stack the four pieces on each other, alternating between pink and blue. Finally, enjoy your lovely cake with Earl Grey or Darjeeling tea.
Whoopie Pies
A whoopie pie is the perfect complement to what to eat with tea. The sweetness of the cake offsets the bitterness of the tea, and the creamy filling ties everything together.
Plus, whoopie pies are just plain delicious. Here are a few tips for choosing the perfect whoopie pie to pair with your tea:
- Consider the flavor of your tea. If you’re drinking a floral or fruity tea, look for a whoopie pie with similar flavors. For example, try a lavender-lemon whoopie pie with Earl Grey tea.
- Think about texture.
Crackers
Crackers are the perfect complement to tea. They are light and airy, and they don’t compete with the delicate flavor of the tea. Plus, they taste-neutral, allowing the tea’s flavor to shine. Best of all, crackers are easy to find and usually inexpensive.
Here are some different types of crackers you can try out when you drink your next cup of tea:
- -Saltines -Triscuits -Wheat Thins -Ritz -Animal Crackers
Chips
While tea is delicious, sometimes you want something to nibble on with your cuppa. And what could be better than a nice plate of chips? Salty, crunchy, and savory chips perfectly complement a piping hot cup of tea.
Plus, they come in such wide varieties that you’ll surely find one (or several) you love. So next time you enjoy a cup of tea, don’t forget the chips!
