Tea Tasting Training - China

China is the motherland of tea. With nearly 5,000 years of recorded history, humans have been consuming and tasting tea longer than any other place on earth. Naturally, in that time, many types of teas have evolved and there are several tea tasting traditions that are unique to China. This 5 day course focuses exclusively on teas from China. Students will learn the standard tasting techniques relative to the types of tea as well as learn to critically evaluate, recognize and comment on several famous Chinese teas. Students will prepare and sample approximately 100 cups of tea per day, keep detailed tasting notes and engage in comparative discussions.

Held in the ITCC Intl. Tea Training Center, in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico. Following satisfactory completion of all course materials and the final exam, students receive a certificate of achievement from ITCC.

Program tuition includes all training by world renowned tea experts, all course materials, all accommodations for the five days and nights, breakfast and lunch each day, scheduled recreational activities and group airport transfers.

1. The 5 day intensive training program covers:          

   1. Tea History of China
   2. Unique Environment / Terroir
   3. Introduction and Development of Tea
      1. Statistics
      2. Tea Estates
   4. Varietals and Cultivars
      1. Entomology
      2. Propagation – Seeds, Clones, Grafts
   5. Tea Garden Management
      1. Planting, Irrigation, Drainage, Shade, Soil, Fertilizers
      2. Pruning
      3. Monoculture Issues
      4. Pests, Diseases, Weeds - Treatments
      5. Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable Practices
   6. Harvesting
      1. Flushes
      2. Standards – Quality vs Quantity, Machine vs Hand
      3. Labor Issues
   7. Manufacture
      1. Types of Tea
      2. Processing Steps
   8. Types of Tea
   9. Evaluation and Grading
   10. Specialty Teas and Innovations
   11. Final Exam

Course fee: $995 per person ($795 for Members). Maximum 8 people.