A little while ago it occurred to me it might be fun to create tea pairings for gothic novels. A cup of tea and a book are classic combination, but what if you carefully selected your tea to match the aesthetic and vibes of whatever you were reading? Think of me as your tea sommelier, helping you create an even more immersive experience.
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker
Not the original, but in many ways the most significant gothic vampire story, Dracula tells of the Count’s attempt to relocate to London, and the people he ate along the way – before his defeat at the hands of a co-dependent group of himbos and the woman who holds all of their brain cells.
For this I recommend Russian Caravan, a blend of different black teas that tastes like it’s been smoked over a campfire. It hasn’t, but it does contain lapsang souchong which is dried over a pine wood fire during processing, and that flavour is brought out by the addition of the other tea varieties. Traditionally Russian Caravan is drunk unsweetened, with the addition of milk a matter of individual choice.
Alternatively you could pair it with a cup of English breakfast tea, milk, no sugar, in recognition of the Count’s desire to become a proper Englishman.
“Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu
The original Sapphic vampire novel, Carmilla is the story of a an ancient vampire noblewoman who preys exclusively on young women, sometimes falling in love with them even as she drains them of their blood and lifeforce over time. To accompany her I recommend a black tea with almonds in it, with perhaps a touch of milk to soften the edges. A refined, delicately scented choice with just a hint of cyanide underneath the sweetness.
“The Vampyre” by Dr. Polidori
Poor Polidori. Basically a tale about how Byron was a soul draining monster who ruined lives everywhere he went with his seemingly preternatural powers of seduction. It says a lot that the two staples of the modern horror genre were created in direct response to spending a summer trapped indoors with Lord Byron, but I digress. For The Vampyre I recommend an Assam with cinnamon; strong flavoured, stimulating, and seductive. Drink it black to bring out the note of bitterness underneath.
While the links I’ve included above are bookshop.org affiliate links for print copies of the novels, because these are all out of print classics they are also available to read online for free and can be accessed at the following links;
Gothic Auntie 
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