Q. Since when did you start working as a tea sommelier?
A. I’ve served various drinks for 10 years since becoming a LOTTE HOTEL employee. It was since 2011 that I started studying tea in earnest, and that was when tea sommelier was an emerging occupation. The term is different now, but I’ve long studied tea using various methods to become a tea expert.

Q. As a tea sommelier at a five-star hotel, what do you do in your line of work?
A. I am in charge of managing all tea products including selecting the merchandise from various tea brands and determining the main tea item for The Lounge every season.

Q. What kind of tea is sold at The Lounge? What’s your criteria for selection?
A. Tea can be categorized according to the processing method. Largely, there are white tea, green tea, oolong tea, puer tea, and black tea. Each category has more varieties in it. In a nutshell, we have dozens of teas in our selection. The decision to choose teas to put on the menu is made by experts from restaurants after testing and evaluating each item. Quality is basically the most important factor, but the brand name and price are also considered.

Q. Tell us about the latest tea trend.
A. Like fashion, the beverage culture is going through rapid changes. A couple of years ago, coffee was without doubt the top choice among various drinks, but tea has subtly become a trendy item among young generations. Afternoon tea sets have been promoted by hotels as part of Korea’s tea culture, and they now serve as a means to self-promote on social networking sites. It is true that that’s how tea has become popular among young people. Where and how you enjoy your tea with what kind of dessert and how well you photograph your tea table have emerged as a key trend these days.

Q. Do you enjoy tea regularly?
A. There are many savory teas. I personally like mint flavor enough to carry mint candies all the time, so I drink peppermint tea most frequently. (Laugh) Peppermint tea is great if you have a dry mouth or after a meal to help with digestion if you feel bloated. I think I have at least one cup of peppermint tea a day.
Peppermint tea sold by The Lounge is easily enjoyable as the product uses a woody mint scent on top of the original refreshing scent of mint leaves. In summer, you can prepare the tea by maceration and make iced peppermint tea to fend off the heat.

Q. For those who are new to tea drinking, what criteria should they apply to selecting tea?
A. Before purchasing tea, I recommend you try out several kinds of tea at cafes or tea houses. I hope you make your decision after experiencing various teas at SIGNIEL SEOUL The Lounge. (Laugh)

Q. Do you recommend certain teas for specific situations or health conditions?
A. For rainy days, it is wise to drink lapsang souchong tea. It’s a blend of Chinese black tea also known as zhèng shān xiǎo zhǒng. Its smoked scent of pine needles goes well with rainy weather.
Many people think one of the reasons to drink tea is for health. Among the well-known effects, green tea is rich in an antioxidant called catechin which helps cardiovascular health. Another antioxidant called theaflavin is included in black tea and is known to lower the cholesterol level. Oolong tea activates the enzyme that melts triglyceride, affecting weight control. It’s a popular choice among those who want to lose weight. Cederberg tea contains no caffeine but a high level of protein which helps with skin care and anti-aging.

Q. What kind of dessert goes well with tea?
A. There are certain desserts that are good with certain types of tea. Green tea, the most popular choice, can be enjoyed with sweet Western desserts such as cake and macarons as the tea has a rich flavor. It also goes well with Korean traditional desserts like hangwa or honey-filled rice cake. Next in popularity is black tea, and it has a good chemistry with various food items. Think of an afternoon tea set. It is important to pick a food to be served with the tea, but you can also enjoy black tea itself by adding another drink to it. For example, put milk in black tea for a cup of milk tea, or add lemon to black tea to accentuate the tea flavor.

Q. Is there a way to infuse tea well at home like at The Lounge?
A. To truly enjoy tea, first try to be comfortable and relaxed as you prepare yourself to have a good time. When brewing tea, although there are slight differences depending on the type, water must not be too hot. The temperature should stay around 80-90℃. If you are using a teabag, do not shake or squeeze it. Let it sit for a minute and remove the teabag before drinking. The key here is to pour hot water in the cup first, before the teabag. If you put in the teabag first and then pour hot water over it, the tea comes in contact with more oxygen than needed, resulting in a poor flavor and scent.

Q. How should tea be stored at home?
A. With teabags, removing the plastic wrapping can expose the product to oxygen and cause alteration to the original flavor and scent. Thus, you can maintain the quality of tea by keeping them in small batches in sealed plastic bags and store them in a cool, dark place away from the sunlight. The same goes for tea leaves. They should be stored in a cool, dark place with minimal temperature changes. If you’ve opened the product in plastic bags instead of a tin case, you can move them to a sealable glass jar for storing. The expiration dates usually are a year or two years after the production date, but for the best tea experience, you should consume it within a year.

Q. Is there a good season to drink tea?
A. Since tea is ordinarily enjoyed as a hot beverage, late spring, late fall, or cold winter would be the answer. You can warm your body as you drink tea, which will double the flavor and scent you feel. Iced teas in summer are good too, though. Tea should be with us all year round. (Laugh)

Q. If the weather is warm like this spring, what tea would you recommend?
A. I would recommend Jardin Bleu of Dammann Frères, included in “Tea Time Edition” of ALL THAT HOTEL this month. The name means ‘blue garden’ in French. The flavored tea uses pure rhubarb and strawberry scents for a richer tea experience. It is a good choice if you want to feel natural freshness from spring to summer. Jardin Bleu should be steeped for 4-5 minutes in 90℃ water.