My Story
As a little girl, I often visited my grandparents in Amsterdam.
My grandmother made the most beautiful handmade dolls, and I was always amazed by everything in the house.
On the table, there was always a large thermos of black tea. To pour the tea, you first had to pump it, which made a slurping sound.
The tea itself… well, it was actually undrinkable. Far too strong, steeped in the pot for hours, and with a thick layer of tea residue in your cup. Yuck.
But the moments at the table were priceless: being together, the warmth, and the love.
That’s where my story with tea began ... though I didn’t know it at the time.
Later, when I lived on my own, I discovered how wonderful it was to share a pot of tea with friends. Tea became the perfect moment to catch up, pause, and simply enjoy. What I didn’t yet know was that tea would go on to play an even bigger role in my life.
When the COVID period began, my work in healthcare changed. I was a trainer in intellectual disability care, but the lockdown brought that to a halt.
For a while, I returned to my old profession as a nurse, but deep down I knew: this path no longer felt right.
During that period, I had trouble sleeping, and one sleepless night I came across a podcast by a tea sommelier. I listened in wonder for an hour and a half, so many beautiful stories, so many tea cultures, and so many types of tea in the world!
I was enchanted. That very same day, I discovered the tea sommelier course and signed up immediately. Three months later, I was at the Chamber of Commerce. I wasn’t even certified yet, but I felt it deep in my bones: this is my path.
At Theesommelier Benita, I help people slow down and connect through tea that truly touches the heart. Not standard blends, but personal experiences carefully crafted, tailored to the individual, the moment, or a company. In a world that seems to move faster every day, I offer calm, wonder, and gentleness in a cup of tea.
My mission is simple, yet profound: to use tea to bring people closer to themselves and to each other. Through mindfulness, connection, and the senses. Because a cup of tea can be so much more than just a warm drink, it can tell a story, evoke memories, and create a feeling of home.
You are warmly welcome to get to know me, ask questions, or join a workshop. I would love to guide you into the world of tea and herbal tea, where every cup can hold something truly special.
Theesommelier Benita
