So, you have just bought one of our tea caramels and are now thinking what do I put with it! Other than the usual suspects of it being great for a cake filler, topper for ice cream, stirred through yoghurt, or paired with chocolate or cookies (which are all perfectly good uses for it, I might add!) We also recognise our caramel is a little bit different with its distinct taste of tea, so no doubt it will pair nicely with some out of the ordinary ways of thinking. Here we have you covered with some uses you may not have even thought of and might like to try with our tea caramel.
Cheese and Crackers
Looking for an extra element for your crackers and cheese, then divert your eyes to your little jar of tea caramel sitting in your fridge. What makes our tea caramel work perfectly with your next cheese platter is because one, the gooey sweetness of caramel complements the varied saltiness of cheese (think of the addicting sweet and salty flavour combo), and secondly, certain tea flavours pair very nicely with a range of cheeses. You may try any one of our tea caramels with any type of cheese of your choosing, as you honestly cannot go wrong. Below we will list some of our favourite flavour combinations that you may also want to try.
Crimson Bliss (Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea Caramel)– With the light and earthy hint of Da Hong Pao tea, this caramel goes nicely with creamy cheeses like Gorgonzola blue cheese, Camembert, and Brie.
Goddess of Unearthly Delight (Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea Caramel)– A moderately roasted oolong mixed with nutty and caramel undertones, couple this caramel with rich creamy cheeses like Camembert, Brie, and Crescenza.
I Dream of Honey (Yunnan Black Tea Caramel)– The rich and malty flavour of Yunnan black tea helps to pair this caramel with Swiss, Gouda, Cheddar, and aged goat cheese.
Popcorn
Talking about sweet and salty makes me think of popcorn, and what goes best with popcorn? No other than caramel! Give your movie night a special twist by heating some of your tea caramel into a saucepan and then drizzle over your popcorn. Wait until it cools (if you can), and you are left with a sweet and salty popcorn with a hint of tea. Impress your partner, friends, and family with your own unique flavour of popcorn.
Meat Glaze
Caramel does not have to always be used for sweets. In fact, it can actually make for a really nice glaze. Heat up some of your caramel sauce in the saucepan and add the other ingredients you wish to use for your glaze. Once complete, baste your grilled meat in the caramel glaze and continue to grill. Tea is also known to tenderise, making your tea caramel glaze perfect for a caramelised and tender meat. Upon serving, you may like to drizzle leftover sauce on top of your meat, or use it as a dipping sauce. The sticky caramel mixed with tea will give your glazed meat a depth of savoury sweetness that your taste buds will thank you for.
Pumpkin Soup
When roasted, pumpkin has a sweet, caramelised taste that makes it a no brainer as to why pumpkin is often used in desserts. The sweetness of caramel accompanies and elevates the natural sweet delight of pumpkin, making them a power combination. Adding your tea caramel to anything pumpkin related is going to be a winner. This is why we suggest you give pumpkin soup and our tea caramel a try together. In particular, we recommend our I Dream of Honey made from Yunnan black tea leaves, as its malty flavour works exceptionally well with pumpkin. Heat some of our tea caramel and drizzle it on top of your pumpkin soup to take it to the next level.
Hot Chip Dip
Maybe it is the Australian in me, but it is no secret that we love our hot chips. Normally covered in chicken salt, but why not dipped in caramel sauce too! The crunch of the potato enveloped in a good dollop of tea caramel sounds pretty dang good to me. Plus, we all know how versatile potato is, so there is no way you will be left disappointed. But please do not stop at hot chips, use your tea caramel dipping sauce for wherever your imagination takes you.
