Overview

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Build the knowledge and practical skills you need to explore the world of tea with confidence. Whether you're new to tea or looking to deepen your understanding, this course will help you make more informed choices when selecting, storing, brewing, and tasting tea. You'll discover the six major tea categories and learn how different processing methods create the teas we know and enjoy. You'll practice navigating tea shops, retail environments, and menus; interpreting tea names, labels, and packaging; and evaluating tea based on your personal preferences, needs, quality, and value. You'll also learn how proper storage can preserve tea's flavor and freshness and develop practical brewing skills that can be applied to any type of tea. Along the way, you'll explore how to troubleshoot common brewing problems so you can adjust variables and create a more enjoyable cup. Finally, you'll develop foundational tasting skills and learn basic flavor vocabulary to help you recognize and describe what you experience when drinking tea. By the end of this course, you'll be able to confidently navigate the tea-buying experience, select teas that suit your preferences, store and brew them appropriately, evaluate quality and value, and communicate what you taste all while building a foundation for continued exploration of the world of tea.

Syllabus

Finding Tea
- Welcome to Module 1! In this module, we'll begin by building a strong foundation in tea knowledge by exploring the six major tea categories (white, green, yellow, oolong, black, and dark tea) and the role of oxidation in creating their unique characteristics. Learn how tea moves from farm to cup, understand tea naming conventions and menus, and develop confidence navigating tea shops, grocery stores, and online retailers. You'll also discover the key differences between specialty and commodity tea, helping you make informed tea selections. Ready to steep your knowledge? Let's begin!
Buying Tea
- Welcome to Module 2! In this module, we'll learn how to evaluate tea before you buy it by reading labels, understand packaging and harvest dates, and recognize key quality indicators. Explore the factors that influence tea pricing, discover how to assess value, and learn important questions to ask when purchasing tea. You'll also be introduced to ethical sourcing concepts such as Fair Trade and Direct Trade, helping you select teas that align with your preferences, values, and budget. Let's get started!
Storing Tea
- Proper storage is essential for preserving tea’s flavor, aroma, and quality. In this module, you'll learn how to protect tea from its biggest threats: air, moisture, light, heat, and odors - and select the right storage methods for different tea types. You'll also discover how to recognize signs of tea degradation, understand which teas can benefit from aging, and organize your home tea collection to maximize freshness while minimizing waste.
Brewing Tea
- Bring your tea knowledge to life by mastering the fundamentals of brewing and tasting. In this final module, you'll learn how water quality, temperature, time, and tea-to-water ratio influence every cup. Explore Western, gongfu, and Japanese brewing methods, select appropriate teaware, and troubleshoot common brewing issues. You'll also develop foundational tea tasting skills using sensory evaluation techniques, flavor wheels, and descriptive vocabulary to better understand and communicate your tea experiences. Let's finish strong!