10 ways wine and tea are similar
Before I completed my tea master training in 2015, I knew more about wine than tea. I‘d been to a few wine appreciation classes and enjoyed a number of wine tastings. Ever since my training, I've been captivated by the similarities between tea and wine.
If you love wine, chances are you’ll appreciate high quality, specialty tea. And, if you want to reduce your alcohol intake, tea can be a great substitute for wine, particularly if you’re not sensitive to caffeine.
Here I explain why.
10 similarities between wine and tea
1. Botanical beveragesTea and wine are produced from plants. In tea, this is the plant genus Camellia with the variety Camellia Sinensis most commonly used in tea production. In wine, the genus is Vitis, with the Vitis Vinifera variety most heavily used in wine.
Both of these varieties have been crafted into sub-varieties or cultivars, each with distinct characteristics helpful to wine/tea production such as specific flavour notes or frost/pest resistance, for example.
Both plant species are also sensitive to climate – late frosts are problematic for grape and Spring tea leaf growth; and each needs pruning at the end of the season to generate a flourishing harvest the following season.
2. The terroir effect
The environment the plant grows in has a dramatic impact on the final flavour in your tea cup or wine glass. Soil, altitude, temperature, cloud cover, rainfall etc. all affect the chemical composition inside the grape and the tea leaf. Its these molecules that create the unique flavour of the beverage, along with processing techniques after harvest.
3. A shared, beautifully-complex flavour profile
Flavour in tea and wine is a fusion of the intelligence and creativity of nature and human.
There are so many variables in the environment the plant grows in (nature) and the way the grape/leaf is processed after harvest (human); which means there are almost infinite, unique combinations of flavour across different types of tea and wine.
When tasting wine and tea, there are thousands of flavour components you could possibly detect, evidenced by the specialist flavour wheels for both. Astringency via tannins, acidity, and bitterness from flavonoids feature in both. Body, mouthfeel and balance are all important features as is the presence of a lingering aftertaste that signifies a quality wine or tea.
4. The ceremony of serving
Wine and tea enthusiasts have a number of tools to help them create a ritual of preparing and serving, the experience of which elevates the appeal of these beverages.
In tea, a variable temperature kettle, a teapot, tea cup, scoop and scales are essential. Stemmed and fine rimmed wine glasses, a decanter, a special bottle opener called wine knife, and possibly a wine fridge and vacuum pump make up a wine lovers toolkit.
5. The long-lasting effect of natural stimulants
Stimulants are found in tea and wine. Caffeine, which is naturally present in tea, stimulates our nervous system - sharpening our mind, increasing concentration and reducing fatigue (1). Fermentation converts grape sugars into alcohol. When we drink wine, the alcohol makes our bodies produce extra dopamine, which stimulates our brain’s reward centres and makes us feel good (in the short term, anyway!). (2)
Unfortunately, both stimulants can have downsides and they continue to have an effect on us long after our final sip (so its important we're mindful about how much we drink and the effect it has on our body and mind).
6. Centuries-old cultural ties
Both beverages are ancient, with the earliest evidence of wine being recorded in Georgia in 6000BC (3) and the legend of tea stating its inception in 2737BC. Over thousands of years, wine and tea have been hugely influential in trade, used as medicine, in ceremonies, revered by emperors, satiated drinkers after a long journey or hard day’s work, and have been central in lubricating relationships between people in social situations.
7. Famous regions synonymous with their beverage
Fujian Wuyi Mountains and Yunnan province in China; Darjeeling and Assam in India; Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka, Uji in Japan. There are many well-known tea regions across the world that provide incredible tea, refined over decades.
In the same vein, top wine regions may be even more famous than tea. Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne in France, Tuscany in Italy, Napa Valley in the USA, Barossa Valley in Australia, Marlborough in New Zealand, for example.
These regions often focus on one specific style of tea or wine, which they have become famous for.
8. The benefits of aging
Both wine and tea can improve when aged correctly. Interestingly, the ‘darker styles’ of each beverage - red wine, and black and dark tea - often to lend themselves better to aging, particularly over a longer period of time. Storage when aging is important for both and the conditions needed are similar – cool, stable temperatures, low humidity and low light.
9. Food pairing perfection
A successful food and beverage pairing elevates the entire flavour experience – enhancing the flavour and texture of both the food and the beverage. Because of their complex, multi-layered flavour profile, wine and tea are perfect accompaniments to food. The basic principles of wine and food pairing - ‘like for like’ flavours, matching by body, tannic with fat, etc.- also apply to tea and food pairings.
Where tea has a slight edge, I think, is its heat – creating an even more hedonistic experience when paired with fatty and sweet foods that can melt in your mouth, such as cheese and chocolate.
10. A spiritual tasting experience
When I take my first sip of a good Australian Shiraz or Chianti from Tuscany, I feel transported. The flavour in my mouth tells a story, it opens up a world that lives within that wine glass. A well-prepared, high quality specialty tea has the same effect on me (as does a good single malt whisky).
Over centuries, wine and tea have both been used to enhance spiritual experiences, and if you’re a tea or win enthusiast, you can appreciate why. The transportive nature of these special beverage is evidence of their intricacy and sophistication.
A friend of mine, Thorsten Kuehler, who is a Certified Sommelier and conscious wine coach says:
“For me, wine and tea are the most emotional agricultural products I can think of. They create a multi-sensual experience and even trigger memories of places we’ve been to in the past or of people that we shared time with. Taking time to consciously indulge in the moment when drinking a cup of premium tea or a glass of handcrafted fine wine is a way to be more present in our fast paced lives. It is an invitation to tune in with ourselves and celebrate what nature and passionate producers have given us. It is a wonderful way to reconnect with ourselves and enhance our lives."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
~ Anna
To learn more about wine, follow Thorsten on Instagram.
To learn more about tea, read my About Tea page or browse my premium tea collection.
Notes and citations:
The beautiful header image is thanks to Maja Petric on Unsplash
(2) Alcohol and your mood: the highs and lows of drinking (accessed 15 10 2024)
(3). History of wine. (2024, October 6). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wine