In 2019, I set out with a quiet curiosity: what makes a cup of tea truly extraordinary? That question guided me into the Tea Sommelier® Certification program with the Tea & Herbals Association of Canada / Academy of Tea. Eight courses, countless tastings, and endless discoveries later, I am happy to share that in August 2025, I passed my final exam and became a Certified Tea Sommelier.
This program took me through everything from tea cultivation and tea terroir to sensory evaluation, tea types, and even tea&food pairings. Each module opened up a new way of experiencing tea, through new tea varieties, menu designs and tea ceremonies. It began with the foundations in Tea 101, then other courses Tea 102-108 let me dive into tea history, processing, sensory development, and the business of tea. Each course arrived with tasting kits and blind cuppings, allowing students to explore the world of tea, the associated senses and build the tea sommelier expertise.
Like many stories, mine was interrupted. When COVID arrived, textbooks were set aside and I decided to start building Fleur Palace Teas. It was a time of creating something beautiful in uncertainty. By 2023, I felt ready to return to my studies. I was working, expecting a baby, and sneaking study time between life’s demands. I remember writing assignments on tea and food pairings late at night, and later, completing sensory cup tasting while balancing a newborn in my arms. Some courses I passed when my little one was just two weeks old. What a memory!
In August 2025, after completing all eight courses, I sat for the final certification exam: written, oral, and blind cuppings combined. The moment I learned I had passed was one of pure joy: I was now a Certified Tea Sommelier.
This journey which took longer than I expected has been steeped in curiosity and patience. Becoming a Tea Sommelier is a way to honour the leaf, to celebrate tradition, and to share tea as an experience of beauty and connection.
With Fleur Palace Teas, I now bring the Tea Sommelier knowledge to life, hoping to develop interesting blends and also let you steep the knowledge with me.
My name has also been added to the Tea Sommelier Directory on teasommelier.com and the Work With a TAC Tea Sommelier Professional on tea.ca.
If you have any exciting projects for creating tea blends, organizing a tea menu for your restaurant or thinking of pairing the best teas with your menu, feel free to reach out to me.