Tea Master

Role summary

Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.

The Tea Master is responsible for managing Shangri-La’s tea programme, including tea selection, purchasing, storage, preparation and presentation. The role involves recommending teas to guests, delivering knowledgeable and polished table service, maintaining quality standards, creating tea pairings and supporting staff training. Candidates should have strong knowledge of Chinese and international teas, excellent communication and guest-service skills, and practical experience in a luxury hotel, restaurant or specialty tea environment. Fluency in English and Cantonese or Mandarin is advantageous. The successful candidate is expected to be courteous, detail-oriented, commercially aware and confident when explaining tea origins, brewing methods and flavour profiles to an international clientele.

About the employer

Shangri-La Group is a luxury hospitality company founded in Hong Kong and known for its hotels, resorts and distinctive Asian-inspired service. The group operates properties across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America and other international markets under brands including Shangri-La, Shangri-La Golden Circle and Traders. Its Hong Kong hotels, including Island Shangri-La and Kowloon Shangri-La, serve business travellers, residents and leisure guests through premium accommodation, restaurants, bars, wellness facilities and event spaces. Shangri-La places strong emphasis on sincere hospitality, personalised guest experiences, culinary quality and employee development. A Tea Master would typically work closely with food and beverage, culinary and service teams to preserve traditional tea knowledge while presenting it in a refined, contemporary hotel setting.

Working in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a compact, energetic international city with strong opportunities in luxury hotels, restaurants, retail, finance, technology, logistics and tourism. Its culture blends Cantonese traditions, Chinese festivals and food heritage with an international business environment. Life is convenient and fast-paced, with excellent public transport, dense urban neighbourhoods, hiking trails, beaches and a wide choice of restaurants. Housing is expensive, so candidates should investigate staff accommodation, shared flats and commuting options before relocating. Foreign professionals generally need an employer-sponsored work visa and must meet education, experience and salary requirements under Hong Kong’s employment visa arrangements; dependants may usually apply for dependant visas. Cantonese is valuable for guest-facing roles, while English is widely used in hotels and Mandarin is increasingly helpful. Employment contracts should clarify visa sponsorship, accommodation, insurance, working hours and service-charge arrangements.