Our Natural Luxury Sommelier Challenge made its international debut this week in Shanghai, China. The contest is an ethical tea grower’s perspective on the evolution of luxury. It offers a contemporary suggestion of luxury that ventures beyond the opulent materialism of the past to celebrate nature, wellness, taste adventure, and the passion of the artisan.
That notion of luxury is presented in a guest experience harmonized by the ancient tradition of making tea. Tea making evolved over the ages in the knowledge that the influence of Nature combined with the art, science & passion of the artisan, are the ingredients of great tea. The idea of the Natural Luxury Sommelier Challenge was birthed in Sri Lanka, as it had to start with the perspective of Teamakers devoted to tea. It began its global journey in China, for that is where Emperor Shen Nung, first discovered tea, nearly 5,000 years ago.
88 teams participated from across China, with 12 finalists presenting their tea inspired gastronomy and mixology live to Judges Stephen Lim (F&B), Sven Heinrich Wunrum (culinary), Huy Hoang (mixology), and Dilhan C. Fernando (tea). The Challenge tasks Chefs and Mixologist in two person teams, with producing exceptional tea inspired food, beverage and pairings with Respect. Let me explain the capital ‘R’.
Respect is central to luxury in the 21st Century. Natural Luxury demands knowledge and consideration of ingredients and their heritage, in selecting method of preparation, temperatures and flavour combinations. Those details are important as aroma, flavour and antioxidant goodness is often volatile, and contestants need expertise to honour taste, culture and plant based goodness in each ingredient.
That connects to respect for artisans, their passion, effort and livelihoods. Artisanship was central to my father’s lifetime of devotion to making the world a better tea; its relevance to our future cannot be overstated. Respect also for Natural Wellness, with understanding of Nature’s pharmacopeia, the goodness in herbs, spices and roots, framed in the terroir of specific teas. Importantly, understanding their relevance to human health and respecting that wellness without compromising flavour and cultural context.
These are the elements of a sophisticated and contemporary expression of luxury, offering the taste of nature, plant based health and wellness, genuine ethics in the respect for artisans and their livelihoods. This is good taste with sophistication linked to honest and respectful culinary tradition. Ultimately all this forms genuinely conscious experiences, luxury for the conscious guest.
The Natural Luxury Sommelier Challenge is our endeavour to inspire respect for fine tea, Ceylon Cinnamon and other ingredients that – when made with respect – offer extraordinary flavour and health benefits. It also aims to promote more inspired gastronomy, with knowledge of ingredients, and importantly awareness and respect for the efforts of artisans who produce them. These are the elements of hospitality in the 21st Century, as they come together in our cups, glasses, plates and bowls.
Each contestant was considered a winner for having accepted the Challenge. Teams comprising a Sommelier and Chef were required to present 4 tea inspired drinks, each inspired with paired savoury and sweet food. Presentations were crafted around themes linked to cultural heritage, sustainability, and in some instances, play. All were impressive but some were exceptional, and the joint winners were Team 2, Cody Zhu and Rachel Zhang (Wuhan Marriott Hotel Wuchang) and Team 8, Lukmanul Hakim and Amanda Au-Yeung Mei Wah (Ritz Carlton Hong Kong).
From Shanghai, Natural Luxury Sommelier will traverse the world, exploring lost ingredients and food cultures, honouring artisanship, inviting a fresh perspective on respectful cooking for wellness. The objective is a Tea growing family’s desire for a sophisticated experience of quality, taste adventure and wellness in fine tea, Ceylon Cinnamon and other key ingredients. Ultimately to deliver luxurious guest experiences reflecting evolved luxury in the 21st century.
Our Natural Luxury Sommelier Challenge could not have started its journey around the world from any other country for China is also the place where Tang Dynasty poet Lu T’ung wrote ‘Seven Bowls of Tea’ so eloquently describing the inspiration and mystery in fine tea.
The first bowl soothes the throat, while the second banishes loneliness. At the third bowl, I search my soul and find 5,000 volumes of ancient poems. With the fourth bowl, a slight perspiration washes away all unhappy things. At the fifth bowl, my bones and muscles are cleansed. With the sixth bowl, I am in communication with the immortal spirit. The seventh bowl ? It is forbidden : already a cool, ethereal breeze begins to soothe my whole body.
