Tea Sommelier

So in 2014, I visited the Dilmah School of Tea in Sri Lanka and learned a tremendous amount about tea types, processes, the regions where it grows, the people who prepare tea, pairing tea with food and making alcoholic and non-alcoholic products with tea.

Not only that, I met some amazing tea people in the process and created many long-lasting connections in the industry.

Inspired and keen to learn even more, I enrolled on The Tea and Herbal Association of Canada’s Tea Sommelier® Certification Program, one of the best tea courses in the world. I spent over two years learning all about growing, processing and making tea, tasting tea, tea’s health benefits, and a lot more.

After some tough written exams, blind tea cuppings and an oral test by the President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada on the History and Mythology of Tea, I qualified as a Certified TAC Tea Sommelier Professional, and I’m very proud to say that I was the first UK resident to do so!

As a Certified TAC Tea Sommelier® Professional, I have a thorough knowledge of:

• Tea history and culture

• Tea processing methods for different types of tea

• How to steep / tea preparation

• Tasting notes for different types of tea

• The principles behind tea and food pairings

• How to design a comprehensive tea menu for retail or any food service environment.

With all that knowledge under my belt, I’ve been putting my skills to great use ever since, helping tea businesses and cake and ice cream producers develop new products. I’m proud to be an ambassador, and business development partner for Dilmah tea, and I’ve even been talking to companies about the health and wellbeing benefits of tea.