I finally had the chance to sit down and share with you my Tea Sommelier, or Tea Master, training. Some of you have not heard of a Sommelier, let alone a Tea Sommelier. Traditionally a sommelier (pronounced /sɔməˈlje/ or suh-mal-’yAy) is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service.  Since there are so many parallels between wine and tea, the term tea sommelier assumes some relevance and appeal. A tea somellier is someone who is an expert on the origins, varieties and preparation of tea. In addition, she should also have the expertise to pair certain foods with tea. I took that to a higher level,as most of you have seen, and not only paired food with tea but also created food and spa recipes using tea.

Here are a few questions that were asked of me before the Tea Sommelier Training:

1.  Why did you decide to become a tea master/sommelier?

It all comes down to one word….passion. This is the foundation of ONO tea and the best way to describe how I look at life. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to enriched my life and to be able to share them with my family and friends. As soon as I knew I could get certified by the American Tea Master’s Association, I quickly enrolled and booked all travel arrangements.  I’ve always found the most fulfillment and joy in being able to teach others and to inspire in them what my family has done for me.  Our family lives by this saying, ”Pursue what you are passionate about, constantly push yourself to become go beyond your comfort level, and you will be successful.” I am passionate about tea so it was natural for me to pursue this certification. Plus, I knew I would be tasting some great teas along the way!

2. What are you planning to do with your certification?

It’s always fun and exciting to learn new things so why not share it with others! Especially when it comes to a delicious product that adds so many elements to one’s life. I love this saying,

“If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, tea will cool you. If you are depressed, tea will cheer you. If you are excited, tea will calm you.”

I hope that attaining my goal will inspire people to believe in themselves and to never lose faith. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to get certified in the United States as a Tea Master. I co-founded ONO tea, I create tea blends, I’ve done a lot of training and grew up on tea, but having that certification will mean so much. It’s the commitment of dedicating the time, efforts, and money into something I truly believe in. I want others to know that they can too do the same with their dreams.  ONO tea plans on using my knowledge and expertise of tea to educate our clients/friends on the wonderful world of tea. We are in the process of creating a community that will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at tea. We have some exciting elements coming up soon….hint….video.

3. What does the certification entail?