Who we are

Elisa Da Rin Puppel - ideator of Tealisa

Elisa is a tea expert based in Milan, which is where she first began her education in the world of tea through working for famous brands Kusmi Tea and Dammann Fréres. Born in Veneto, the mountainous province north of Venice, she studied Art History & Japanese at Venice University before getting a Masters Degree from SOAS University, London.

In 2016 Elisa moved to Tokyo and during the five years she lived in Japan travelled to numerous tea plantations. As a writer she has contributed to Italian tea magazine Foglie di Tè, Five O'Clock Tea Blog and The Tea Squirrel with articles about Japanese teas and interviews with famous plantation proprietors. 

Elisa has researched many aspects of tea, including studying how to use it in daily life as a tool for therapy, stress release and personal growth. In February 2021 she was certified as a Tea and Mindfulness Instructor with Cha Link Japan, learning how to teach breathing and meditation practices along with the study of Japanese teas. She earned the "Japanaese Tea Fondation" certification with the Global Japanese Tea Association in Kyoto in 2020 and gained a qualification in Chinese Tea Tasting from the Eastern Leaves Academy in 2021. Besides attending numerous seminars and courses in Milan and London, Elisa has also visited Rooibos tea plantations in South Africa.

Elisa's approach to tea goes beyond merely brewing high-quality tea leaves and describing their taste - she seeks to show her readers ways to incorporate tea into their daily lives mindfully, for example by taking tea notes and exploring inner emotions with the Journaling Method, exploring breathing practices and giving nutrition consultancy.

Elisa (ideator of Tealisa) is also certified in: 

• Tea Somellier Training at Ademathe Italia, 2016

• Japanese Tea Fondation Course with the Global Japanese Tea Associacion,  2020

• Mindfulness Coaching at Cha Link Japan, 2021

• Specialization in Chinese Teas at Easter Leaves Academy, 2021

• Breathing techniques with a Breathing Practice Course by Ashley Neese, 2020

• Specialized course in "Nutrition and Deseases" at EDX School of Canada, 2020

Read Elisa's tea articles on: 

• The Tea Squirrel (in English)
• Global Japanese Tea Association (in English)
• Five O'clock Tea Blog (in Italiano)
• Prima Infusione (in Italiano)

Graphic by Mara Losso

Mara was born in Belluno in 1991 and graduated from Ca' Foscari University with a degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management. Mara is in charge of Tealisa's graphic design and social media management.