Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar is the Founder & CEO of Tea Culture of the World (TCW), a premium tea brand established in 2010 with a vision to bring exquisite, globally sourced teas and innovative blends to Indian consumers. A qualified medical professional and certified tea sommelier, she transformed her passion for tea into an entrepreneurial venture that has built a distinctive position in India’s premium tea market.
Her journey into tea began after discovering Chinese oolong tea, which sparked a deeper interest in the art, science and culture of tea. She subsequently trained as a tea sommelier and spent time at tea estates in China, studying tea cultivation, brewing and blending techniques. Her experience led her to develop a portfolio of herbal, flavoured and speciality teas sourced from different parts of the world.
Under her leadership, TCW expanded beyond retail to serve hotels, airlines, corporates and individual consumers, while building a presence across India. Her entrepreneurial focus has centred on premiumisation, product innovation, tea education and creating a more immersive tea experience for consumers.
Ambegaonkar has also been recognised for her contribution to India’s evolving tea culture and continues to bring together her medical background, tea expertise and entrepreneurial perspective to build differentiated beverage experiences.