Verhaal

Meet the team - Mike van Saus

24 Mar 2021 5 Minutes reading time

Do you prefer tea or coffee?

I prefer to drink coffee myself. It depends a bit on the moment, I actually use coffee to wake up/ stay awake and I drink tea more to focus during a working day. But you really make me very happy with a nice cup of espresso. At the moment I have a Rotterdam Blend of Giraffe coffee at home, very tasty!

What's in your cup right now?

On my table is a nice cup filled with Easter eggs haha ​​paired with a nice cup of espresso. Actually against my principles in the afternoon, but during an interview I enjoy having a cup of espresso with it.

Are you tea-stubborn?

Yes you can call me tea-stubborn. Each country has its own taste, quality and way of working. As a result, it certainly matters to me where the tea comes from. I myself lived in China for a while and I got to know the tea there. It was very pleasant, which is why I started looking more and more at the quality of the tea itself.

Do you prefer Loose tea or tea bags?

I prefer loose tea myself. The process around it is also very calming. Although I understand the convenience of a tea bag.

What is your best tea experience?

Yes in China is one of my best experiences. There they have whole tea ceremonies. There is a certain type of tea for every occasion, it really makes a special moment. For every occasion there is a certain type of tea, a certain strength of tea or a tea with a certain type of additive. There the tea is used with a whole ceremony around it. That was really cool to experience, a really great experience!

What is a country you would still like to visit?

Certainly Japan! I have never been there before. I think it is a very own way of life in Japan. I am a big fan of all types of green teas, the green tea in Japan is prepared in a special way, that really appeals to me and of course the different tea ceremonies in Japan about tea and matcha for example. That is something I would really like to experience in the near future.

Who would you like to drink a cup of tea with?

One person who interests me very much is Elon Musk. I think he has a lot to say about exactly what he does and where he thinks the world is going. The whole technology cup and how he puts his company in the world with his philosophy is something that interests me very much. I therefore think it would be nice to drink a nice Oolong tea with Elon Musk for example.

Do you take tea or rather an infusion?

I like to drink both myself. I try out a lot and make a lot of flavor combinations to create and try a particular tea flavor. I enjoy discovering new flavors. An infusion with different herbs is my favorite among the infusions. Despite the fact that I like to drink infusions, I still prefer “regular” tea. The caffeine in tea is very tasty and there is also a little more story in the tea. The tea I prefer to drink are the variations on green tea or a characteristic Oolong for example.

Which tea trend is emerging for you?

I think matcha is a trend that is getting more and more popular. With matcha you can make so many different types of tea, but also other recipes. The same goes for Bubble Tea, many different flavors and types with which nice fruity combinations can be made for example. Although Bubble Tea does not have much to do with tea, I think it is a nice trend that you are now seeing more often in the Netherlands.

Do you have an interesting tea tip for catering entrepreneurs?

I think it is important for catering entrepreneurs to differentiate in the field of tea. Tea comes in so many different types and flavors, as a catering business you can respond to that. The different teas all have their own characteristics and their own quality. A Japanese green tea has its own characteristic taste and does not correspond to an Earl Gray tea, for example. There is a completely different story behind these different teas. As a result, instead of the same price for all tea, you can ask different prices for the tea based on the quality and the story behind it. It is much more important to make that differentiation and thereby tell an appropriate story to your guests.

Is there anything you would like to let the reader know?

I really want to tell people to make sure they drink their tea in the perfect way. It matters a lot how it is made and with what it's made, with what water and with the right temperature. This way you possibly create a much better tea experience for yourself!

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