Tea mixologist Robert Schinkel debuts at Gourmet Abu Dhabi

Named the 'Dilmah Tea Sommelier Champion' in 2009 and now Dilmah's official tea mixologist ambassador, Robert travels the world introducing audiences and professional staff to the future of tea.

"Abu Dhabi is an amazing place. The city is very impressive and the pace of development is something else," said Robert. "I travel a lot and always try to limit my expectations when visiting new places; reality does not always meet expectation. When I first arrived here though, it was like a hot shower on a cold day - I was instantly comfortable and refreshed."

Robert's Aloft Abu Dhabi dates involve a series of daily 90-minute master classes where guests get to taste his innovative creations and discover a journey through the history and production of tea. The European tea tinkerer is especially keen to experiment with two ingredients traditionally found in variations of Arabic tea: saffron and caramel.

"By nosing and tasting some of the rarest teas in the world, I demonstrate the high quality and wide variety of teas available," said Schinkel, who also profiles tea and food pairing. "Arabic tea is strong and usually sweet - it suits the palates commonly found in this region. I can't wait to experiment with it."

Matching individual teas with specific dishes, Robert's tea mixology classes provide a sneak preview into the future of tea, with guests encouraged to create and drink their own signature tea creations at the end of each class. "You can't go wrong with signature drinks because they are tailored to that individual's palate - everything is personal," added Robert.