George Guttridge-Smith is a dear Tea Fellow member of Global Japanese Tea Association and Japanese tea specialist that has been working in the tea industry since 2018. He is the International Development manager at Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms and is also one of the instructors for our Japanese Tea Master Courses. But George’s connection to tea goes far beyond his professional life: it is a true passion that fills even his free time. A few months ago, he launched an exciting new project: People of Tea – a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of individuals connected to tea. In each episode, George invites a guest to share their journey, enjoy tea together, and explore personal and cultural perspectives around tea and more. To make the experience even more interactive, each episode was paired with a curated tea giveaway for listeners.
So far, People of Tea has featured seven episodes, each highlighting a unique voice from the tea world. We couldn’t recommend one episode more than another, as every single guest brought so much insight over the tea world while sharing their personal experiences and points of view. The episodes span an inspiring range of experiences, from Japanese tea specialists Jean Rosas from France and Kirstine Michaelsen from Denmark, to anthropologist Sarah Mazza from Italy. Listeners also meet Pau Valverde Molina from Spain, a former coffee expert turned tea specialist, as well as awabancha tea farmer Kanji Nakata. The series continues with Marjolein Raijmakers, the founder of Nagasaki Ikedoki Tea and a passionate connector within the tea community, and concludes (for now) with Takahiro Yagi, the craftsman and artist from the historic Kaikado tea caddy workshop. And there’s much more to come!
The podcast is always evolving, bringing even more stories, resources, and opportunities to the tea community. Listeners are even able to purchase beautifully designed booklets for each episode, combining storytelling, tea culture, and flavour – each featuring an interview and a thoughtfully selected tea pairing.
If you haven’t listened to it yet, hurry up. Tune in and explore the world of tea through the voices of those who live it!
* Image Source: People of Tea