Interested in finding out what's involved in becoming a certified tea sommelier? I'll walk you through my experience.
WHAT IS A TEA SOMMELIER?
- A certified Tea Sommelier is a trained professional who has expertise in tea.
- Tea sommeliers know how to identify different types of tea, taste and brew using the proper techniques, and have an understanding of tea and food pairings.
- The title Tea Sommelier is usually given to people who have gone through a certification program.
TEA SOMMELIER CONTROVERSY
A lot of people in tea really dislike the term Tea Sommelier. I think it’s because they think it cheapens the tea knowledge process.
Most people who are well-versed in tea learned it through years and years of drinking and teaching themselves about tea. So to some, plunking down a shiny penny or a couple of thousand (certification isn’t cheap!) may seem like a money grab and a shortcut.
Tea experts will all tell you that instead of spending the money, it’s better to learn it on your own by drinking a lot of tea and reading books.
Ahem. No thanks. I learn best when there’s a structured program and I know there is a good foundation in place. That’s why I got certified as a Tea Sommelier.
CHOOSING A TEA SCHOOL
I spent a while trying to find the right tea school to get the certification. Most programs are around $1000-$2000, so it’s not something to jump into lightly.
Through my research, I did find that some tea schools are definitely a money grab. I’ve heard some horror stories.
I first searched online and found three tea schools in the U.S. As I was getting close to signing up for one, Jo, a tea professional I respect, suggested that I look into tea schools in Canada.
So I did. And I signed up for the Tea Sommelier certification program at ITEI, International Tea Education Institute.
Fellow tea bloggers Sara and Georgia also signed up too! It was really nice that we got to go through this experience together.
From https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/certified-tea-sommelier/
