Exploring the Surprising Similarities Between Wine and Tea

Wine and tea may seem like vastly different beverages, but they share more similarities than you might think. In this blog, we'll take a deep dive into the world of wine and tea, exploring the fascinating parallels between these two drinks. From the terroir that affects their taste to the ritual of enjoying each drink, we'll uncover the surprising similarities between wine and tea.

Wine and tea growing are ancient practices that have been part of our culture for thousands of years and the know-how and terroir of the plantation have a huge impact on the final drink. 

Given all these similarities, it was about time we added the best Indian tea to our great online wine store, for all those wine lovers who are looking for the sober option of wine. In this blog, I´ll explain the similarities between wine and tea and how to combine both drinks, so you can compare the best tea and the best wine. We have added authentic tea from India so you can order tea online, together with our delicious wines. 

The Importance of Terroir in Wine and Tea

It is well-known that the terroir of the wine has a huge impact on the quality of the bottle (you can read the article here about the importance of terroir in the taste of wine). Of course, the terroir of the tea is also very important. 

For example, a Cabernet Sauvignon red wine from France, Chile or South Africa will have a completely different taste, even though it comes from the same grape, due to the differences in the terroir. 

For tea, you can do the same test. You can taste white tea from two different countries and you will see the same result. White tea from India, from the Imperial slopes of the Himalayas, will have a completely different taste than white tea produced in China, in the Fujian province. 

Names of the Wines and Names of the Teas

Many names in the wine world come from grape varieties, like for example Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot. Others are named after wine regions. For example, Beaujolais wine is named after the Beaujolais region but is normally made of Gamay grapes. This is also the case for Chablis wine, which is normally made of 100% Chardonnay grapes, from the Chablis region in France. 

For tea, it´s the same concept. Many teas are named after the tea-producing region, like Darjeeling tea, a town in India´s West Bengal State, in the foothills of the Himalayas mountains.

Tea can also be named after the way that it has been produced, like Matcha tea. Matcha powder is composed of green tea leaves that have been stone ground into powder, which is very delicate. This powder is then sifted and whisked with hot water, making it more expensive than other types of teas. 

The Ritual of Winemaking and Tea-Making

There are a lot of similarities between wine a tea production. Whereas wine comes from the grapes of the Vitis vinifera vine, the tea leaves come from the Camellia sinensis plant. 

For wine, there are over 10,000 grapes, but winemakers only make wines with 300 grapes (e.g Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay). For the tea is something similar, tea makers are only interested in two varieties, Camellia sinensis sinensis and Camellia sinensis assamica.

As in wine, the production process determines the final colour of the tea; for example, black, green or white. So, the colour of the tea comes from the tea production process and the vision of the tea producer. 

In wine, the winemakers can decide how they want to make their wines and what colour should the wine have. For example, in the winemaking process of rose wine, the colour of the rose wine is determined by how long the winemaker leaves the skins during the fermentation process. 

The Art of Tasting and Pairing Wine and Tea

We all know that food and wine are a perfect combination. Depending on the food that you are serving, a type of wine or another will be best paired to enhance the full flavour of the dish (you can read this article to know more about food pairing). Food and wine pairing are one of the best ways to enjoy the culinary experience. On the contrary, a badly chosen wine can have a bad effect on the final food experience. 

With tea, it is the same thing. Even though tea and food pairing rules are not as strict as wine pairing rules, there are some things to consider. Drinking tea, like drinking wine, with food, can enhance and balance the food flavours of the dish.

A very important rule to consider when pairing tea and food is the water temperature of the tea. A warm tea will enhance and accentuate the flavours of the dishes, whereas drinking tea at a lower temperature will have a soothing effect. The flavour of the tea will enhance and prolong the flavour of the food.  

Similarities Between Wines and Tea

In this section, we will explain how to combine Indian tea flavours with our delicious wines. Also, we will talk about the tea's health benefits, stress-relieving tea varieties and wight loss tea. All of the teas that we mention are vegan tea and fair trade tea. 

Darjeeling Tea: Darjeeling tea comes from the Darjeeling region in India. This detox tea is bright and crisp. With floral and fruity notes, this tea has aromas of orange blossom and muscatel grapes. The Darjeeling tea is considered the “Champagne” of the teas. Only teas that come from the Darjeeling region can be considered Darjeeling teas. 

The wine similarity option would be Champagne Canard Duchêne. With fruity and fresh aromas, this fresh champagne would be the wine in comparison to the Darjeeling tea. 

Turmeric tea: Turmeric tea has a very earthy taste, with a slight touch of spice. Our healthy turmeric Spiced Herbal Vegan Tea contains Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and black pepper. A similar wine of Turmeric tea would be a nice and fresh albariño, with its mineral and fruity notes and the touch of spiciness. The similar wine would be Terras Gauda is an excellent white wine from Rias Baixas, in the northern part of Spain, Galicia. 

Oolong Tea: The Oolong tea benefits include fat burning and weight loss. Apart from that, it is a delicious tea renowned for its subtle flavours, with woody sweetness and floral notes. The wine sibling would be a medium-bodied soft Pinot Noir, with silky notes. 

Imperial Himalayan White Tea: Very elegant and fine white tea from the slopes of the Himalayas, this tea is ideal to have in the evening. This tea is great for improving the skin health. For a similar wine bottle, it would be Herdade Dos Grous Reserva, Vinho Alentejano from Portugal. It is a blend of Antão Vaz, Verdelho and Viognier grapes. 

Earl Grey Tea: Earl Grey tea is considered a tea for digestion due to its great benefits on the digestive system, and its anti-inflammatory properties. If you are looking for the similar wine, we recommend Marques de Murrieta Reserva,  a renowned Spanish wine from the Rioja region. This excellent wine it´s a blend of Tempranillo,Graciano, Mazuelo and Grenache grapes. 

Mint Melody Green Tea: A stress-relieving tea variety, this green tea is carefully blended with spearmint and peppermint leaves. This sleep-improving tea is great to have it at the evening. This fresh mint tea is the sober´s sibling of Chardonnay Pago de Cirsus, an excellent white wine that has aged in oak barrels. 

Despite their differences, wine and tea share a deep connection that goes beyond their respective cultures. Through this exploration, we hope to have inspired a newfound appreciation for these two worldly beverages. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a tea enthusiast, we encourage you to take a closer look at the similarities between these drinks and discover the beauty in their shared complexities.

In our wine store, you will find a selection of authentic tea, with different tea varieties, tea blends and flavours. In case you are looking for tea for digestion, tea for weight loss or cooking with tea, do not hesitate to order tea online from our store. 

See you later, wine lovers, 

Victoria Estrada