Are you looking to try making some new recipes? Check out this ultimate fruit flavor pairing chart to discover some unique and amazing flavor combinations.
When it comes to fruit, we all intuitively know some flavor combinations that work well. Apple and caramel? Check. Pineapple and rum? Of course!
But, when you start to dig deeper, you can discover some amazing flavor combinations. And when I'm experimenting in the kitchen, I love to try and find these unique flavor pairings.
After stopping by the farmer's market to see what fruit is in season, I like to think about what spices and flavors might pair well with that fruit. Oftentimes, the best pairings can be a bit unexpected, and to me, that's what makes cooking and baking so exciting! There is always something new to discover and try out.
All that being said, to help you out with your cooking and baking, I've created this ultimate fruit flavor pairing chart.
Honestly, the reason behind making this chart is a bit selfish—I wanted a resource that I could refer to while experimenting with new recipes. After searching online for a while, I struggled to find many resources out there that showedcased all these great flavor pairings.
I hope this chart helps you out and empowers you to make even more delicious food in your kitchen!
How to Use This Chart
To narrow down the list, you can use the search bar at the top right-hand corner of the table to search for a particular ingredient.
If you are viewing the chart on your phone, I recommend turning your phone horizontally to display all the columns.
And if you can't find the ingredient you're looking for, let me know in the comments below—I will routinely update this chart to make sure it's as helpful as possible for you!
Fruit Flavor Pairing Chart
| Fruit | Herbs and Spices | Nuts | Spirits | Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Apricot, blackberry, cherry, cranberry, currant, date, lychee, mango, orange, pear, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, pumpkin, quince | Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, star anise, thyme | Almond, chestnut, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Armagnac, bourbon, brandy, calvados, cognac, Cointreau, Kirsch, Madeira, rum, sherry, vermouth | Caramel, maple syrup, molasses, vanilla |
| Apricot | Apple, banana, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, coconut, cranberry, lemon, orange, peach, pineapple, plum, prune, raspberry, strawberry | Cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, saffron | Almond, hazelnut, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Amaretto, brandy, cognac, Kirsch, orange liqueur, rum | Caramel, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Banana | Apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, coconut, date, guava, lemon, lime, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry | Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, macadamia, nutmeg | Cashew, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Armagnac, banana liqueur, brandy, calvados, cognac, Kirsch, Madeira, rum | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, molasses, vanilla |
| Blackberry | Apple, apricot, banana, blueberry, lemon, mango, melon, nectarine, orange, peach, plum, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon | Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint | Almond, hazelnut | Brandy, champagne, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, orange liqueur | Caramel, crème fraîche, honey, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Blueberry | Apple, apricot, banana, blackberry, fig, lemon, mango, melon, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry, watermelon | Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, lavender, mint, nutmeg | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, walnut | Cognac, Kirsch, orange liqueur, port, rum, triple sec | Crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, molasses, ricotta, vanilla |
| Cantaloupe | Grapefruit, melon, raspberry | Basil, cilantro, ginger, mint, star anise, tarragon | Port | ||
| Cherry | Apricot, coconut, lemon, melon, nectarine, orange, peach, plum, quince, raspberry | Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, sage, thyme | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Amaretto, Armagnac, bourbon, brandy, cassis, Grand Marnier, kirsch, red wine, rum, vodka | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, crème fraîche, honey, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Coconut | Apricot, banana, blackberry, cherry, date, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, lime, lychee, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple | Allspice, basil, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, Kaffir leaf, lemongrass, mint, nutmeg | Almond, brazil nut, cashew, macadamia, peanut, pistachio | Rum | Caramel, chocolate, crème fraîche, honey, mascarpone, rose water, vanilla |
| Cranberry | Apple, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, pumpkin, quince, tangerine | Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, star anise, thyme | Almond, hazelnut, pistachio, walnut | Cognac, Grand Marnier, white wine | Honey, maple syrup, vanilla |
| Date | Apple, apricot, banana, coconut, lemon, lime, orange, prune, quince | Cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, thyme | Almond, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Armagnac, brandy, red wine, rum | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, crème fraîche, maple syrup, mascarpone, orange blossom water, vanilla |
| Grape | Apple, lemon, pear, raspberry, strawberry | Cayenne, cumin, ginger, mint, paprika, rosemary | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Brandy, cognac, rum | Honey, white chocolate |
| Grapefruit | Avocado, banana, coconut, lemon, lime, melon, orange, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, tomato | Basil, ginger, mint, rosemary, star anise, tarragon, thyme | Cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, walnut | Campari, champagne, gin, Grand Marnier, port, rum, tequila, vodka | Caramel, crème fraîche, grenadine, honey, vanilla |
| Guava | Banana, coconut, lemon, lime, orange, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry | Ginger | Cashew, macadamia | Rum | White chocolate, honey, mascarpone |
| Honeydew | Blackberry, cantaloupe, grapefruit, lemon, lime, nectarine, peach, strawberry | Basil, cardamom, coriander, cumin, ginger, mint, tarragon | Champagne | Coconut milk, honey | |
| Kiwi | Banana, cherry, coconut, grapefruit, lemon, lime, lychee, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry | Hazelnut, macadamia | Kirsch, rum | Chocolate, honey | |
| Kumquat | Coconut, cranberry, date, lemon, lime, mango, orange, papaya, persimmon, pineapple, pomegranate, pumpkin, quince, strawberry | Cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg | Hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Brandy, rum, white wine | Caramel, chocolate, honey, vanilla |
| Lemon | Apple, apricot, banana, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, coconut, cranberry, date, gooseberry, grapefruit, grape, guava, kiwi, lime, mango, nectarine, orange, papaya, passion fruit, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, prune, quince, raspberry, rhubarb, tangerine | Basil, bay leaf, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, mint, oregano, parsley, poppy seed, rosemary, sage, thyme | Almond, chestnut, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Gin, orange liqueur, red wine, rum, vodka | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Lime | Apple, apricot, avocado, coconut, date, gooseberry, grapefruit, guava, honeydew, kiwi, lemon, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit, plum, raspberry, strawberry, tomato | Cilantro, ginger, mint | Hazelnut, macadamia, peanut, pecan | Rum, tequila, vodka | Caramel, coconut milk, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Lychee | Blackberry, coconut, honeydew, kiwi, lemon, lime, mango, orange, passion fruit, pear, pineapple, plum, raspberry | Ginger | Rum | Honey | |
| Mango | Apple, avocado, banana, blackberry, blueberry, coconut, grapefruit, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, raspberry, strawberry | Basil, cayenne, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint, nutmeg, star anise | Almond, cashew, macadamia | Amaretto, champagne, Kirsch, orange liqueur, rum, sake, vodka | Caramel, coconut milk, coffee, crème fraîche, honey, mascarpone, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Nectarine | Apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, lemon, orange, peach, plum, raspberry, strawberry | Allspice, cinnamon, ginger, mint, nutmeg | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio | Brandy, champagne, Kirsch, orange liqueur, peach liqueur, red wine, white wine | Caramel, chocolate, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Orange | Apple, apricot, avocado, banana, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, coconut, cranberry, date, grape, grapefruit, guava, grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, lime, mango, nectarine, papaya, passion fruit, peach, pear, persimmon, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, prune, pumpkin, quince, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry, tomato | Basil, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, ginger, mint, nutmeg, paprika, parsley, poppy seed, rosemary, saffron, star anise, thyme | Almond, chestnut, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Almond liqueur, Amaretto, Armagnac, brandy, cognac, Kirsch, orange liqueur, red wine, rum, tequila, vodka, white wine | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, grenadine, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Papaya | Banana, coconut, grapefruit, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, lime, mango, nectarine, orange, passion fruit, peach, pineapple, raspberry, strawberry | Cilantro, cinnamon, ginger, mint | Cashew, macadamia, peanut | Port | Caramel, honey, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Passion fruit | Banana, coconut, kiwi, lemon, lime, mango, orange, papaya, peach, pear, pineapple, strawberry | Cilantro, ginger | Almond, cashew, macadamia | Champagne, Cointreau, ice wine, rum, tequila | Caramel, chocolate, vanilla |
| Peach | Apple, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, coconut, lemon, lime, nectarines, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, plum, raspberry, strawberry | Allspice, basil, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg, saffron, star anise, tarragon, thyme | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Bourbon, brandy, Calvados, Cassis, champagne, cognac, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, Madeira, port, red wine, rum, Vin Santo, whiskey, white wine | Brown sugar, caramel, chocolate, crème fraîche, grenadine, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, molasses, vanilla |
| Pear | Apple, apricot, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, date, lemon, orange, passion fruit, prune, quince, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry | Allspice, basil, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, star anise | Almond, chestnut, hazelnut, macadamia, peanut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Bourbon, brandy, Calvados, crème de cassis, champagne, Grand Marnier, kirsch, pear brandy, port, red wine, rum, whiskey | Caramel, chocolate, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Persimmon | Apple, avocado, grape, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, orange, pear, pomegranate | Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, nutmeg | Almond, cashew, hazelnut, pecan, walnut | Bourbon, brandy, cognac, Kirsch, sweet wine | Caramel, coffee, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Pineapple | Apricot, avocado, banana, coconut, grapefruit, kiwi, kumquat, lemon, lime, mango, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry | Allspice, basil, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint, rosemary, saffron, star anise | Cashew, macadamia, pistachio, walnut | Brandy, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, orange liqueur, rum, sweet wine | Caramel, chocolate, honey, maple syrup, vanilla |
| Plum | Apricot, cherry, lemon, nectarine, orange, peach, raspberry, strawberry | Allspice, almond, bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg, sage, thyme | Hazelnut, pecan, walnut | Brandy, gin, Kirsch, rum, whiskey, red wine, sweet wine | Caramel, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, vanilla |
| Pomegranate | Apple, avocado, banana, coconut, grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange | Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, mint, nutmeg, parsley, turmeric | Almond, hazelnut, pine nut, walnut | Port, tequila, vodka | Honey, white chocolate |
| Pumpkin | Apple, coconut, cranberry, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange | Allspice, bay leaf, cayenne, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, ginger, mace, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, thyme | Hazelnut, pecan, pine nut, walnut | Brandy, cognac, orange liqueur, rum, white wine | Caramel, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, molasses, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Quince | Apple, cherry, cranberry, date, kumquat, lemon, orange, pear, raspberry | Bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, star anise | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, pistachio, walnut | Armagnac, brandy, Calvados, red wine, whiskey, white wine | Caramel, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Raspberry | Apricot, blackberry, blueberry, grapefruit, grape, lemon, lime, mango, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, quince, rhubarb, strawberry | Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint, star anise, thyme | Almond, hazelnut, macadamia, peanut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio | Brandy, champagne, cognac, Cointreau, Framboise, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, orange liqueur, red wine, rum, tequila | Caramel, chocolate, crème fraîche, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla |
| Rhubarb | Apple, apricot, blood orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, nectarine, peach, plum, raspberry, strawberry | Bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint, nutmeg | Almond, hazelnut, pecan | Brandy, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, port, white wine | Caramel, crème fraîche, grenadine, honey, maple syrup, mascarpone, vanilla, white chocolate |
| Strawberry | Apple, apricot, banana, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, gooseberry, grape, grapefruit, guava, kumquat, lemon, lime, mango, melon, orange, papaya, passion fruit, peach, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, raspberry, rhubarb | Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mint, nutmeg | Almond, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut | Amaretto, brandy, champagne, cognac, elderflower liqueur, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, port, red wine, rosé, rum, sake, sherry, white wine | Caramel, chocolate, crème fraîche, honey, vanilla |
How About You?
I'd love to know—what flavor combinations do you like to use in your recipes? Let me know in the comments below!
You got my email address. I didn't get my pdf of fruit pairings
I'm sorry you didn't receive it, Mimi! I just emailed it to you directly. Let me know if you didn't get it!
What about figs?
Hi, Patricia! I try and update the chart every so often, and I'll add in figs the next time I do.
Strawberries and basil go well together. I roll a strawberry up in a basil leaf and eat it whole
Yum! That sounds delicious. Strawberries and basil do go so well together — I'll have to add that to the chart!
Hi, is there any chances that you would update pairings for calamansi ? Thank You !
Hi, Rey! I try to update the chart every so often. Next time I do, I'll aim to add calamansi. 😊
Another flavor to consider is marshmallow.
Love this idea! I'll be sure to add marshmallow in the next time I update the chart.
I have one other flavor that I'd like to know what might meld with it. I was going to make an acerglyn (maple syrup mead), but instead, try to use some of my hickory syrup. It would seem some of the combinations above using maple syrup might be appropriate, but hickory syrup is very distinct in its flavor. I guess the other item not found above (likely because it is still illegal to use in the USA) is tonka bean, but my expectation is that it would be similar to vanilla.
Hi, Mutant! I've actually never tried hickory syrup before, but it sounds delicious. That being said, I'm not sure what would pair well with it!
This is a great chart! I searched for "butterscotch" but there are no results. Can I assume that any fruit that pairs well with caramel would also pair well with butterscotch (sauce), or could you make a suggestion?
Thanks!
Yes, I think anything that pairs well with caramel would also pair well with butterscotch! I'll make a note to add it to the chart next time I update it. 😊
These are great! I always am looking for new flavor mixes so this is very helpful. Thank you.
I'm so glad to hear you've found the chart helpful, Jo!
Honeydew goes well with avocado and mango. Very popular with the little one in the house as a fruit mash, and really refreshing.
Yum, that sounds like a great pairing, Phil!
I have given myself a challenge to make as many interesting cold savory and sweet soups as possible this summer and no they cannot resemble a smoothie.
I’m playing with
Fruit combinations
Vegetable combinations
Fruit and vegetable combinations
Nectars, juices, syrups and natural sweeteners (no refined sugar)
Dairy and non dairy milks
Herbs
Toppings
What an awesome challenge, Eileen!
I'm curious about how 'summer savory' and 'winter savory' pair up
Hi, Mutant! Can you clarify a bit more about what you're looking for? I'd love to update the chart to help you out, but I want to make sure I understand a bit more clearly first.
My son was using one of the two with roast duck (I think summer savory). Just curious as to how to combine with other ingredients for soups, salads, or ???
My background is in pastry and I specialize in baking recipes, so I don't have as much experience with savory recipes! I don't know if I'd be able to offer many suggestions here.
Truly a great way to keep these pairing ideas for a better recipe development....saves a great deal of time ....Thank you
I'm so glad you've found the chart useful, Dhan!
Can we get watermelon pairings as well.
Hi, Rita! Watermelon is listed a few times on the chart, but I'll add it in as its own category next time I update the chart. Thanks for the suggestion!
I am looking to see what goes with bacon. I know figs and dates go well. Everywhere I have looked, NO ONE includes bacon. This is a disgrace! Bacon should be considered a dessert!
I love the idea of adding bacon, Nick — you're so right that it goes well with so many desserts! I'll have to add it in next time I update the chart. 😊
I have a lot of sage in my garden, and would love to use it in baking, but I'm not finding great options out there! Any ideas? Would fresh sage work in a mango upside down cake? Or would another fruit be better suited? Appreciate any ideas - thank you!
I find that sage pairs well with tropical fruits, so I bet it would taste great in a mango upside down cake! I think it'd also be delicious in a pineapple upside down cake.
Could you add Watermelon to the list? Would be great to know the best pairings with summer coming up!
Hi, Meg! Watermelon is listed a few times on the chart, but I'll add it in as its own category next time I update the chart. Thanks for the suggestion!
Bananas also pair well with Quince.
I was wondering where blackcurrant and red currant were but overall a very amazing list
Thanks for the suggestions, David! I try and update the chart as much as possible, so I'll aim to add both of those in the next time I do so.
I also find the Raspberry/Currant to work quite well
I was just looking to see this very fruit - red currant - I am going to try with pumpkin as a muffin. I have a pumpkin cranberry recipe and the cranberries are tart as red currants can be so I will give it a go!
I came here looking for what to pair with black currant too! I just made blueberry muffins but subbed in fresh black and red currants, and it was delicious, but I think some kind of spice could have done well in the recipe.
I want to make a cake with rose flavoring, matcha, and chocolate. Would this be a good flavor combo?
I think that would work well! I really like the combo of rose and matcha together, and you can't go wrong with matcha and chocolate. 😊
Someone asked, "when have you ever seen lemon paired with red wine?" I couldn't get the reply to work, so: in the Mediterranean! Classic Spanish red-wine sangria. Several other Spanish cocktails such as Tinto de Verrano and Kalimoxto. And red Italian wines are often paired with lemon-based pastas and chicken dishes. Weirdly, the bolder red wines enhance the lemon's acidity. Greece of course: practically any meal has lemons in or with it, typically accompanied by red wine... Just some ways to think about how folks eat across the world.
Absolutely brilliant, Leslie! Thank you a million times over, on behalf of all of us out here!
I'm so glad you found the chart helpful, Cyndy! 😊
I'm going too make a tart for my cooking assigment and it must be glazed in a apricot glaze with water iceing do u think a blueberry/blackberry jam and lemon frangiepan would work with the glaze
Hi, Aleesha!
I think those flavors would work really well together. I really like apricot with both blackberries and blueberries. Good luck with your assignment!
I have some combos that should be added just off the top of my head……
Orange and tarragon - absolutely delicious combo that I’m surprised wasn’t on the list …
Also what about watermelon and mint ?
I can probably think of some more if I took some time but those are classic ones I thought of immediately .
Thanks so much for the suggestions, PJ! I like to update this chart as much as possible, so I'll try and add these pairings in the next time I do so. 😊
I saw another flavor chart that gave a caution about lemon and persimmon. Generally acid fruit like lemon doesn't digest well with sweet fruits like persimon, papaya, figs, bananas. For example have you ever heard of lemon-banana-anything? Also the lemon and red wine combination sounds like a mistake.
Thanks for the suggestions, Adam! I try and go in and routinely update the chart as much as possible, so I'll keep these notes in mind the next time I do so. 🙂
Hi, thanks for the wonderful list. But I couldn't find Yuzu. Since this fruit is still classified as a citrus family, can I use the lemon pairing chart as a substitute for yuzu?
Hi, Andrew! I like to update this chart as much as possible, so I'll aim to add in yuzu the next time I do so. Yuzu does have a very similar flavor profile to lemon, so it likely would pair well with everything that lemon does. Is there anything in particular you're thinking of trying out?
I noticed you didn’t list chocolate in any of the pairings, or things like maple, caramel, rum, bourbon..,
Thanks for letting me know, Rebecca! I try and go in and routinely update the chart as much as possible, so I'll be sure to fix this the next time I do so. 😊
was looking for a sub for apricot spreadable fruit with sage in a cookie and wondered why orange marmalade or spreadable fruit would not go well with sage. The orange and sage aren't paired on your fruit and herb chart.
I think those two would pair really well together, Joanne! I try and update the chart as much as possible, so I'll be sure to add this in the next time I do so. 😊
I’m so glad I found this list! I was suddenly in the mood for lemon poppyseed biscotti, but I wanted to add almond flavoring, and I wasn’t sure if it would work.
Yum, that sounds delicious, Chloe!
Hi,
I want to make a rum cake with fruit filling. What can I use? Would apricot be good?
Yum, that sounds delicious, Pam! I think apricot or pineapple would go really well. 😊 Let me know what you end up making!
I didn't see grapes anywhere on the list. Could we add red and green grapes to some pairings? I'm always hesitant on which to use.
Hi, Danielle — thanks so much for the suggestion!
I try and update the chart as much as possible, so I'll be sure to add in grapes the next time I do so. 😊
I apologize if you've received and addressed this question already, but there are so many comments to this post, and I don't want to read them all to find out... Are there citations for this list - as in, did you start with or incorporate lists of flavor pairings into your list? Thanks! And thanks for posting this list - it's a great starting point for what might go together well to enhance other flavors!
Oh, great question! I started with some of my favorite flavor pairings that I've learned over the years, then I added on additional recommendations I found through my research. One of my favorite resources on this topic is the book The Flavor Bible — I highly recommend checking it out to dive deeper into this topic.
Hello Leslie, Thanks for the recommendation for more reading. There are multiple books called Flavor Bible. Is the book this one -- The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs (by Dornenburg and Page) ?? Thanks!
Yes, that's the one!
Please add Gooseberries to your very extensive list. Thanks Victoria
Thanks so much for the suggestion, Victoria!
I try and update the chart as much as possible, so I'll be sure to add in gooseberries the next time I do so. 😊
Thanks very much for providing this chart. It's very helpful.
I'm so glad you found the chart useful, Cathy!
Hi Leslie
I am so glad I stumbled across your web-site. I've been wanting a chart for pairing fruits for some tiime
now. Thanks ever so much.
Sandi
I'm so glad you've been enjoying the chart, Sandi!
Just curious why you don’t have watermelon listed in the first column since it pairs well with a lot of other fruits. I check your chart on occasion strictly for cocktails. Thanks
Hi, George!
Thanks so much for the suggestion. I try and update the chart as much as possible, so I'll be sure to add in watermelon in the first column the next time I do so. 😊
hi, thank you so much for your resources! i finished culinary school years ago (focus in baking and pastries!), don’t work in the industry, and have forgotten a lot of basics such as in-depth pairings. i was wondering, where would figs fit in here?
Hey, Grace! I don't have any pairings for figs right now, but I try and update the chart as much as possible. I'll try and add figs next time I update it. 😊
i pair figs with apples, dates, cinnamon, vanilla, walnuts and almonds, hope it helps!
Hi, do you have pairings for dragonfruit? They are in season and I have tons of them. I want to incorporate the puree and make a cheesecake. Do you perhaps have any suggestions? Thank you!
Hey, Jenny! I don't have any pairings for dragonfruit right now, but I try and update the chart as much as possible. I'll try and add dragonfruit next time I update it. 😊
I've eaten a cranberry and macadamia nougat and i find these two are amazing together.
Also fresh strawberries with a dash of balsamic vinegar takes them to a next level
Those are definitely some great pairings! I love eating a salad with fresh strawberries and a balsamic vinaigrette. 😍
I really enjoyed your chart I really like all the flavor parings. I made some scones the other day. Strawberries, blueberries and lemon zest go great together.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the chart, Lea! Those scones sound delicious. 😍
Am pretty sure that mint also goes well with apple (at least in sodas). Could you please update your table? Thanks in advance.
Thanks so much for this suggestion! I try to update the chart as often as I can, so I'll be sure to add this in when making future updates.
What about other fruits like cucumber and tomato?
Hi, Kim! Thanks for the suggestion. I try to update the chart as often as I can, so I'll keep these ideas in mind when making future updates.
Great chart with some fabulous combinations .
We have a fig tree in our garden so fresh fig combinations would be fantastic
Thanks
Karen
What about dragon fruit?
Thanks for the suggestion, Nichola! I try to update the chart as often as I can, so I'll add in dragon fruit as soon as I can.
Leslie, thank you so much for posting this very handy guide.
I'm so glad you are enjoying the chart, Dave!
What about peanuts for apples? That's a great pairing. Apple slices dipped in peanut butter or almond butter is a classic snack.
Yum! I'm right there with you — I love pairing apple slices with peanut butter. I'm always routinely updating the chart, so I'll be sure to add this in!
I absolutely love this list thankyou very much for doing it, it is a great resource, i experiment with different flavoured fruit leather, one of the most popular has been kiwi blackberry and plum, my favourite is peach and raspberry but will be experimenting with some of your flavour pairings thanks again
I'm so glad you have found the chart helpful, Danni! 🙂 Those flavor pairings sound incredible — especially kiwi, blackberry, and plum. Yum!
Would love to see Yuzu on this!
I try to update the chart as much as possible, so I'll add it in when I can! Thanks for the suggestion 😊
Just what I was looking for! Thank you for the great resource! (I noticed that under pairings with orange, grapefruit is listed twice.)
This list is awesome.Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm so glad you found it helpful, Embry! 🙂
do you have any suggestions for dragonfruit?
Can I mix mango with pineapple and raspberry flavor in my analgesic medicine
It sounds like it would be a great combo! Let me know how it turns out. 😊
I need to use up some pineapple curd. My plan is to make a coconut Pavlova, put whipped cream on top then place the curd on top of that but I also wanted to add a fruit. I checked the list but didn't see cherries to pair with pineapple. Do you think that'll work? I know I can get my hands on a bag of fresh cherries but before I do I just wanted to make sure. It's either going to be those or one of my other options... strawberries or bananas. I'll check back tomorrow in the a.m. Hopefully you will have answered by then. Great chart!! Bookmarking asap, lol
Yum, this sounds delicious! I haven't tried this combo before, but I think cherries and pineapple would work great together. 😊 I'm glad you enjoyed the chart!
Add me to the list of appreciative people for this hand-dandy chart! Bare shelves at the grocery stores meant I had to scrap my original preferred fruit combo for Mostarda, and I feared I just had a mish-mash of flavors that wouldn’t get along together.
Right now, I’m using dried apricots, cherries and blueberries and trying to decide about mango, but that might be overkill.
Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this wonderful chart. I've been making small batch jams, and I love trying different flavor combos. I've been looking for a resource like this. Definitely a keeper! I found a delicious recipe for cherry lime jam using sweet dark cherries. It was a big hit with family and friends.
One question: I've noticed at times you have more than one fruit in the second column on the same line, instead of having them as separate pairings for the fruit in column one. Are these multiple fruits on the same line in column two meant to be used in combination with the column one fruit? Or, are these just typos where you meant to have the column two fruits on separate lines?
A cherry lime jam sounds incredible! I'm obsessed with cherry recipes this time of year.
And great question about the chart! The entries are actually all listed on the same line, but they are formatted like that because of the width of the table. I hope that makes sense 😊
Watermelon
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll make sure to add watermelon when updating the chart next. 😊
Hi this is a great resource. Thank you for all the work that went into it.
I was looking up raspberries to make a mint or basil popsicle. I see that mint is included but not basil. I found a ton of recipes for raspberry basil mojitos and a raspberry basil popsicle. I’m going to give The raspberry basil combination I try in my popsicle, but based on the other research, basil might be one to add for raspberry. Thanks again for this resource.
Thanks for the note, Stevie! Raspberry and basil are definitely a great combination. I'll have to add that to the chart when I update it next. 😊 I wish I could try one of those mojitos!
Amazing work! Thank you for sharing your goldmine of information!
I'm glad you enjoyed the chart, Lorie!
Hi, I found this and I think I've just won the lottery! Would it be possible to add dragonfruit though?
I'm so glad you enjoyed the chart! I'll make a note to add dragonfruit next time I update the chart. 😊
I love the chart, I think I found my new best friend. Do you have suggestions to use lavender? Two things I have found is a recipe for lemon and lavender shortbread; and chicken with garam masala and lavender. Thank you.
I'm so glad you've been enjoying the chart, Joanne! And I absolutely love baking with lavender. It pairs well with citrus, berries, and herbs like mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano. I also have a recipe for Earl Grey Lavender Cupcakes that you might enjoy!
Have you thought of adding teas to your list? Earl Grey, Black Tea, Jasmine, that sort of thing? They do pair really well with many of the flavors. I make tea flavored macaron shells and fill them with all sorts of buttercreams and ganaches.
That's a great idea, Lisa! I'll definitely keep that in mind when I update the chart in the near future. 😊
Great job Leslie on compiling the flavor pairing chart!
I know how much effort it takes to do that. The other day I was writing on my blog about one of my favorite ingredients to work with, Yuzu. It has been in use in Japanese and Korean cuisine for a long time, but for myself as a bartender, I use it in my cocktail recipes.
It has the flavor profile of lemon, tangerine, orange, and a hint of grapefruit.
Here are some of the flavor matching combinations.
Yuzu -
Szechuan peppercorn syrup, ginger, lemongrass, lychee, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, lemon, pineapple, mango, banana.
Work well with alcohol as well.
Aperol, whiskey, gin, rum, Grand Marnier, etc.
Oo, I love yuzu! I'll definitely have to add this to the chart. Thanks for sharing, Valentin! 😊
Many thanks for your efforts
Please, What about fig?
Good catch — I'll have to add it when I update the chart next!
TYSM. I used your chart and made a coconut pan cotta with mango and pineapple jelly. It turned out amazing!!! My family rated it 10/10. Thanks a million, you were such a big help.
That sounds incredible, Sof! I wish I could have tried some.
TYSM , Im going to make a coconut Panna cotta and I was looking for fruits I could use and this helps soooo much. I think im going to top it with a orange , mango and pineapple syrup. Again this was SO helpful. Thanks for the awesome chart !!! 🙂
Those pairings sound absolutely perfect, Sofia. I'm glad you found the chart helpful!
where is the jackfruit ?
Good catch — I'll have to add it when I update the chart next!
i have been given some feijoas, and would like to mix another fruit or flavour, any suggestions?
How cool! I've never actually tried feijoa before. I did a quick search, and it looks like they pair well with apples, dark chocolate, coconut, and lime zest.
Pairs well with banana, berries, cinnamon, citrus, mango, and vanilla
I love blackberry with rosemary and lavender for jelly. I made some blackberry-rosemary port last summer and it is delicious!
Would cherries and rosemary work together, or cherries and cardamom? Would like to make some interesting jam combos this summer.
That does sound delicious, Cindy! I think both rosemary and cardamom would work well with cherries.
Hi! I love the idea of the food chart! I now use it to make new smoothies and to add them to my recipe book! However, there is one fruit that I would like you to add and that is dragonfruit! Anyway, thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion, Nargis! I plan to keep updating the chart as time goes on, and I'll make sure to add dragonfruit 😊
I've tried to subscribe twice to receive this PDF file. Would you mind emailing it to me? I've checked spam, and all of my folders. ID love to have a print out of this amazing list.
Hi Chelsea,
I just emailed you a copy! Let me know if it doesn't show up in your inbox. 🙂
I'm new to all of this. When I read the chart, I assume the item in the far left hand column can be combined with one or more of the fruits in the second column, and try something in the Herb column and possibly a nut, spirit and/or miscellaneous. Is this how it works???
Can I further surmise if you choose something from the far left hand column and add another fruit, you would do well, to scroll down to see what herb, nut, spirit and/or miscellaneous goes with the second and how it works with the original fruit selection.
I'm just trying to avoid another disaster of combining star anise and lemon as a flavored water. Not a good combo!!
Hi, Renee! So yes I have made some disasters too, it was mango with freshly squeezed lemon ( a bit too much) with water and sweeteners.....it tasted really sour and I couldn't fix it. Most of it had to go down the drain. ( I felt so bad wasting ingredients) However I have made a new bluenana smoothie and it tasted great! If you would like to know, the ingredients were
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
1 banana
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk
honey ( as much as you would like)
Ice (optional)
And pop them in a blender and blend until purple and smooth!
Hope my next creations will be as good! Same for you! Have a nice day 🙂
Yep — you've got it, Renee! I hope you enjoy using the chart 😊
Hello
I did not see fig on the chart. I know fig and some cheeses go together, but how about spices? or herbs? flowers?
Thank you
Basil!! It pairs beautifully with strawberries and mangos
Thanks for the tip, Sarah!
Strawberries, basil, and water. Wayyy better than plain water and healthy!
This sounds delicious, Victoria! Strawberries + basil pair so well together.
almonds and almond essence go well with lychees.
tysm! Don't have any lyshees but they r my fave!
Can you come up lists of flavors that you can pair with matcha. Im such a fan of it. Thank you!
I love matcha too, Jess! I'll have to add this to the list when I update it.
The adds in your Australian version cover the right hand side and just leave a blank space when closed
Thanks for letting me know, Jo! I'll look into what's causing this.
Hi can multiple flavours be mixed with the primary flavour?
Thanks
Yep, they usually can! I wouldn't recommend mixing too many flavors all at once, but mixing a few at a time should work well.
sure why not
greetings? Great chart! Do you have a pdf copy of it yet? I make wine as a hobby and your chart would come in handy for creating new recipes.
Thanks!
Hi, Brad! I actually just finished creating the PDF copy and you can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
Hi! The chart isn't working. Can you repost the link?
Hi Katie,
I'm sorry you're having trouble with the chart! Are you referring to the one here on the blog or the one you can get emailed to you?
Would love to see this in PDF as others have mentioned. No access to a computer and this is too valuable to lose.
So glad to hear you like the chart, Patricia! I'm actually working on turning it into a PDF now, and I'll let you know when that's ready. 😊
Just wanted to let you know that the PDF version is ready, Patricia! You can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
I made orange cinnamon cream cheese muffins last week and my family gobbled them up.
Those sound amazing! I wish you could send some my way 😍
Great post! I've been looking especially for herbal pairings - this is very handy 🙂
If you wanted, you could add non-traditional fruits, such as cucumber, tomato, and tamarind. which all pair well with lime, melon, and strawberry. You could also add Salt under Misc. It's great added to melon, cucumber, lime, grapefruit, tomato, and tamarind.
You didn't show many pairings for lime, itself... I've added my favorites below.
Lime: Apple, papaya, plum, strawberry, banana, raspberry, strawberry, tamarind, tomato, cucumber // Ginger, cilantro, Lemongrass, mint, Thai basil // Coconut, hazelnut // Tequila, Rum, vodka, orange, lager-type beer.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the post! And thanks for sharing all those awesome additions. I'm hoping to update the table and make it more expansive over the next few months, so keep an eye out for that!
I love this. Because of your list, I made a new smoothie for my family. I make them every day, and have been for years, with a base of spinach or kale, then some fruit, water, and maple syrup, and sometimes lime juice, and I was looking for something to spice up my recipes. So, based on your chart, I used fresh apples with some caramel flavoring, and it was a caramel apple smoothie. It was delicious!
I've looked up lots and lots of sites for information like this, and yours is the best, most thorough, and creative I've ever found. Thank you so much!
If you put this into a nicely designed pdf, I'm sure lots of people would print it out and put it on their fridge. I definitely would.
Oo, that smoothie sounds absolutely delicious!
And what an awesome idea to make this resource into a PDF — I think I'm going to try and do this over the next few months. I'll let you know if and when I do 🙂
Hey, Adam! Just wanted to let you know I turned the chart into a PDF like you suggested.
If you'd like, you can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
Rhubarb and cherries go together oh-so-nicely in a crisp. Yum
Yum — that sounds like a wonderful crisp, Gail!
I'm grateful that people go through the content,probably just because they know how beneficial the fruits are,that's great! Wasn't able to easily track that right column though,but much thanks for the content,seemed very useful and helpful,,!!
So glad you enjoyed, Godfrey! I'm going to try and work on improving the table itself in the future, so I appreciate the feedback 😊
HI THERE,
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR FRUIT COMBINATIONS. IS THERE A WAY I COULD COMMUNICATE WITH YOU?
Yes I also would like to see pdf that I could download. Im not able to scroll across to see spice list on android. Thanks Ken
Hi, Ken! I just finished creating a PDF version of this chart — if you'd like, you can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
Hi! Do you have any recommendations for passion fruit?
I just added passion fruit to the table, Reign! 😊
I'm a bit dismayed that you can mix banana with strawberries, but not strawberries with bananas. 😉
Great list though. 🙂
Thanks for the catch, James! I just updated the table and made sure to fix this. 😊
I wish you had a printer friendly version so I can add it to my cookbook binder.
just highlight it all with the mouse and then press print
Hi, MK! I actually just made a printer-friendly version of the chart. If you're interested, you can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
Hi, can you please fix the site? Mobile version does not display the full list (it's cut off), and no one has time to get out their laptop in the middle of the grocery store.
If you turn the phone on it’s side you can see all of the columns. It’d be nice if it would fit on the screen of course but a lot of sites have that issue.
I just made. cherry-thyme protein ice cream and it was amaaaazing! It tastes so refreshing, definitely a flavor combo to keep doing
Yum, this sounds delicious! I'll have to try that flavor pairing out sometime.
You need to fix this page its not friendly for mobiles can't access right hand columns
Content is great very handy keep up the great work
Turn your phone sideways
Thank you! I had completely forgot about trying that.
Yesterday I found my favourite cheesecake flavor combination. So simple, but I love it. I flavored the cheesecake itself with vanilla bean and lemon juice and zest, folding into the batter a handful of raspberries (finely chopped) to add light raspberry flavour to the batter. Then I topped it with a homemade whipped cream and raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. However, I found the cheesecake itself (no toppings) to be good as is. It spoke for itself in flavour, just not so much in presentation.
All those flavors together sound amazing!
I made a cobbler today that combined rhubarb, raspberries and peaches flavored with lemon zest, fresh grated ginger, cracked black pepper and a pinch of sea salt. The cobbler has an interesting cake topping made using reverse creaming method and the top coated with fine grain sugar. Carefully pour very hot tap water over the top and bake 70-80 minutes for a 9x13 pan. The top will crack like a brûlée. The cake under is soft and fluffy. I’ve also added minced jalapeños instead of black pepper.(a very small amount, minced)
A traditional accompaniment is a spoon of thick cream skimmed off the top of milk direct from the cow.
This sounds incredible! I love the idea of adding the minced jalapeños - that's so unique.
I'm just starting to experiment. I've tried Strawberry-Rhubarb, Starberry-Orange, Strawberry-Basil, and Strawberry-Pineapple jam recipes. I did Peach-Orange and Peach-Blueberry (but I haven't tried the latter yet.) I also made Apple-Rhubarb.
These combinations all sound delicious!
Great site! I‘Ve been looking for something like this for a while. However even with the phone turned sideways I can’t access the right hand columns. Thanks! I’ll be referring to this a lot.
I put crushed pineapple apricot and dark black cherries in a ho.emade thickened cream and added dark chocolate pudding just the powder stored it up and my family loved it so much I didn't have any leftovers which is very unusual it's kinda a twist on pistachio salad. Is.ie the ac dental gourmet
This sounds amazing!
hi i want to make a banana smoothie any idea on what i could add to it
I love adding strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, and even spinach to banana smoothies 😊
I just stumbled into Japanese flavor Pairing for healthy weight loss, & then I found Fruit flavor pairings! I love Fruits.
I am at a loss as to how to use this info. Recipes available for bananas, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe & pineapple?
If you'd like, you can use the search bar on this page to find related recipes for those fruits! 😊
To rhubarb, think about adding blueberries as a good fruit pairing. A few years ago I stopped at an apple orchard while driving in MA. In their jam selections they had a blueberry rhubarb one. I’m a big fan of rhubarb paired with strawberries as a compote or in a pie. Blueberry was so unexpected that I bought it figuring if I didn’t like it on toast it would be okay as a meat glaze with other things. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was delicious. Unfortunately I’ve never seen it again and I haven’t a clue where that little farm was located as it was on a meandering drive back to NY.
What a great idea! I bet that combination would be delicious.
Many many thanks 🙏🙏
I'll try it
So glad to hear you enjoyed the chart!
I would love it if this was a printable list so that I could hang it in my kitchen!! It really is a big help. By the way, I made nectarine jam the other day and had only mxscovado sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Everyone says it's like summer in your mouth. Wonderful.
That's such a great idea. I'll look into it and try and create a printable PDF for this 🙂 Also, that jam sounds wonderful - I wish you could send some my way!
I just transferred all the info to a spreadsheet (Numbers/Excel - very easy!) and printed that out.
What a great idea!
Hi, Angie! Just wanted to let you know that I created a downloadable PDF of this chart. If you're interested, you can download it here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a4l5b9
Strawberry and pistachio are awesome together. I just made strawberry pistachio cake and it was amazing.
That sounds delicious!
I just put a Danish Almond Puff pastry in the oven, I dont have any slivered almonds for the top; i have cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, no almonds. Thoughts?
I plan on making an upside down orange cake with satsuma orange liquor in the mix but I was going to serve it with a spiced butter rum sauce. I noticed rum was not a pairing for orange. Thoughts?
I definitely think the rum sauce would go well with orange! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
so I have an idea for a cinqo de mayo desert. Im calling a choclate margarhita tart. Soft baked Lime Sugar cookie base, tequilla infused mexican chili chocolate filling, coco and seasalt dust, fresh whip with lime zest. I am wondering if, since there is lime in the cookie base, is the zest on top to much? Also should I flavor the whip with something, if so, got suggestions?
I think the zest would be a nice touch and that it would tie everything together well! Something like a coconut whip might be nice to go on top 🙂 Definitely let me know how it turns out - I'd love to see a picture of the final tart!
What a wonderful and useful resource. Do you have suggestions for persimmon pairings? I'm thinking cinnamon, clove, ginger, etc might be quite nice.
I'm glad you found it helpful! Those all seem like they would pair great with persimmon – in addition, you could also try apple, black pepper, almond, hazelnut, or walnut. I'm planning on expanding this list soon, so I'll make sure to add persimmon on then.
I love cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberry, blueberry and green grapes.
I can't get enough cantaloupe and honeydew during the summer!
Lemon and blueberry is good. Also lemon and oregano is good.
I totally agree — such great pairings!
Could you please add cranberries?
I just added cranberries to the chart, Lisa! Thanks for the suggestion 😊
I was wondering about doing passion fruit, myself and the other people im baking it for do not like coconut so was wondering about other options to pair it with,
Orange, guava, mango
Lemon goes with rasperry
Thanks for the note, Zane! I updated the chart, so it has a lot more information now. I hope you enjoy!
I see you have peach in the second column, however it's not listed in the first column.
Thank you so much for letting me know! I just updated the chart so that peach is in the first column - I hope that helps 🙂
I can't seem to see the whole page, maybe because I'm on a mobile device, some help would be greatly appreciated
Hi Aly — I apologize for that inconvenience! I just accessed the page on mobile as well, and it does seem to have difficulty loading the entire table on there. This is a technical error with the site itself, and I will look into it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I would recommend loading the page on the computer if possible. Thank you for letting me know!
If you turn your phone rotation sideways to landscape then the whole table is visible.
Thank you for this resource!
That's great to hear! Thanks for your note, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yea it is you have to go at the top of the chart and click the arrow by the foods