This class introduces Camellia sinensis and the three factors that make it possible for this one plant to be the source of hundreds of kinds of teas. It also explores the botany of the plant, including the history, varieties, cultivars and cellular chemistry. The class continues with the six stages of tea processing and an overview of the six types of tea that come from this single amazing plant. The session concludes in week three with an introduction to professional cupping and the sensory evaluation of tea - a skill you will develop and hone throughout the program.

By the end of this course you will be able to:
• Name the three factors that make it possible for the one tea plant to produce so many different kinds of tea.
• Describe the tea plant’s botanical origins and primary commercial varieties.
• Define variety, cultivar and landraces and the significance of these in tea cultivation.
• Name and describe the six stages of tea processing.
• Name the six types of tea.
• Identify the defining stage of processing for each type of tea.
• Set up and conduct a professional tea cupping session for the sensory evaluation of teas.

You will need to order your class kit no later than close of registration: 
• Required class kits are not included in the World Tea Academy purchase
• Class kits need to be ordered from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas.
• Go to Elmwood Inn’s World Tea Academy page to purchase kit* (You need to order your kit no later than one week before your class starts to ensure that you receive it in time.)

Please Note: International students that plan on taking more than one course with World Tea Academy will save money on the shipping costs of their class kits if they order multiple kits at a time. 

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. These are not included in the class kit:
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

Who Should Take This?
Everyone interested in tea should take this introductory course. This course is designed for tea professionals working at all levels of the industry who wish to further their knowledge of tea, their career goals or increase sales of tea. It is ideal for tea professionals and enthusiasts who wish to learn about the basics of tea education, starting with in-depth understanding of the tea plant and the stages of processing. Anyone taking this course will gain a basic understanding of the six types of tea, their manufacturing processes and basic cupping skills, including how to use the 3 piece professional cupping set.

World Tea Academy Certified Tea Specialist Candidates:
Successful completion of this class counts towards certification for WTA Certified Tea Specialist. CORE.01 is the suggested prerequisite for CORE.02 through CORE.06 classes.

*Disclaimer: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas is not part of World Tea Academy/Questex LLC nor is it affiliated World Tea Academy/Questex LLC. World Tea Academy/Questex LLC has partnered with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas only to provide the class kits for our courses. 

Building on the foundation material of CORE.01 and understanding how a single plant can create hundreds of kinds of tea, we will explore the post-manufacturing processes such as baking, aging, blending, flavoring, and more. In the second section of this fundamental class we will sort through the alphabet soup of tea grading systems and look at the meaning and methods used for grading tea used in China, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Taiwan. The last section will focus on the sensory evaluation of teas that have received post-manufacturing processes.

• Name and describe six post-manufacturing processes used in the tea industry.
• Describe the difference between blending, flavoring and scenting.
• Define and differentiate decaffeinated and caffeine-free teas.
• Understand the impact of flavoring and decaffeination on labeling.
• Understand and describe the various grading and naming systems used in the tea industry.
• Understand the hygroscopic nature of tea and its impact on packaging, storing and other processes.

You will need to order your class kit no later than close of registration: 
• Required class kits are not included in your purchase for your course
• Class kits need to be ordered from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
• Go to Elmwood Inn’s World Tea Academy page to purchase kit* (You need to order your kit no later than one week before your class starts to ensure that you receive it in time.)

Please Note: International students that plan on taking more than one course with World Tea Academy will save money on the shipping costs of their class kits if they order multiple kits at a time. 

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. These are not included in the class kit:
• Two professional cupping sets
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer 

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

World Tea Academy Certified Tea Specialist Candidates:
Successful completion of this class counts towards certification for WTA Certified Tea Specialist. CORE.01 and CORE.02 are the suggested prerequisite for CORE.03 through CORE.06 classes. Core.03-Core.06 can be taken in any order. 

*Disclaimer: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas is not part of World Tea Academy/Questex LLC nor is it affiliated World Tea Academy/Questex LLC. World Tea Academy/Questex LLC has partnered with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas only to provide the class kits for our courses. 

With a strong foundation in the background of the tea plant and how teas are manufactured, we begin our journey to countries of origin and a detailed approach to terroir. And we rightfully start off with our focus on the birthplace of tea - China. Then we will travel to Korea, a smaller country of origin but home of quality green teas that are making a name for themselves around the world. This class will also explore two countries of origin highly influenced by China but truly unique unto their own – Japan and Taiwan. Again, we conclude with a focused cupping of these regions and continue to add to your experience and confidence in the organoleptic evaluation process.

• Name the major tea-producing regions of China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan and their notable teas.
• Identify teas from each country and understand their manufacturing processes.
• Describe the classic characteristics of teas from each of the key tea-growing regions.
• Discern the difference between the teas of various terroirs of each country.
• Understand the history of tea in each of these countries and their tea industries today.

You will need to order your class kit no later than close of registration: 
• Required class kits are not included in your purchase for your course
• Class kits need to be ordered from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
• Go to Elmwood Inn’s World Tea Academy page to purchase kit* (You need to order your kit no later than one week before your class starts to ensure that you receive it in time.)

Please Note: International students that plan on taking more than one course with World Tea Academy will save money on the shipping costs of their class kits if they order multiple kits at a time. 

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. These are not included in the class kit:
• Two professional cupping sets
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

*Disclaimer: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas is not part of World Tea Academy/Questex LLC nor is it affiliated World Tea Academy/Questex LLC. World Tea Academy/Questex LLC has partnered with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas only to provide the class kits for our courses. 

The second class in our exploration of major producing countries shifts to the south. Here we discover the beauty and characteristics of teas from India, Sri Lanka and Kenya as we further our review of the world of tea including history and lore. In CORE.04 we continue to build the essential cupping skills required for all tea professionals.

• Name the major tea-producing regions of India, Sri Lanka and Kenya and their notable teas.
• Identify teas from each country and understand their manufacturing processes.
• Describe the classic characteristics of teas from each of the key tea-growing regions.
• Discern the difference between the teas of various terroirs of each country.
• Understand the history of tea in each of these countries and their tea industries today.

You will need to order your class kit no later than close of registration: 
• Required class kits are not included in your purchase for your course
• Class kits need to be ordered from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
• Go to Elmwood Inn’s World Tea Academy page to purchase kit* (You need to order your kit no later than one week before your class starts to ensure that you receive it in time.)

Please Note: International students that plan on taking more than one course with World Tea Academy will save money on the shipping costs of their class kits if they order multiple kits at a time. 

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. These are not included in the class kit:
• Two professional cupping sets
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

World Tea Academy Certified Tea Specialist Candidates:
Successful completion of this class counts towards certification for WTA Certified Tea Specialist. CORE.01 and CORE.02 are the suggested prerequisite for CORE.03 through CORE.06 classes.

*Disclaimer: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas is not part of World Tea Academy/Questex LLC nor is it affiliated World Tea Academy/Questex LLC. World Tea Academy/Questex LLC has partnered with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas only to provide the class kits for our courses. 

Most of the classes in the core curriculum focus on the tea plant and how and where it is grown and manufactured. This class explores the process that transforms the tea leaf into the final product – a cup of tea. By looking closely into the three components of the process we will explore what is in the cup and how it got there.

• Name and define the three components of the infusion process.
• Understand how the chemical and physical characteristics of the tea leaf influence the infusion.
• Understand how the chemical and physical characteristics of water influence the infusion.
• Understand how the conditions of the infusion process influence its outcome.
• Name the chemical components found in the infusion.
• Describe what each chemical component contributes to the flavor and aroma profile of the infusion.

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. 
• Two professional cupping sets
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer
• Some distilled water and some regular bottled (either spring or drinking) water
• Three loose leaf unflavored teas for cupping: 8 grams of green tea, 8 grams of white tea, 8 grams of black tea

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

World Tea Academy Certified Tea Specialist Candidates:
Successful completion of this class counts towards certification for WTA Certified Tea Specialist. CORE.01 and CORE.02 are the suggested prerequisite for CORE.03 through CORE.06 classes.

In the final online class for our core curriculum, we extend our knowledge of tea to an overview of the many botanical infusions other than Camellia sinensis. Our focus will be on the most popular herbals in the market such as Rooibos, Yerba Mate, Guayusa, and more. The first week includes an exploration of humankind’s long relationship to botanical infusions as well as an in-depth explanation of the correct vocabulary for what (technically) is and isn’t ‘tea.’ Sensory evaluations of several herbal infusions conclude the class.

• Define tea and botanical infusions and know the difference between the two types of beverages.
• Understand the historical significance of botanical infusions to humankind.
• Name and describe the four different historical lineages of the use of herbal treatments.
• Understand the FDA’s stance regarding claims about the benefits of specific herbs in a commercial setting.
• Identify and describe over a dozen popular caffeine-free botanicals.
• Identify and describe popular botanicals other than tea and coffee that contain caffeine.

You will need to order your class kit no later than close of registration: 
• Required class kits are not included in your purchase for your course
• Class kits need to be ordered from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
• Go to Elmwood Inn’s World Tea Academy page to purchase kit* (You need to order your kit no later than one week before your class starts to ensure that you receive it in time.)

Please Note: International students that plan on taking more than one course with World Tea Academy will save money on the shipping costs of their class kits if they order multiple kits at a time. 

Students will need to supply the following additional materials BEFORE the class starts. These are not included in the class kit:
• Two professional cupping sets
• An instant read thermometer
• A digital gram scale
• A timer

Course Length:
3 weeks (plus one week grace period to submit assignments and complete any tests.)

World Tea Academy Certified Tea Specialist Candidates:
Successful completion of this class counts towards certification for WTA Certified Tea Specialist. CORE.01 and CORE.02 are the suggested prerequisite for CORE.03 through CORE.06 classes.

*Disclaimer: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas is not part of World Tea Academy/Questex LLC nor is it affiliated World Tea Academy/Questex LLC. World Tea Academy/Questex LLC has partnered with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas only to provide the class kits for our courses.