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2024 Chicago Tea Festival Board of Directors
Agnieszka, the owner of Chicago Teahouse, is a true master of her craft, and her knowledge and experience are unmatched. Her deep-rooted connection with tea began in her homeland of Poland, where tea is a cultural and social beverage. With her unwavering passion and dedication to tea, she became a certified Tea Sommelier in 2017 and went on to open her tea shop in the heart of Chicago. She has also been voted The Best Tea Shop in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Agnieszka has extensively traveled the world to learn firsthand about tea culture and how to ensure the perfect brew in every cup.
Sheila, the owner of TeaLula, is a lifelong tea lover and a Certified Tea Specialist (CTS) who turned her passion into a business by opening TeaLula in 2008. As a certified tea specialist by the Specialty Tea Institute, she offers over 200 varieties of the finest loose leaf teas. You can find her most days at her tasting bar sharing her knowledge and passion for tea. Sheila loves to bring her tea knowledge to the community by hosting focused tastings, etiquette classes, and tea 101 classes. Her expertise is not just limited to theory as she has traveled to the countries of origin, including India and Sri Lanka, to source teas from renowned tea estates.
Mike was drawn into the world of tea in the Fall of 2013 completely by accident. After trying a free sample at a local tea shop, he returned again and again to discover more. He chatted with the staff, and it seemed his thirst for knowledge was just as unquenchable as his thirst for tea. He began doing live tea tastings on Facebook, recording over 200 sessions, and pursued furthering his education with the World Tea Academy. He became more involved with the tea industry and aspired to expand his Communi-Tea to the public. He is currently developing his live tea programs into educational experiences that allow clients to participate in from home.