There are four main ways to use tea in cooking:
① roast or sauté fresh tea and food together to create tea dishes;
② add food to boiling tea for stewing or braising;
③ grind tea into powder to add to dishes or to make tea desserts;
④ use tea to flavor foods by smoking them.
Different types of tea have different flavors and aromas, which makes them an ideal choice for seasoning dishes.
For example, mild Longjing tea can be used to make mushroom soup, smoky Da Hong Pao tea can be used to season roasted fish, and rich Pu'erh tea can be used to make sweet and sour ribs.
In addition, tea can be used to prepare desserts and pastries. For example, mixing green tea with cream and sugar can make a soft and fragrant green tea cake. Using black tea in the preparation of cakes and biscuits can also add a unique aroma and flavor to desserts.
