Successful Women in the Tea Industry

An Interview with Sooin Kim – Camellia’s Tea House South Korea

We contacted Sooin Kim from Busan, South Korea, for a “Cup of Tea” interview as part of our celebration of women in the tea industry.

Sooin is a charming and brilliant entrepreneur who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in London with a degree in pastry gastronomy.  She acquired the art of baking and pastry making before returning to Korea to launch “In Dessert,” a premium-led dessert business where she worked her baking magic on the people of Busan.  Sooin co-branded with us in 2015, and each piece of freshly baked scrumptious cake was accompanied by a lovely pot of Camellia’s Tea House tea.

Sooin made the decision to alter her company’s objectives following the Pandemic and concentrate solely on the Camellia’s Tea House franchise brand.  We invited Sooin to share her experience so that other women would be motivated to pursue their passions and to talk about any difficulties that she may have encountered.  

Whilst telling her story, Sooin sipped on Earl Grey Orange tea.

Tell us about yourself?

I’m Sooin Kim, and I act as a distributor in South Korea, providing distinctive premium teas by Camellia’s Tea House to Korean customers.

After earning my degree in patisserie from Le Cordon Bleu, I founded IN DESSERT, Busan’s first upscale cake and tea shop, which specialises in providing over 30 varieties of premium loose leaf teas together with exquisite cakes prepared on-site.

How did the Koreans react when the Camellia’s Tea House brand was introduced?

It took around 7 years to change the Korean tea drinking culture, and IN DESSERT first noticed a shift in the market for the high-end teas that the Camellia’s Tea House brand provided.

However, as word of mouth spread about the store, more people from all over the nation began to stop by, and I noticed a subtle change in how people viewed tea.

Additionally, when the idea that coffee shops were the only successful businesses started to shift, tea speciality stores began to have an impact on the coffee market.

I believe Camellia’s Tea House played a significant role in shaping Koreans’ perception and influence of tea.

What altered your opinion of tea when the South Korean coffee culture predominated?

I have always admired the British opening phrase, “Would you like a cup of tea?” The delightful tea culture in the UK, where I spent about ten years studying, drew me in. Tea had a soothing and calming impact, boosting focus without causing a high heartbeat, in contrast to coffee’s heart-racing and sleep-inhibiting caffeine. As a result, I began to prefer tea to coffee and began to consume it more frequently.

How were you introduced to the Camellia’s Tea House brand?

Fascinated by the allure of tea, I enjoyed visiting various tea shops in the UK and stumbled upon Camellia’s Tea House by chance on Carnaby Street. The first tea I tried was Earl Grey Orange with a scone, and I still vividly remember the initial experience. I was amazed by how tea could possess such a deep aroma and flavour.

The following day, when I went back, I tasted the White Apricot tea and was pleasantly delighted. White tea’s charm and its combination technique had me fascinated. I bought several different kinds of tea and made them at home.

What made you decide to introduce the brand in South Korea?

Each tea was genuinely distinctive and exceptional, which made me feel as though I had to expose them to Korea. Our relationship began when I got in touch with Camellia’s Tea House CEO Ajit Madan. Our business partnership has been ongoing for almost seven years.

Which is your favourite brew?

This is a hard question, but if I had to choose only one, “Camellia’s White Jasmine & Apricot” would be my favourite. This tea is popular amongst our customers too!

Which teas are your best-sellers?

There are numerous more popular teas as well, such as Queen’s Birthday, White Apricot, Earl Grey Orange, Milky Oolong, and Very Berry.

We also have a highly sought-after bespoke blend we call Signature Blend. Another delightful tea that I particularly like is Sleep Well tea. I frequently sip on this tea in the late afternoon or early evening to unwind both my body and mind. Recently, I have also been fond of the three dosage therapy teas developed by Camellia’s Tea House, with Camellia’s White Jasmine & Apricot being my second favourite.

How is South Korea adopting fresh, cutting-edge tea trends?

It is more difficult to obtain a range of imported teas in Korea as it is in other countries because of the protective statute intended to protect Korean tea. As a result, most Koreans frequently think of tea as a tedious beverage drank mostly by senior citizens.

However, I have witnessed a change in people’s opinions about tea among those who have been exposed to Camellia’s Tea House’s fresh and innovative blended teas.

Although tea culture is still less well-known in Korea than coffee culture, people who have experienced the Camellia’s tea house brand have become loyal customers and converted to drinking tea.

You just recently revamped the business, could you tell us more about it?

We updated our store, built a retail showroom operating under the Camellia’s tea brand name, and we also have an internet tea store that is completely functional.

Where do you see yourself next year?

Even though we still offer about 38 different teas from Camellia’s Tea House, we intend to gradually diversify our selection.

Furthermore, we anticipate that the wellness teas from Camellia’s Tea House will act as a stepping stone to elevate tea preference in Korea as the trend of health-conscious people continues to increase.

Thank you Sooin for taking the time to talk to us over a cup of tea. We wish you all the success with Camellia’s Tea House – South Korea!!