Kurush Bharucha has dedicated over 40 years of his professional career to the tea industry, the majority of which was spent with Unilever/Lipton. He is widely recognized as a specialist tea taster, judge, buyer, blender, trainer, educator, product innovator, tea sommelier, and storyteller—an unwavering advocate and ambassador for the global tea industry.
He began his tea career in India in 1985, working across all six of the country’s tea auction centers in both North and South India. During this period, he often tasted up to 1,000 cups of tea per day, honing his expertise under the guidance of a mentor whose advice remains central to his philosophy: “Practice makes perfect, so perfect your practice.”
Over a 20-year career in India, Kurush held diverse roles in tea buying, blending, and factory operations before being assigned to international positions by Unilever. He subsequently spent eight years in Dubai and twelve years in the United Kingdom, broadening his expertise beyond supply chain management into research and development, blend design, and strategic collaboration with marketing teams. During this time, he worked on globally recognized tea brands including PG Tips, Pukka, Tazo, and T2.
As Unilever’s Chief Tea Quality Custodian, Kurush championed excellence across the organization, sharing his extensive multi-origin tea knowledge, fostering a strong tea culture, and mentoring colleagues worldwide. In his final role with Lipton, he led the development, calibration, certification, and upskilling of a global network of more than 80 professional tea tasters.
Kenya holds a special place in his professional journey, particularly Unilever’s tea estates in Kericho, Bomet, and Limuru counties, which he visited numerous times throughout his career.
Today, Kurush is based in Mumbai, India, where he has established his own consultancy, BharuCHA Global Tea Advisory LLP, providing specialist expertise and strategic guidance across the tea value chain.
Professional Highlights
Tea Judge
- Judge for numerous prestigious international specialty tea competitions, including:
- The Leafies Awards (London)
- Great Taste Awards (London)
- AVPA Tea Awards (Paris)
- TGLIA Awards (Dubai and India)
Tea Educator and Tutor
- Serves as a Tea Tutor and Subject Matter Expert with the UK Tea Academy.
- Has delivered specialist courses covering:
- Teas of India
- Teas of Africa
- The Charisma of Darjeeling First and Second Flush Teas
- Tea and Sustainability
- Other advanced tea education modules
Industry Speaker
- Featured speaker at leading international tea conferences and forums, including:
- World Tea Expo (Las Vegas)
- International Tea Convention (Kochi)
- Brussels Tea Festival
- Dubai Global Tea Forum
- CII India Tea Forum (Siliguri)
- Various other global tea industry events
Professional Membership
- Currently serves as a Director of the European Specialty Tea Association (ESTA).
With extensive experience spanning the entire tea value chain—from tea gardens and factories to blending, branding, innovation, education, and global advocacy—Kurush Bharucha remains one of the tea industry’s most respected voices and a lifelong champion of tea.
