About The Tea Maestro

MSN calls Bruce Richardson “A leading tea expert involved in tea’s American renaissance for over two decades.”

Master Tea Blender Bruce Richardson designs custom tea blends for clients worldwide.

Founder, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
Publisher, Benjamin Press
Contributing Editor, TeaTime magazine
Tea Master, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Bruce Richardson began his artistic career as a music conductor and baritone soloist in his home state Kentucky. In 1995, the successful musician put down his baton and picked up a cup as he channeled his artist spirit into the way of tea.

For over 25 years, he has produced 14 books on tea and presented lectures on tea, history, and art to audiences in the US, UK, Canada, China, and Japan.

Bruce joined London’s Jane Pettigrew in co-authoring the last three editions of their popular reference book Th e New Tea Companion. Bruce and Jane teamed again for the 2014 Benjamin Press edition of A Social History of Tea. He also edited and expanded the 2011 Benjamin Press edition of Okakura Kakuzo’s classic Book of Tea.

You can read Bruce’s Perfect Cup column in every edition of TeaTime magazine where he serves as contributing editor. He has been quoted in articles for Slate Magazine, MTV, CNN, The Smithsonian, National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the BBC.

In 2012, Bruce was named Tea Master for the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, which rises out of Boston Harbor.

In 2017, he was commissioned by China’s HPLY Fashion Stores to design a line of tea for their summer runway show in Shanghai.

Bruce Richardson explores the spring tea harvest in Taiwan.

Bruce Richardson has received commissions from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Yale British Art Collection, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, The Peabody Essex Museum to design specialty tea blends inspired by artwork in their collections. He has also produced custom teas for The National Archives, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and The Cincinnati Art Museum.

Bruce Richardson autographs books following his presentation at the China Global Tea Fair, Shenzhen.

Bruce Richardson is a frequent guest speaker at tea and cultural events across the globe, including appearances at World Tea Expo, the North American Jane Austen Society, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Yamaguchi Prefectural University, UK Tea Academy, and China Global Tea Fair. Read more about this musician-turned-tea master by reading his full biography.