THE CHEESE BOARD IS A STAGE
AND ALL THE CONDIMENTS MERELY PLAYERS
I first had the pleasure of meeting Belinda Hellyer in 2019 at CheeseFest&Ferment.
Belinda started Brewed By Belinda in 2015. she is both a Certified Tea Blender and Certified Tea Master with a background in the arts as a performer, producer and arts manager. Brewed By Belinda is the place where her two loves – tea and the arts – pash! With that kind of passion, when she approached me with her gorgeous teas (tea being fermented, of course!), I did not hesitate to bring her on board!
During lockdown, after drinking more than my fair share of Belinda’s tea (Creativitea is my fave!), the thought occurred that the beautiful floral notes would pair exceptionally well with some of our cheeses.
Often relegated to use as a pick me up, or drowned in milk, I feel the journey artisan tea mirrors that of artisan cheese. Delicate, complex, delightful flavours, under appreciated in many ways, with the capability to leave you gobsmacked after a sip or bite thinking “what was that!”.
When cheese and tea are paired together, it is a cataclysm of flavour and emotion. Belinda and I spent an afternoon ‘brewing and chewing’. We put our heads together and shouldered the difficult task of eating cheese and drinking tea, laughing and sharing stories. We emerged with four Cheese and Tea pairings that are sure to wow your tastebuds, and definitely deserve an encore.
For many who do not drink alcohol, this is a must to experience your cheese in a totally different light!