My way in tea - Thomas Talks Tea

I originally turned my passion for tea into a fulltime career after training with one of Berlin’s most renowned stores for loose-leaf tea: Runge & Graf. I learned how to open those wooden tea crates and package the tea for sale, how to taste and judge tea samples, and how to handcraft house-blends, flavour tea with natural essential oils and create innovative recipes for ever so delicious herbal infusions and flowery tisanes.

It’s been quite the journey – from that very first time I sat down over a cup of tea with my former mentor in Berlin to becoming one of the founding partners of Berlin-based specialty tea company Paper & Tea in 2012, and from hosting my own range of tea workshops and seminars to lending my expertise to the introduction of Temial, a fully-automated tea machine, in 2017.

Four individuals are seated in the seiza position on the tatami floor of a traditional Japanese tea room. Ceremonial matcha tea utensils are thoughtfully arranged in front of them. Three of the people are adorned in elegant kimono attire; their features are blurred for privacy. The fourth person, Thomas, stands out in his runner’s jacket and grey jeans, his gaze is directed at the camera while his hands rest gently on his knees.

Today, I continue to host tea workshops and seminars – in addition to supporting companies and individuals with my experience in product development, sales and brand strategy.