Taste Translation offers specialised Japanese to English translation for fine food and drink, in particular for sake, wine, tea, coffee and chocolate.
My name is Arline Lyons, and I’m a translator and localisation project manager with 20 years’ experience of Japanese language and culture. I worked as a project manager with large translation companies before setting up my own business to concentrate on using my language skills and concentrating on my specialist areas – biology and food & drink.
I decided to find out more about sake after translating promotional material for breweries, and took the WSET Level 3 course in sake in March 2017, passing with distinction. I then went on to become qualified as a Tea Champion with the UK Tea Academy, and take the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate in Chocolate Tasting courses, plus an Introduction to Cupping/Sensory course at London School of Coffee and SCAE Introduction to Coffee with Union Coffee.
I have a BSc in biology, which lets me follow manufacturing and brewing processes right down to the molecular and microbiological levels. I also translate manufacturing and safety documentation such as material safety data sheets, manufacturing audits and food safety inspections.
I’m based in Zürich, Switzerland, but can frequently be found in London, Dublin, and other European cities.
