Chocolate Friday: Chocolate & Tea?

It's not usually the first flavor I associate with tea, but since I love both, it makes sense to try them together.  Well. Maybe.

* Harney & Sons sells a chocolate tea

* Adagio offers chocolate tea that is "Premium black tea from China flavored with sinfully dark chocolate"

* Chocolate tea from Culinary Teas

* As I've mentioned before, Cindy over at Cuppa Tea is still looking for the right Yunnan Gold with the perfect cocoa taste.  I'm trailing around behind her, hoping to benefit from her search (without having to actually do anything myself, that is... lazy git, aren't I?)

Ok, so chocolate flavored isn't your cup of tea?  How about a bit of chocolate WITH your tea?

* According to this study, chocolate and tea taken together can be healthful for your heart:

Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition and lead author of the review, says, "Since tea, without milk or sugar, contains no calories, it's an ideal way to add antioxidant flavonoids to your diet without increasing your weight. Having a chocolate cookie that also contains fruit and nuts along with the tea, if consumed in moderation, can be a heart healthy snack."

"No single food will confer immunity from illness," Kris-Etherton adds. But both tea and chocolate, which are plant foods, can be components of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation along with other flavonoid-rich plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables. It's important to include a wide variety of plant foods in your diet every day."

* Here's a recipe for a chocolate tea cake, and one for chocolate tea bread.  Either would be perfect for an afternoon tea, or an anytime choco-fix.

* In the "Too Hard for Me" category, how to make a chocolate tea cup and saucer, from Jacques Torres at the Food Network.  Yes, really.  An edible cup and saucer.  Shades of Willy Wonka.

* And lastly (how did I miss National Chocolate Day???  Foo!),  I found this poem by Stephanie, fitting for my theme today, written in honor of choco-day: Chocolate and Tea, Such Lovely Companions.