100 Pioneer Members

Our Pioneer Members are the first 100 of Tea Fellows and Tea Catalysts to join our association. We really appreciate their early trust and support, when we were just at the beginning of the path. Thanks to them we were able to build a global Japanese tea community and start many new tea initiatives. We are proud to introduce them here.

Japan

Alba Ameller
dokodemocha
Made in Barcelona, based in Tokyo since 2013. Alba has been studying and practicing Japanese tea ceremony under her teacher’s line- Omotesenke. During the day, Alba works in multimedia production and experience design. In her spare time, you will find her building small initiatives and experiences to revitalize the art of Japanese tea ceremony. More here.
Ian Chun
Yunomi
Matsu seduced Ian into the tea industry in 2010, and he began promoting Japanese tea farmers and small factories globally establishing Yunomi.life as an online platform in 2013. Yunomi.life now offers a thousand teas from over a hundred Japanese tea producers.
Lilia Dzyk
Fujini Shokai Kyoto
Lilia is an avid tea-lover and enthusiast. She has spent time volunteering on a Japanese tea farm and now works at a tea company in Kyoto.
George Guttridge-Smith
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
George's fascination with tea started nearly 10 years ago. Since 2019 he has been working at Obubu Tea and leading several creative tea projects.
Jason Eng
Kametani Tea Factory
Jason's background is in marketing management and now he works in a business development and partnerships role at a tea company in Nara.
Helen Hayashi
Helen has been living in Japan for a long time and has been teaching yoga. In future she would like to open a take out tea shop in Sakai.
Yasuharu Matsumoto
Global Japanese Tea Association,
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Matsumoto is one of our association founders. He has been working with Japanese tea since 2004, has been focusing on bringing Japanese tea to the world
Caven Mitchell
SIVENTH
Caven is the CEO of SIVENTH, a technology focused consulting and mentorship provider. He is also developing a tool for sustainability evaluation in tea industry practices.
Ryo Morisaki
Morifuku Chaen
Ryo is the first generation tea farmer in Wazuka, Kyoto. He focuses on making natural tea that is good for people and the environment.
Moe Nakashima 
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Moe has a passion for tea and tourism. She has been working at Obubu Tea since 2019 and has been helping to manage several ta tourism activities.
Mak Tsui Shan (Vira)
Vira is a Buddhist nun, who is teaching meditation around the world. She has also a deep interest in tea.
Yoshihiro Sugimoto
Wazuka Koucha
Sugimoto-san is a 5th generation tea farmer in Wazuka, Kyoto. He specializes in Japanese black tea - Wakoucha
Simona Suzuki (Zavadckyte)
Global Japanese Tea Association
Simona is one of our association founders. She has been working with Japanese Tea since 2013. Her focus is on making Japanese tea more open and accessible to the world
Noriyasu Uejima
Uejima Sourokuen
Uejima-san is a 5th generation tea farmer in Wazuka, Kyoto. He makes high-grade teas including Matcha and Gyokuro
Jun Watanabe
Deai Noen
Jun is the fourth generation tea farmer from Shimada, Shizuoka. He mostly makes deep steamed tea - fukamushicha, but he has also been experimenting with other kinds like Wakoucha, Oolongcha.
 

Australia

Micah Nieriz Agustin
Micah's background is in statistics and operations management. She also really loves Japanese tea.
Kirsten Glenwright
Kirsten is a an artist with a deep love for tea, especially Gyokuro.
James Millward
James has been a long-term Japanese tea enthusiast since studying at Kochi University in 1997. He has recently completed a Japanese tea course with our association.
Bonnie Robin
Parlor Tea
Bonnie is the co-founder of Parlor Tea, a Melbourne based tea brand, that focuses on organic green tea.
Camellia Thistleton
Miss Camellia Tea
Camellia is the founder of Miss Camellia Tea, that provides boutique teas and bespoke tea ceremonies.

Austria

 
Claudia Befu
Tea Room Stories 
Claudia is a tea lover and tea ceremony practitioner, who shares here passion through here page Tea Room Stories. 
Michaela Scheda
Michaela has been interested in tea and she really likes Japanese tea.

Belgium

Carol Bailleul 
The Art of Tea Brewing
Carol has been working with tea since 2013. She runs a Wabi Sabi Guest house, provides tea consulting and has published a book called "Afternoon Tea or High Tea?"
Greet Huybrechts
Greet Huybrechts theesommelier
Greet's background is in tourism and she has a great passion for tea.
Erik De Keersmaecker 
Wakoucha
Erik is a certified ITMA Tea Sommelier. He has been fascinated by Wakoucha and has built the whole website for it.
Elena Macheret
Elena started her tea journey with Chinese teas, but soon she fell in love with Japanese tea and now is looking to explore them more.
Cinzia Merlin
The Tea Circle
Cinzia's background is in professional translation, but she is also a co-founder of the Tea Circle - a space for tea culture and education in Brussels.
Sofie Vercauteren
Tearista
Sofie spent nearly a year travelling through Asia and learning about tea. Now she teaches about tea to others and organizes trips to tea regions. 

Brazil

Paula Batista
Paula is an agronomist with a deep interest in tea. She has been an active member of the first Brazilian tea school and is now researching about tea at the Okayama University.
Eloína Telho
Chazeira
Eloína is a tea lover and sensorial teacher Escola de Chá Embahú. She visited Japan in 2018 and was able to explore the tea regions of Shizuoka and Kyoto.

Canada

Delphine Gingras
Delphine started drinking Japanese tea many years ago and she is looking to learn more about it.
Lee Jolliffe
University of New Brunswick
Lee is a professor of hospitality and tourism. She has been deeply interested in tea tourism and has also published a book about it 'Tea and Tourism'.
Han Le
 Salon de Thé Oasis
Han is a founder and the owner of Salon de The Oasis in Montreal, Canada. Han is deeply invested in tea education, and over the years has held many workshops and events
Francois Mathieu
Hojicha.co
Francois is a founder of Hojicha.co and is working on introducing Japanese roasted tea all across North America.

France

 Lucie Pinzano
Lucie has a great passion for Japanese tea. A few years ago she travelled across Japan to experience and learn more about Japanese tea.

Germany

Beatriz Rodriguez
Beatriz has been passionate about Japanese tea for a long time and she is looking for new ways how to help introduce it more in Germany
Susanne Lang
Horenso Consulting
Susanne is the founder of Horenso Consulting. Combining her experience in hospitality sector and her interest in tea, she is working to help other businesses succeed. More here.
Susanne Monka
Susanne has a deep interest in tea and has completed several online tea courses at our association.
Olesya Rudolff 
Olesya is a real tea enthusiast based in Germany.
Marten Verch
Marten has worked in several tea companies and associations in Germany. He is really passionate and enthusiastic about tea.
Maurice Eric Zacher
Maurice is a product designer in Germany, who has lived in Japan for a few years and has developed a deep passion for Japanese tea.

Hong Kong

Yeuk Shing Chiu
Otto used to help at his grandfather's tea shop where he developed interest in tea. Now he is learning about and exploring Japanese tea more proactively.

Honduras

Jose Guillermo
Te Invito
At the age of 17 Jose founded a tea company,  and is working on re-culturalizing people in the coffee country -Honduras towards tea.

Indonesia

Stella Suherman
Yamaoka Tea
Stella is the founder of Yamaoke Tea in Indonesia and has a special affinity for Japanese tea.

Ireland

Shane Flynn
The Plant Based Cafe
Shane is the founder of The Plant Based Cafe. In future he would like to introduce more Japanese tea to Ireland.

Italy

Alessandra Celi
Tè e Teiere
Alessandra's background is plants and herbs. It is natural that she discover tea, and since 2005 she has been running a tea shop in the heart of Rome.

 

Sara Cherchi
Tea Squirrel
Sara's passion for Japanese tea started during her university years. She lived in Osaka for several years and hopes to start a tea business in the near future. More here.

 

Stefania Gilardi
Tea Academy Italia
Stefania is the founder of Tea Academy Italia, started in 2017 to spread tea culture in Italy. She is also the owner of a Tea Room called Tête à Thé no so far from Milan. More here.
Silvia Miglietta
Silvia works with medical devices and has a great passion for tea. She has completed several tea courses by our association and the UK Tea Academy
Elena Alessia Rasetto
Elena is a tea lover, who has a strong interest in Japanese tea.
Maria Giulia Rigon
While working with languages professionally Maria has a great passion for tea and has been collaborating with local teashops in holding tea events.

Lebanon

Caren Chawa
While professionally involved in a different field, Caren has been a tea lover for a long time and in future hopes to have her own teashop.

Lithuania

Giedrė Trumpienė
Yugen Tea
Giedrė's interest in tea began over 10 years ago. In 2020 she started a tea company Yugen Tea, and now is promoting Japanese tea in Lithuania.

Malaysia

Andri Ciang
Hojichaya
Andri is the founder of Hojichaya. He works on promoting Hojicha and other Japanese teas in Malaysia.

Mexico

Martha Mendizabal
Martha really loves Japanese  tea. She has completed several of our tea courses and in future hopes to have a Japanese tea business in Mexico.

New Zealand

Mark Pierson
Mark is the founder of the International Guild of Tea Liturgists, and curates “Tea & Be” rituals at festivals, conferences and churches.

Philippines  

Crisiljefv Garrido 
C-Tea
Crisiljefv's background in real estate, but he has also started an organic tea manufacturing company in the Philippines, called C-Tea.
Sharee Mae Te
Chingkee Tea
Sharee is the founder of Chingkee Tea. She started her tea business at the age of 21 and now runs 4 locations.

Portugal

Nina Gruntkowski
Chá Camélia
Nina has a great passion for tea. She is a co-founder of Chá Camélia and one of the first tea growers in Europe.
Vânia Romano
Vânia works for a tea company is Portugal and wishes to learn more about Japanese tea.
Maarten Roos
Lightcurve Films
Maarten's background is in science and film making. He also loves tea, of course, and is looking for ways to combine these passions.

Singapore

Julie Wang
Julie has been involved in several tea education and consulting projects. She is also a graduate of the Japanese Tea Master Course

Spain

Xenia Bianco
The Japanese Tea Hub
Xenia is the founder of The Japanese Tea Hub and she is working on promoting Japanese tea across all Europe. More here.
Anna Poian
Global Japanese Tea Association,
Mindful Teas
Anna is one of our association founders. By attending tea festivals and holding tea workshops she has been introducing Japanese tea throughout Europe.
Pilar Serrano
Tea Academy Spain
Pilar is the director of the Tea Academy Spain, teaching students about tea. She is also winner of the Tea Masters Cup Spain in 2019.

Russia

Dmitry Sobolev
Oh! My Tea
Dmitry is the owner of the tea and coffee shop in Saint Petersburg called Oh!MyTea.

Thailand

Nixon Chen
Mahidol University International College
Nixon is an assistant professor in Mahidol University International College.  He teaches about Sales, Marketing, Fashion, Society, Wine Studies and of course Tea! 
 

The Netherlands

Mariëlla Erkens
Mariëlla Erkens Theesommelier
Mariëlla is a tea sommelier, tea expert, tea author. She provides advice and training on tea, and has even written a book about tea and food pairing.
Philippine Kahn
Most of Philippine's career was in the field of law, but she is looking for a future in tea, and has been actively studying about Japanese tea. She is also very interested in wagashi.
Raffaella Marziani
Raffaella has completed a tea course at the UK Tea Academy and she is specialising in Japanese tea.
Victoria Mikheeva
Victoria went to Japan in 2019, where she discovered Japanese tea and got really interested in it.
Marjolein Raijmakers
Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea
Marjolein has a great passion for Japan tea. She has completed an internship at Obubu Tea and now works at Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea.
Richard Schukkink 
International Tea and Coffee Academy
Richard is the founder of the International Tea and Coffee Academy. For over a decade, he has been teaching and inspiring a new generation of tea and coffee professionals.

Turkey

Eray Ergenc
Eray has roots in a tea producing region in Turkey and in future would like to have a tea farm to produce green tea.

UAE

 
Viktoryia Toma
Ikigai-shu
Viktoryia is a food & beverage specialist. She is also a WSET wine & sake educator.

United Kingdom

Anna Louise Batchelor
Anna Louise is an Environmental Scientist and consultant in the food industry. Having studied with the UK Tea Academy, Anna is a certified Tea Sommelier with specific interest in Japanese Tea. Anna has traveled widely in Japan visiting tea fields, production facilities and enjoying a home stay on a tea farm.
Luisa Duca
The Yorebridge House
Luisa is Chef de rang in 5 star hotel. She is also an avid tea drinker and has already completed several tea courses.
 
Julie Thomas
Julie tasted Japanese tea for the first time 21 years ago and really hopes to tour the tea regions one day.
Kyle Whittington
TeaWithKyle
Kyle is a tea specialist and tea ceremony practitioner of Ueda Sōko school. He also creates shifuku - Japanese tea ceremony fabrics and runs the Tea Book Club.

USA

Michaeline Becker 
Mickbeauty
Michaeline is a professional hair & makeup artist. She would also like to start curating and selling Matcha.
Dan Bolton
Tea Journey
Dan is the founder of the digital Tea Journey magazine, and he is also the chief editor of several other tea magazines.
Sam Boyles
Second Steep Tea
Sam's background is in coffee, but he is also really interested in tea, and and is working to start a tea business
Seth Griffin
Seth is a professional Chinese translator and a keen tea drinker.
Cynthia Goldberg
Global Tea Initiative Univ of California
Cynthia is an advisory committee member of the University of California, Davis Global Tea Initiative. She is also a recreational potter who loves ceramic tea ware.
 
Audrey Guzik
Audrey is a Japanese tea enthusiast, who has been ordering tea directly from Japan and journaling the tastings.
Holly Helt
Chiki Tea
Holly is the founder and CEO of Chiki Tea - an international Japanese green tea online retailer. She has also written a book about Japanese tea.
Peter Jones
Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Peter's background is in psychology and he is also the head tea guy at the Trident Booksellers & Cafe travelling to tea regions to source tea himself.
Angela Lancaster
Angela works in the transport industry. She has a great interest both in Japan and Japanese tea.
 David Lavecchia
Tezumi
David is a member of Tezumi team. He is also a practitioner of Ueda Sōko school of Japanese tea ceremony and is training to gain Nihoncha Instructor's certification.
Patrick Leonard
Patrick's background is in data analysis, but he has a great interest in tea. He has completed several tea courses with our association.
Christopher Lum
Tea Master Matcha Cafe & Green Tea Shop
Christopher works at a tea shop in LA - Tea Master. He is a true Japanese tea lover and Matcha is his passion. 
Marzi Pecen 
Pecen & Associates
Marzi is a independent tea professional consulting about the tea, fragrance, flavoring, culinary & beverage industries
Lauren Purvis
Mizuba Tea Co.
Lauren has been studying specialty tea for over 17 years. In 2013 she founded Mizuba Tea Company, that is a recognized Uji Cha Tea Dealer working with some of the most highly awarded tea producers in Japan. More here.
Cathy Reyes-Gallardo
Cathy Ana
Cathy has a great passion for Japanese tea. She has spent nearly a year in a tea town in Kyoto, and hopes to open her own tea shop one day.
Jules Reyes
matchajules
Jules is a lifelong student of Japanese tea. She is the creator of Instagram communities: @matcha.sf, @matcha.la, and @matcha.nyc. More here.
Cory Schmidt
Brainsteep
Cory is the creator for Brainsteep - a website for tea and throught. He used to live in Japan and has been an avid tea fan for many years.
Aiko Strasser
Savor Matcha
Aiko founded Savor Matcha in 2020, a female-founded & Asian owned online shop dedicated to promoting the health benefits of craft Japanese matcha in the US.
Tess Thormodsgaard
LA Tea Sommelier
While professionally working in a different field, Tess is passionate about tea and is happy to organize tea activities and workshops in LA.
Erin Toyoshima
Matchaful
Erin manages Operations and Sustainability at Matchaful, a female-founded, mission-driven matcha and wellness company based in New York City. 
Adrian Vega
Adrian has been working in the tea industry for a number of years and now he is creating a new tea company