A Match Made in Heaven With Black Tea And Chocolate

A cup of rich black tea is the perfect pairing for a chocolate dessert, whether you’re baking a cake, whipping up a pudding, or spooning over a slice of fudge brownie. But the addition of black tea goes far beyond just being a drinkable companion: It intensifies cocoa flavors in baked goods, adds a subtle sweetness, and can even help tame sugar.

The primary flavor notes of black tea—bitter and roasty—are accentuated by the deep dark flavors in cocoa. But black tea can also be used to tame sweetness, as its bitterness cuts through the intense sweetness of most dessert recipes. Adding a few teaspoons of instant tea powder to chocolate recipes is a quick and easy way to increase the intensity of chocolate, and make it sweeter without adding extra sugar.

If you want to try baking with tea, be sure to use high-quality loose-leaf tea. This is essential for obtaining the full and robust flavor that you are looking for when cooking with tea. In this chocolate cake recipe from Beginning with Bergamot, loose Earl Grey tea is stirred into buttery cake batter to enhance its chocolatey goodness and to give it a unique floral essence. This recipe makes a dozen cupcakes and bakes for 23 minutes. In the frosting, Cooks Illustrated recommends heating 1/4 cup of cream to 125 degrees. Off heat, steep 2 T of Earl Grey tea for 10 minutes. When cool, mix with room temperature cream cheese and powdered sugar to create a frosting that’s perfectly flavored and smooth.

Another way to use black tea in a dessert is to mix it into the cake or pudding batter. This simple recipe for chocolate tea cake uses the brewed tea in place of milk and adds a pinch of vanilla extract for added flavor. The brewed tea helps the cake stay moist and tender, while the vanilla adds a hint of sweetness to counteract the bitterness of the dark chocolate.

A rich and decadent dessert is a surefire way to impress your special someone on Valentine’s Day, or any day for that matter. A rich chocolate cake is topped with a layer of fresh figs and whipped cream, then garnished with sprinklings of nut brittle to add texture and crunch. Did you know that black tea and rich chocolate desserts are a match made in heaven?

This vegan pot de creme is a delicious and easy-to-make treat for a special occasion. It uses instant black tea powder to boost the flavor of the chocolate and give it a nutty, chocolaty punch. The addition of chipotle pepper adds a slight smokiness that pairs well with the rich and creamy chocolate.

A chocolate tart is the perfect way to end a romantic dinner or to share with a friend. This chocolate tart from The Sweet Spot uses a homemade berry jam to add a layer of fruity sweetness to the dark chocolate filling. This recipe calls for raspberry and strawberry jams, but any other berries or a combination of berries will do the trick.