To mark the 2022 International Women’s Day, T Ching is beginning a series to focus on women who have and continue to make a huge difference in the world of tea. It is more important than ever before to correct a bias against women working in the tea industry by marketing campaigns and political constraints. Many promote the myth that women only work in the fields to pluck the tender tea leaves. Certainly, it is true that the greatest percentage of field workers are women. But we must not ignore the fact that women are also tea plantation owners and managers. That women have and are continuing to make huge advances in the science of tea. Women are tea entrepreneurs and the leaders of international tea associations. In this ongoing series, we hope to feature many of them.
List of a Few of the Women We Will Feature
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of the women we would like to feature on T Ching. But it is a starting place and will give an overview of some of the areas in which women are making a huge difference in the industry. We would particularly like to feature women-owned and managed international farms and manufacturing operations.
Tea and Social Welfare
- Lisa Mills, Elephant Friendly Tea. She is the founder of “Elephant Origins”, and has been a wildlife conservationist and educator for over 30 years.
- Maria Uspenski, Tea Spot. Contributes a percentage of sales to various social welfare projects, particularly cancer research. She is also the author of “Cancer Hates Tea”. (* T Ching Article)
Tea Innovators
- Mary McLaren and Roberta Lawson Created and Patented the Teabag. (* T Ching Article)
- Mary Johnson Bailey Lincoln, first published recipe for iced tea (*T Ching Article)
Science
- Dr. Selena Ahmed, Tea Researcher, an ethnobotanist with research and outreach interests at the intersection of the ecological, cultural, and health aspects of food systems. The ultimate translational goal of my collaborative research program is to transform the food system through evidence-based innovations that support human and planetary health. – (* T Ching Article)
- Megumi and Ui Hori – 4th Generation Japanese Tea Farmers, Kiroku Tea Garden
International Tea Trade
- Oura Kei, Developed Japanese Tea Trade
Major Tea Brands
- Ruth Bigelow, creator of popular flavored tea and founder of Bigelow Tea
- Rona Tison, Vice-President of Ito En
- Mary Little Twining, led the Twinings tea company, from 1763 to 1782
Tea Association Organizers
-
Hong Nguye, General Secretary at Vietnam Tea Association
- Shabnam Weber, President of the Canadian Tea and Herb Association
- Angela McDonald, Association of U.S. Tea Farmers. (* T Ching Article)
Tea Farmers
- Banskota Family, Nepal Tea (* T Ching Article)
- Megumi, Hiroe and Yoki Kiroku – owner of Kiroku Tea Garden
Historic Tearooms
- Catherine Cranston – developed historic tea rooms
Herbs for Tea and Health
- Dr. Annique Theron, The “Founding Mother” of Rooibos
- Abianne Falla and JennaDee Detro; Co-founders of CatSpring Yaupon Tea
Tea Writers & Publishers
- Mary Lou Heiss, Co-Author, The Story of Tea
- Jane Pettigrew, Jane Pettigrew’s World of Tea
- Sarah Rose, “For All the Tea in China”
- Pearl Dexter, Founder and Publisher of “Tea A Magazine””
Tea Educators
- Sharyn Johnston – Founder of Austrailian Tea Masters, author and global tea educator
Tea Event Organizers
- Faith Ann Bailes, co-founer of “Take Me To Tea” which became the World Tea Expo
Who would you like to see featured in this “Women In Tea” series ?
Please help us tell these stories. Submit complete articles and also suggestions for articles. T Ching wants to tell the story of tea with the powerful voices of women. Please submit articles and ideas to build our project and fill our “Women In Tea Gallery”.
