Tea expert insures his taste buds for £1 million

The master tea taster claims to be able to identify more than 250,000 blends

After celebrities insuring a dazzling smile and album cover-gracing legs for millions, taste buds would be the last thing you'd expect next - but a tea-taster has done just that.

Sebastian Michaelis, a taster for Tetley who claims to be able to identify a good cup in just 15 seconds and describes tea blending as "a fine art", has insured his taste buds for a whopping £1 million to protect his career.

The insurance policy places Mr Michaelis, who had distinguished more than 250,000 different blends of tea, in the realms of some of the biggest stars in the world.

Mariah Carey is reportedly one of the most best-selling music artists (Getty Images)

Pop and RnB royalty Mariah Carey is reported to have insured her legs for £636 million ($1 billion), while David Beckham's goal-scoring and Michael Flatley's river-dancing pairs are protected for around £100 million each, according to insurers Lloyd's.

America Ferrera played Betty Suarez in 'Ugly Betty' from 2006 to 2010 (Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

America Ferrera, who played braces-wearing fashion magazine PA in hit TV show Ugly Betty, had her smile insured for around £6.4 million 2007 in what is believed to be a PR stunt.

She said at the time: “Thank you to Aquafresh White Trays and Lloyd’s of London for insuring my smile, I’ll try my hardest to take care of it.

“It’s very flattering to have my smile insured for $10 million, it’s not something that I ever imagined happening.”

Jennifer Lopez is famous for her shapely bottom as well as her music and acting career (Getty Images)

Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, or J-Lo, insured her famous derriere for around £17 million while legendary country singer Dolly Parton protected her breast assets at £191,000 for each one.

Silent movie star Ben Turpin kicked off the celebrity insurance trend when he took out £16,400 policy on his crossed eyes back in the 1920s

Veteran crooner Tom Jones insured his famous chest hair for £3.5 million in 2008, but if you think that is bizarre then wait until you hear this - silent movie actor Ben Turpin insured his crossed eyes for a huge £16,400 in the 1920s.

He was said to have checked the mirror every time he suffered a blow to the head just to check that they were still crossed.

But it's not all glitz and glamour in the world of body insurance as butcher Keith Fisher was reported to have insured his own taste buds for £1 million two years ago, in case he loses his ability to identify more than 50,000 different cuts and cures of pork and bacon.