Manar Elbaz

DUBAI: Yvette Arizala is a certified tea sommelier and a member of Japan’s World Green Tea association who is making a name for herself through hosting tea ceremonies in the UAE.

Born and raised on the American island of Guam, Arizala found her way to the Gulf region when she moved to Kuwait shortly after graduating from university. She eventually found a job in Dubai and has been living there for over a decade. 

Arizala was invited to become a special member of Japan’s World Green Tea Association (WGTA), an organization founded in 2001 by the Shizuoka Prefecture to promote green tea development and spread awareness about traditions and benefits, becoming the first Dubai-based tea expert to join them. Additionally, she also contributes to writing articles for their magazine RYOKUCHA.

“The best feeling for me is having an extension of their support—knowing I can reach out anytime about anything and everything related to Japanese tea. That is golden. And of course, I have a duty to share that knowledge with the tea community,” she told Arab News Japan.

Over the last seven years, Arizala has been traveling back and forth to Japan, China and Taiwan to do tea volunteer work with growers and learn the art of making tea with them, leading her to start her online platform “yv et te”  to share inspiring stories and recommendations for an audience in the UAE.

“While tea is slowly spreading in UAE, specifically Matcha having its boom—we try to keep our selection small, highly curated to carefully selected teas from the growers we trust and support, be transparent about all the details—basically just focusing on the good stuff that we’d be proud to share,” she shared.

Arizala has hosted more than 100 tea tasting sessions in the UAE, including, but not limited to, Japanese tea tasting masterclasses during the recent Japan x Van Gogh exhibition at TODA.

She shared that it started out as a hobby to get others to indulge in the experience of trying authentic Japanese tea, feeling personally fulfilled when creating a memorable experience for others.

For her recent workshop, she collaborated with Japan in Arabia, a meetup group based in Dubai to connect those who are passionate about Japanese culture together. The workshop took place at her house, making the experience more intimate.

During the workshop, she introduced participants to six different kinds of Japanese tea, such as Karigane Kukicha, while showing them how to brew correctly and giving them general tips. The 2-hour workshop also included healthy snacks, created by Arizala herself, for attendees to enjoy the tea tasting on a full stomach.

For those interested in attending tea tasting for the first time, Yvette recommends coming with an open mind. “I’m not a tea police…but what I do encourage is to try something new and something of quality,” she explained.

The tea sommelier’s passion intertwines with her love for food and wellness, as she continues to educate people about all things tea related. She is currently holding tea ceremonies around the UAE, however she is open to hosting them in Saudi Arabia if an opportunity presents itself. Arizala is currently in the process of launching her own brand.