UKTA experts are the people behind the learning. They lead live tasting tutorials, support Q&A sessions, contribute to project assessment and help shape the qualifications themselves.
Each Tea Specialist brings deep knowledge from their own part of the tea world – whether that’s a garden in Yunnan, Nantou, Uva, Uji or Darjeeling – or perhaps a research lab, a Five Star London hotel, or a Tea Bar.
You might meet a UKTA Expert in a live tutorial, see them on an Academy Extra or receive feedback on your final project. Some are leading voices in tea production or sensory science, others bring insight from sustainability, mixology, or hospitality.
No matter where you start your UKTA journey, you’ll be learning with – and from – the experts.
Chau-Jean, our Taiwanese tea expert, grew up on her family’s tea farm in Taiwan. She has her own Marulin Tea business in London and is the UKTA Tea Specialist and your tasting guide through Teas of Taiwan.
Suranga is the Executive Director of The International Tea Committee. He is a highly-regarded and experienced professional in Ceylon teas and guides you through the live Tasting Tutorial for Teas of Sri Lanka.
Asako is a true expert in Japanese tea. She is a Qualified Senior Tea Instructor with the Japan Tea Association and was appointed Japan Tea Ambassador to the UK in 2017. Asako is the UKTA Tea Specialist for Teas of Japan.
Coming from a tea-growing family in China and with her own Chinese Tea Company in London, Juyan has a profound knowledge of Chinese tea and is your Tea Specialist and tasting guide in the Tasting Tutorials for Teas of China.
Carri has worked as a professional in the tea world for many years. With her knowledge of teas from many regions and specialist in the perfection of tea-brewing she is the natural guide in the Live Tasting Tutorial of Tea Guide Award.
Kurush has lived and worked in India and Africa as the former Global Tea Expertise Director of Unilever/Lipton, with 39 years of deep industry experience. He is your expert guide through the Teas of India and Teas of Africa.
Bhushan has worked at the forefront of the Nepali tea industry for over three decades and has helped to bring deserved recognition for the teas of Nepal. We look forward to sharing his vast knowledge in the Academy Extras.
Jane is one of the best-known and most highly respected tea professionals in the tea world. She has tirelessly led the UKTA as Director of Studies since being a co-founder in 2016. Though she has now stepped back from teaching you can still find her managing and participating in UKTA Academy Extras.
Elizabeth has a lifetime of experience growing, harvesting and infusing herbs. She has her own tea company, based in the USA and is our Herbs and Infusions expert. She brings her extensive knowledge to the Academy Extras programme.
Sujin is dedicated to the Korean way of tea. Now living in Switzerland with her own tea company, she is passionate about Korean tea and the ceremony. She is the UKTA go-to expert and you should look out for her Academy Extras.
Maren is a tea educator and experienced matcha barista, perfect to host the Matcha Power, Live Q&A session. She spent months processing tea in Kyoto and runs regular tea tastings. She has a deep appreciation for tea traditions and cultures.
William’s creative background informs his approach to hospitality. He has extensive experience working as the Head Bartender at Raffles London at The OWO and you can tap into his expertise and energy in the Mixology Live Q&A session.
Alex is a Master Tea Blender with professional tasting expertise going back over 20 years. He runs several UKTA Masterclasses at his own blendatorium in Kent and is the UKTA values his expertise in this field.
Beverley is based in Scotland and is known in tea-producing regions the world over for her knowledge and expertise in tea propogation, cultivation and processing. From the US to Sri Lanka and Myanmar she has helped establish excellence in the tea garden.
Olivia manages Afternoon Tea at Raffles London, at the OWO -opposite the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Her professionalism and dedication to a exemplary tea service shines through in the live Q&A session for Mastering Afternoon Tea.
Gabriella teaches UKTA courses in Italian, online and in person at Ar-Tea Academy, Venice. She has an incredible breadth of knowledge having travelled extensively in tea-producing regions and dedicated her professional life to tea.
Based in France, Isaline teaches UKTA courses in French. She has a passionate interest in tea, has travelled extensively and with her knowledge and enthusiasm brings the UKTA tea learning to French-speakers.
Head Trainer at the Tea Speciality Korea Center in Seoul, Kyoung-sook teaches UKTA courses in person in Korean and English. She is an expert in Korean tea but has studied hard to deepen her tea knowledge across many key regions.
Based in Germany, Sabine has travelled extensively and learnt comprehensively about tea. Several years ago Sabine achieved – and exceeded – the UKTA’s most advanced level which qualified her to teach UKTA courses online in German.
Knut Marius is Norway-based and an aficionado of tea and international politics. He has delivered a masterclass for the UKTA on “How Tea Changed the World” and will be one to look out for our Academy Extras.
Stefania teaches UKTA courses in Italian, in person at the Tea Academy Italia in Abbiategrasso near Milan. She has a longstanding love and interest in tea and was one of the first to qualify as a Tea Sommelier at the UKTA.
