David DeCandia has been with the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for 11 years, where he is the Senior Manager of Tea and Master Tea Blender and buyer. He also formed the company’s training and certification programs, which educate its 850 retail employees about tea. What sparked your interest in tea? I was just...

John Cullicott brings more than 16 years of tea industry experience to judging. As President and COO of Walters Bay, he has helped develop the grower-direct business model, which prioritizes sustainability, traceability and transparency. Cullicott’s experience encompasses every step of the supply chain, from tea nurseries and gardens to factories and packaging. He was...

Eliot Jordan’s career in the tea industry began at Peet’s Coffee & Tea store in Berkeley, California, where he went from being a part-time employee to being a trainer and subsequently a tea purchaser, blender and buyer. During his tenure at Peet’s he introduced new teas and blends, such as Pride of the Port...