Helen Gustafson (1929–2003)

Helen Gustafson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up enjoying afternoon tea at home with her mother and grandmother. She graduated from Syracuse University and received a master's degree in drama from the University of Minnesota. She became a champion of fine teas and spent 20 years developing the exquisite tea service for Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California. She taught the art of the afternoon tea by giving parties at which the participants were asked to wear gloves and hats, and served as a consultant on tea services to several hotels and restaurants.
She wrote a weekly column on tea for the San Francisco Examiner, and two books, The Agony of the Leaves: The Ecstasy of My Life With Tea and The Green Tea User’s Manual.