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HE Kingdom’s connoisseurs of fine tea will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history, culture, cultivation, economy and taste of their object of desire when the Dilmah School of Tea holds its debut Saudi session at the Rafal Tower Kempinski in Riyadh on Nov. 5.

Dilmah, the Sri Lanka-based vertically integrated tea company known for single-origin tea and its commitment to social responsibility, is offering the class in Saudi Arabia for the first time and expects to draw amateurs and professionals to this survey of the complex but fascinating world of tea.

In recent years access to single-origin tea in the Kingdom has nearly disappeared as those who originally traded in pure Sri Lankan tea are now mixing cheaper teas into their product. Dilmah’s School of Tea is designed to acquaint tea lovers in the Kingdom with all aspects of tea and to promote appreciation and connoisseurship of tea as a delicacy.”

The event delves into just about every aspect of the tea industry. This includes topics ranging from history and culture to pairings with the right foods and cheeses, ethics of the tea industry, defining characteristics of different teas, advanced sensory evaluation, mixology and other topics intrinsic to tea.

Dilmah Single Origin Tea is a global brand name, recognized for its high quality the world over. It is served by the world’s top airlines, the best hotels and other institutions known for quality food and drink. Dilmah is currently a staple in international five-star hotel chains like, Marriott, Fairmont, Hyatt, Rotana, IHG, Carlson Rezidor, Hilton and Kempinski, and at local hotels such as Al Faisaliah and Makarim.

Dilmah is known not only for its fine tea but also for its social responsibility. All companies in the MJF Group donate 10 per cent of pre-tax profits to the charitable MJF Foundation, which, in turn, uses the money to provide services to and improve the lives of up to 15,000 people in Sri Lanka. The company also supports environmental causes. — SG