A taste for tea

Wijeyawardana, born in Columbo, Sri Lanka, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and has been working at National Brands Limited (now Entyce Beverages) since 2000, in the capacity of specialty tea buyer.

Entyce Beverages is the only company in South Africa boasting a Sri Lankan tea master. Housing brands the likes of Five Roses, the company has a strong brand heritage to uphold.

Wijeyawardana personally ensures that each cup delivers the quality, flavour, strength and aroma that have come to be associated with the brand. “Having a true Sri Lankan tea master adds to the romance and mystique associated this much loved South African brand, and in fact, the tea industry as a whole”, comments Five Roses senior brand manager, Debbie Shepard.

Wijeyawardana's position as tea master entails the tasting, buying and selecting of different teas. Together with his team, his responsibility is to ensure that tea is purchased from around the world at the best possible quality and price. Once the tea arrives at the factory, the quality is once again checked and blended.

Passionate about tea, the tea industry and all the romance and mysticism associated with it, Wijeyawardana's father was a tea taster and his two uncles were tea planters, so there is little doubt that he was born into a “tea” family, where school holidays were spent on tea plantations. “Tea is in my blood”, comments Wijeyawardana. “For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by tea people and listening to ‘tea talk' – even my wife is the daughter of a tea planter!” he adds.

His career began in 1984, when he became a tea broker at Forbes and Walkers, one of the largest broking houses in Sri Lanka. It was here that most of his skills as a tea taster were obtained. The art of tea tasting cannot be learned through a formal qualification. “The key to buying or selling tea is learning how to taste. As a trainee in a broking house, you can expect to taste 300 – 400 cups of tea per day”, says Wijeyawardana.

So… what does he reckon makes the perfect cuppa? Wijeyawardana's advice is to always use fresh water, allow the tea to brew for three to four minutes and use the correct amount of tea for the pot or teacup. “A good cup of tea is about choosing the right quality tea and savouring the unique taste associated with the blend.”