When was the last time you paused before interpreting?

Not just paused to rest—but paused to observe. To name what’s actually in front of you before jumping to meaning.

At A Matter of Taste, we help teams do exactly that—using tea as both metaphor and method. This summer, we worked with a newly formed corporate team navigating a strategic reset. New leadership, new structure, and new expectations meant that communication habits had to be built—fast.

The method? A guided tea tasting and team-building experience based on the Ladder of Inference—a framework that helps groups move from assumption to awareness.

image of herbal tea components with a blending guide

What is the Ladder of Inference and Why Pair It With Tasting?

The Ladder of Inference is a tool that maps how we make meaning:

We observe something.
We filter and interpret.
We draw conclusions.
We act, based on what we believe to be true.

It’s a natural, often subconscious process. But when teams move too quickly up the ladder—especially without shared grounding—it can lead to miscommunication, fractured trust, and stuck conversations.

That’s where sensory tasting comes in.

By slowing down and engaging all five senses, we encourage participants to linger at the bottom rungs: observation and meaning-making. When you pause to smell chamomile or sip hibiscus, you’re not just tasting—you’re building awareness of your own filters. You’re making room for multiple truths. And that’s powerful.

What It Looked Like: Team Event Highlights

This particular team had just been restructured, with new leadership and fresh responsibilities. They were meeting in person for the first time. Here's how the experience unfolded:

Mindful Orientation

We began with Ground Work—our blend designed for presence and calm. As the scent of lemongrass filled the room, we invited participants to simply describe what they noticed, without evaluation. This became their practice zone for Rung 1 of the Ladder.

Guided Learning

Next, we introduced base herbs and floral accents, asking team members to taste and reflect on memories, associations, or questions the flavors raised. One person shared that chrysanthemum reminded her of her grandmother. Another remembered drinking hibiscus in Morocco. Suddenly, people weren’t strangers—they were storytellers.

Discovery by Doing

Teams then created their own tea blends using our workshop kit. With Open Voice and Gather Strength as inspiration, they had to collaborate around creative choices, communicate preferences, and explain the "why" behind their blend—practicing Rungs 3–4 of the Ladder (interpreting and drawing meaning together).

Final Sip

The experience ended with a composed dessert plate featuring baklava from local favorites Salt & Sugar Bakery, drizzled with AMOT floral sugars, and a group toast using Build Rhythm. It was a sensory celebration of collaboration in real time.

When teams engage in mindful tasting aligned with leadership tools like the Ladder of Inference, they create a practice space for observation, empathy, and decision-making.

And because it’s embodied—literally tasted and felt—it sticks.

Try This With Your Team

Want to introduce Ladder of Inference without a slide deck?
Here’s how:

Start your next team meeting with tea.
Ask participants to describe what they taste, without naming it.
Have each person share one interpretation or association—and what that tells them about their perspective.

It’s a 10-minute presence practice with far-reaching effects.

Ready for the Full Experience?

Our tasting workshops combine herbal blends with facilitation structure designed to support team goals: