Herbal tea can accompany cheese, but it helps to treat the pairing as a small tasting rather than assume every cheese will suit every infusion. Strength, salt, creaminess and tartness all influence what happens in the mouth.
Begin with a mild cheese
Choose a small piece of a familiar mild cheese and a plainly brewed tea. A citrus-like lemongrass infusion is one possible starting point. Taste each alone before combining them, so you can tell what changed.
If the cheese overwhelms the tea, try a smaller bite before changing the brew. Preparing an infusion far beyond its directions is not the only way to make a pairing work.
Explore a tart contrast
Hibiscus can create a different effect alongside a creamy cheese. Some people enjoy the contrast; others may find the combination too sharp. Try it with the actual cheese you plan to serve rather than relying on a general recommendation.
A very salty or strongly matured cheese introduces another level of intensity. Keep that for a second comparison once you know how the tea behaves with something gentler.
Build a manageable board
Two teas and two cheeses are enough for a useful tasting. Offer plain crackers and water, and keep chutneys or fruit separate at first. Otherwise you may end up judging a sweet chutney-and-cheese combination without noticing much tea.
Label the cheese and check ingredients and dietary requirements for guests. A herbal drink does not make every accompanying food suitable for everyone.
Write down your favourite actual combination: the named cheese, the tea and any addition you enjoyed. The aim is a pairing you would serve again, not proving that tea must replace another drink at every cheese board.
Related reading: How to Host a Herbal Tea Tasting at Home.
Explore our free Herbal Tea Wellness Guide for more about K&M Herbs. For a product question, contact us.