Tea experts, also known as certified tea experts, are educated in the history, types, production, and processing of tea. The certification process has three levels, and experts are well-versed in the art of tea drinking and can teach others about preferred combinations, etiquette, and storage.
Tea has been enjoyed by men and women for centuries and has been touted as a miracle cure and the most potent health drink of all time. For all the praise, a cup of tea for many is also simply a peaceful way to start or end the day, or a comforting family ritual. Today, there is a class of specialists known as tea experts or certified tea experts, and they take your pleasure a step further. A tea expert is someone who has been educated in the history of tea and tea making, categories or types of tea, and the methods of producing and processing tea. Tea experts seeking certification also need to learn the characteristics of the various types of tea, as well as how tea plants are grown and the geographic locations where tea plantations harvest their leaves.
All of the information mentioned above is only taught in the first level of a three-tiered certification process taught by the Tea Association of the US Specialty Tea Institute. The second level conveys knowledge about blending tea types, tea flavors and aromas, and the method by which tea leaves are graded. The third level consists of instruction in five categories: black tea, white and pu’erh tea, oolong tea, green tea, and sensory evaluation.
Tea specialists are relatively new and elite in the tea world. There were only about two dozen Certified Tea Specialists in the world in 2009. Their numbers continue to grow with tea’s popularity around the world.
A tea expert is also well versed in the art of tea drinking, which compares a variety of teas at once. The tea expert has learned to observe the taste, quality and color of the tea. The taster employs a scale to ensure that the same amount of tea is used to make each type of tea. Some experts prefer tasting with spoons rather than drinking directly from a glass. It is necessary to steep the various types of tea for a certain period.
A tea expert can teach others with authority about tea. Lessons can include preferred food and tea combinations, etiquette, how to serve the drink, how to prepare it, and how to properly store it to keep it fresh and preserve its flavor. Some tea experts advise hotels on their tea selection or prospective tea shop owners on choosing teas for their menus.
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