Tea Essentials Award

This is a comprehensive introduction to the tea plant and how the leaves are crafted into the tea we drink.

Ideal for people who love to drink and share tea – and the place to start for those who brew, serve, sell and talk about tea for work. Tea Essentials includes the story of tea; the journey of tea from China to the world and how growing, production and preparation of tea have been adapted in different countries and cultures.

You will learn about the six tea categories and the main tea-producing regions around the world, as well as trying out recipes and tips for making iced tea, sparkling tea, matcha, chai and more. Our video guide on brewing green tea ensures you understand the essentials of how to bring out the best in the leaves – and maybe, taste and enjoy tea as you’ve never tasted it before.

Time commitment
Most learners complete the online learning content with mini quizzes  in 3–5 hours. However the total learning time is more like 8 – 10 hrs,  but you won’t spend all that time on screen. This includes time for exploring downloadable resources, reading, tasting, brewing practice and reflection exercises.

This course is flexible and accessible. You can complete it in a day or spread it over a few weeks. 

On completion
You will be able to download and take away Tea Essentials Learning Resources – recipes, brewing and equipment guidance, links to further reading and useful websites. 

Achievement
You will gain your first UKTA Certificate and your first UKTA OCN London Digital Badge.  All UKTA units count towards one or more UKTA qualification.

Progression
Tea Essentials is the UKTA introduction to tea. Together with Tea Guide, it is the foundation unit for all UKTA qualifications which unlock all other units and qualifications. They must be completed before progressing further.

If you know you definitely want to progress to Tea Guide Award (or further) you could go straight to the bundle options on the Qualifications page.