About Sooz / Suzette Hammond

CV + Work Experience

Hello, I’m Sooz and teaching tea is my way of life…

In 2003, I took a chance and turned to working with coffee and tea, which seemed more naturally peaceful and people-focused. Realizing that the story of humanity’s connection to tea was actually the story that compelled me the most, I knew this was the place where my skills would best be utilized. Before tea, I worked as a trained journalist.

Sooz of Being Tea smelling tea leaves cupping set lid

From 1999-2003, I worked as a broadcast news producer; definitely not a lighthearted time for journalism in America. I was also among the youngest in my city at the time to be working in the field, which was heavy.

I eventually recognized the physical and mental toll of working in news was not for me. However, the technical skills that I learned as a producer indelibly shaped who I became as a communicator and educator. Just through a different medium – Tea.

I’ve been working as a professional tea skills trainer and educator for over 20 years.

My work experience in that time includes more than 10 years of training management and education director roles for leading tea companies, as well as in leadership service for industry trade groups.

The philosophy that feeds Being Tea

My personal background is also multidisciplinary and informs my deep interest for tea not just as a beverage, but also a contemplative, spiritual, and mental health practice.

Buddhism & Chanoyu

Previously, I was an enrolled a student of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony with Urasenke in San Francisco. My spirituality rests with Buddhism and animism; I study in the Plum Village Zen tradition (Thich Nhat Hanh’s lineage). I teach tea meditation, sharing this practice since 2010.

I’m also passionate about movement therapy and somatics. The combination of meditation with tea – two deeply therapeutic physical and philosophical traditions – is very inspiring to me.

Yoga Philosophy & Mental Health

My longtime interest in the intersection of movement therapy and mental health (sparked after a serious injury I occurred) led me to pursue my 200-hr yoga teacher training certification in Chicago with Room to Breathe – a unique yoga studio that’s integrated with a psychotherapy center.

This was one of the first fully trauma-informed yoga training programs – different from continuing ed programs or standalone credits – in the United States. I also regularly engage in continuing education to deepen my personal and teaching practice with yoga philosophy. (below, Studies & Experience)

I was honored with a World Tea Award for Best Tea Educator in 2018 – my first recognition under Being Tea

I wanted to create the space that I wish I had when I was coming up in tea. A place not only for tea professionals, but also for budding tea enthusiasts and devoted tea followers.

In early 2015, I left corporate tea life and soon created Being Tea – an independent tea education space.

A space rooted in accessible, experiential, non-linear learning. Something that exists outside of corporate and industry structure. Outside the pressure of testing, certifications, and arbitrary performance measures.

Over the years, I’ve seen how tea can spark deep change, through access to holistic, inclusive, and meaningful tea skills that serve mind, body and spirit together. Tea reminds us of the bravery in being seen for who we really are.

My Resume: Experience that delivers

I’ve been a working tea professional for over 20 years. My career is centered specifically in tea training and education, which is really unique for this field.

Here’s a little peek at where I’ve been in that time.

Current work & accolades

I’ve owned my own profitable tea education business, solo-operated, for over 10 years.

Being Tea

Founder, 2016-current
– Teacher Training program
– Class Membership
– Tasting Box Club
– Private client work

Press & Published Works

Articles, interviews, and podcasts featuring Being Tea

Winner

World Tea Award for Best Tea Educator, 2018

Organizations I’ve worked with:

Chicago, my home city

Northwestern University, Pride alumni

I Grow Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago

Deloitte

Tejas Yoga

Room to Breathe

Inner Sense Healing Arts

U.S. National

Harvard Divinity School

Penn State University

Duke University

Florida State University

Meta / Facebook

Salesforce

SharkNinja

Greater Goods Coffee Roasters

Frequent workshop teacher and speaker at:

Currently active:

TeaFest PDX

San Jose Tea Festival

Nevada Tea Festival

Previously active:

World Tea Expo

Northwest Tea Festival

Midwest Tea Festival

NY Coffee & Tea Festival

Chicago Tea Festival

** Since 2020, I only teach with organizations that offer online accessible programming.

Client & Colleague Testimonials

Being Tea Student Testimonials

Teacher Training Testimonials

Previous work experience

Tea companies I’ve worked for:

Paper & Tea | Director Tea Procurement & Training
Feb 2015 – Dec 2016

Rishi Tea | Director of Education & Brand Strategist
Jan 2012 – Dec 2014

Adagio Teas | Training & Education Director
Aug 2010 – Jan 2012

Peet’s Coffee & Tea | Field Trainer; Barista Trainer
Oct 2003 – Aug 2010

Tea industry organizations I’ve been a part of:

Tea Masters Cup International | Certified National Judge, USA (2019 cycle)

American Specialty Tea Alliance | Deputy Executive Director, Co-Founder (2018 – 2020)

World Tea Academy | Advisory Board member, curriculum, guest instructor (2013 – 2018)

Specialty Tea Institute | Instructor, Board of Directors (2006 – 2013)

Global Tea Championship | Judge, senior advisor (2008 – 2018)

Tea Journey Magazine | Education Director, Founding staff member, Contributor (June 2016)

Invited guest speaker for conferences in:

Hanoi, Vietnam (2019, twice)

Shenzhen, China (2019)

Krakow, Poland (2016)

Seoul, Korea (2013)

Studies and Experience

Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga and Meditation Teacher
(400-hr+) Training through Room to Breathe Psychotherapy and Yoga (2018 -2019)

Continuing Yoga and Meditation Education:
– Dharma Rebellion, Yoga Sutras, Yoga & Religion, and ongoing workshops, with Hari Kirtana-das
– 8-week Meditation Training with Yoga for Arthritis
– Accessible Yoga for Older Adults, with Accessible Yoga School, 21-hrs
– Science of the Private Lesson YTT, with Francesca Cervero, 20-hrs
– Apocalyptic Grief series, with Lama Rod Owens
– Spirituality in Education intensive with the Awakened Schools Institute, at Teacher’s College, Columbia University
– Sacred Cosmology of the Body, Grief as a Super Power, and other yoga nidra studies, with Yoli Maya Yeh
– Total Yoga Nidra immersion course, Yoga Nidra network (Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and Nirlipta Tuli)
– Several online retreats with Magnolia Grove Monastery
–Trauma-informed yoga training with Prison Yoga Chicago

My previous career life, before tea

Journalism and News Producer
– KVVU (Las Vegas, NV) and KOIN (Portland, OR)
– Broadcast News Producer and Assoc. Producer (Jul 1999 – Oct 2003)

> View my complete profile on LinkedIn

Want to explore working together?

Get in touch here and let’s chat!

Whether you’re an organization, a small business, or an individual looking to take your tea skills and practice to a deeper level, I’d love to connect with you about your tea interests.

I’m also able to provide support for time-sensitive projects, ongoing training needs, special events, and online learning.

My areas of expertise include functional tea skills, such as brewing, tasting, and evaluation, as well as tea for mindfulness and meditation training to support mental well-being.

Thank you for your message! I’ll be in touch shortly.

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