FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, Contact:
Shelby Tuttle
C. Pharr & Company for The Cultured Cup
972-931-7576 Ext.21
Dallas Resident First in Texas to Receive Title of Certified Tea Specialist at the 2009 World Tea Expo
Co-owner of The Cultured Cup, Kyle Stewart, joined select group of tea specialists worldwide
DALLAS - May 28, 2009 - Kyle Stewart, co-owner of The Cultured Cup in The Plaza at Preston Center, was recently awarded the title of Certified Tea Specialist by the Specialty Tea Institute (STI) at an award ceremony held on May 7th, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, during the 2009 World Tea Expo. Stewart is the first Texan to be awarded this title, joining an elite group of 23 men and women from around the world.
To achieve the title of Certified Tea Specialist, Stewart successfully completed seven courses about the foundations of tea, sensory evaluation and the five categories of tea: white, green, oolong, black and pu-erh.
“I am proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful group of tea experts from across the globe,” Stewart said. “We are always looking for ways to better serve our customers and I hope that my extended learning and understanding of tea will be an added resource for them. The Cultured Cup is the sum of my passions: teaching about the cultural richness of tea and its traditions.”
Stewart has co-owned The Cultured Cup for over 14 years with his business partner, Phil Krampetz, and has continually educated the Dallas/Ft. Worth community about tea. In addition to his role at The Cultured Cup, Stewart has been featured as a tea expert in numerous media outlets, including the Veria Cable Network show “What’s Brewing?”.
The Specialty Tea Institute, which operates as a non-profit under the auspices of The Tea Association of the USA, Inc., promotes awareness and consumption of premium tea by providing an educational forum, resources and education about quality tea for members, the trade, the media and consumers.
About The Cultured Cup
Located in The Plaza at Preston Center, The Cultured Cup is one of the premier tea shops in Texas. Proprietors Phil Krampetz and Kyle Stewart provide customers with gourmet beverages and specialty items in their European-style emporium. The Cultured Cup specializes in teas, coffees, chocolates and gifts from around the world. It is one of the largest suppliers of France’s famous Mariage Frères Tea, offering over 100 varieties. The Cultured Cup also provides tea to Seventeen Seventeen Restaurant located in The Dallas Museum of Art, R+D Kitchen, The Four Seasons Resort & Club – Las Colinas, Stephan Pyles Restaurant, York Street Restaurant, Suze, The Inn at Dos Brisas, and The Joule (Charlie Palmer). Staff is on hand at The Cultured Cup to teach customers how to prepare and serve beverages and Krampetz and Stewart regularly host talks, tastings and classes. For more information, please visit www.culturedcup.com.