About Us
Monarch Tea Co. Founder & Tea Sommelier, Katie Cyr
Hi tea friends!
My name is Katie and I’m so glad you’re here. My first experience with tea comes in the memory of drinking Irish Breakfast with my grandmother out of delicate teacups. Today, I carry the same reverence and passion for the art of tea into my day to day life. I founded The Monarch Tea Co. in March 2014 with the vision of bringing together the traditional elegance of tea time with a modern twist.
Today I’m a certified Tea Sommelier through The Tea and Herbal Association of Canada. I’m also the course instructor for the THAC Tea Sommelier Certification Intensive program in Toronto, Ontario. My interactive tea talks have been taught worldwide in-person and online in homes, corporate events and places passionate about food and beverage. I’ve worked with clients such as Google, Spotify, The New York Times & more, sharing the love of tea with others through hands-on learning.
I’ve had my work published in Tea Time! magazine , UK Tea & Herbal Magazine and spoken at the RBG Tea Festival & Toronto Tea Fest. In 2021, I won first place in the Mohawk College SURGE pitch competition & won the FirstOntario 1Awards for small business. In 2022 Monarch Tea Co. won first place in the OCIN pitch competition and first place winner of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards in the Young Entrepreneur category. I’m also the proud winner of the 2024 Dejardins Good Spark Grant Award, which is being used towards offering no-cost tea workshops to long-term-care homes and seniors centers, helping bring folks together and fight isolation through the power of tea. I additionally work to fight food insecurity through volunteer work delivering meals in Hamilton with the Meals on Wheels program.
Needless to say I’m obsessed with all things tea and so excited to connect with others through this remarkable beverage. My favourite tea varies from season to season, but I do love a good cuppa Cream Earl Grey or Genmaicha green tea the most. Please don’t be shy in reaching out and saying hello. I’d love to chat tea with you!
Happy sipping!
-Katie
