The "tea sommelier" curriculum

What does it involve? Who is it for?

Our online training course is designed for anyone with a passion for tea, whether professional or private, who wants to learn about sommellerie.

Over the course of 70 hours, you'll learn the rudiments of a profession that is being invented in Europe, at the crossroads of an ancestral Zen philosophy and a creative approach to the arts of the table.

In the style of oenology, you'll learn to dissect tea's aromatic palettes and organoleptic characteristics to refine your tea tasting vocabulary. You'll also work on your gestural skills through a number of tea serving exercises: in a classic teapot and in a traditional set (Chinese: gaiwan and Japanese: kyusu and matcha).

At the end of the course, you'll be able to advise your friends and/or customers on their purchases, and to select all the parameters for an "optimal" infusion (weights, times and temperatures, water quality, etc.). You'll also discover the art of tea and food pairing, as well as the use of tea in cooking and mocktails, through a "tea and gastronomy" cycle rich in culinary inspiration.

You'll also learn to distinguish, by sight and taste, between terroirs, varieties of tea bushes, types of plucking and processing methods for the teas presented in the exercises. Numerous historical, botanical and cultural contributions will enhance your knowledge of this legendary beverage with its thousand and one facets.

Find out more about the program here

How does the course work?

To take the course online, simply connect to a communication platform. A link will be sent to you by e-mail before each session. You'll receive packages by post containing samples of the teas you'll need to practice during the course. In your mailbox, you'll also find teaching materials such as an aroma wheel and numerous explanatory diagrams to help you learn step by step.

To be able to follow the courses online, a good internet connection is essential. To better assess your progress, you will be asked to send several videos of your practical exercises.

Come and share your love of tea in a friendly, intimate atmosphere (max. 8 people per group). Benefit from an original teaching approach, with plenty of room for interaction. Relaxation and mindfulness meditations punctuate the sessions, making learning both effective and serene.

How to validate the training?

All modules must be completed in order to receive a certificate of completion.

Note that this is a demanding course in terms of personal investment. It requires participants to practice seriously and regularly between each session. Continuous assessment and a final evaluation are required to validate and obtain the end-of-cycle certificate. Approximately 70 hours of personal work are required outside the course to complete homework assignments.

The courses encourage participants to develop qualities such as dexterity, patience, creativity and observation, as well as letting go, (self-)empathy and active listening... Because tea is much more than a drink, it's a philosophy!

At Les Jardins de Gaïa, we also believe that a tea sommelier must be sensitive to the ecological and human issues involved in growing tea. A large part of our training will therefore be devoted to organic and biodynamic farming, and fair trade.