Tea Sommelier Award
The qualification to help you develop the full spectrum of skills and knowledge around a creative and engaging tea service. This is where you build the practical, sensory and cultural confidence to work with tea at a professional level through a series of units from the Language of Tea to Tea and Food Pairing.
Outline
The UKTA Tea Sommelier Award is a Level 3 qualification designed for those ready to deliver a creative and compellin tea experience. Whether you are working in hospitality, retail, education or content creation – or simply extending your experience with tea, this award helps build confidence in your tea knowledge and bring fluency and flair to your sensory and service skills.
You can join Subject Experts in Live Q&A sessions, with units from Mixology to Mastering Afternoon Tea and Sustainability in the Tea Value Chain to the Language of Tea – they will all help you develop a tea vocabulary that feels natural and credible. This qualification has all the credentials needed to define a modern Tea Sommelier.
The Tea Sommelier Award includes:
• Five core units
• One optional unit (chosen from a set of three)
• One Final Project unit
• Live Q&A support sessions
The full Tea Sommelier Award (without Tea Essentials or Tea Guide) takes approximately 80–100 hours to complete, depending on your pace. That includes 20–25 hours of online self-study content, MCQs for each unit + Live Q&A sessions, suggested activities and sensory tasks as well as journal notes and your Final Project submission. This is a flexible learning qualification, designed to fit in around your schedule.
Assessment
MCQs for each unit and your Final Project. This brings together your learning in a practical, professional format. You will choose a topic and delivery method that fits your interests – whether that is writing, service presentation, event design, or another creative approach. The UKTA will help guide you. The Final Project is internally assessed by a UKTA assessor and externally moderated by OCN London, using published criteria.
Achievement
When you pass all four core units, one optional unit, and your Final Project, you will receive the UKTA and Open College Network London, Tea Sommelier Award Certificate. You will also receive OCN London digital badges for each unit successfully completed. This awards you 7 credits at Level 3.
Progression
Completing the Tea Sommelier Award is a necessary step to achieving the Professional Tea Sommelier Diploma and other advanced study pathways.
By completing both the Tea Sommelier Award and the World Tea Diploma, you can access the Professional Tea Sommelier Diploma – a world first, externally accredited Tea Sommelier Diploma.
Snapshot
- Live Q&A sessions
- Assessment: MCQs + Final Project
- Achievement: 7 Credits at Level 3
- Tea Sommelier Award Bundle: £1585
- Bundle includes: Tea Guide & Tea Essentials
Qualification Bundle
If you’re starting your UKTA tea journey you can choose the units one by one and work towards a qualification – World Tea Diploma or Tea Sommelier Award. However, if you already know which qualification you want to achieve, you can buy a Qualification Bundle.
The Qualification Bundle includes every unit you need to meet the full requirements for that qualification – so you’re up and running.
Choose the one bundle that has your preferred optional unit.
Bundle TSA 1: Core units + Tea and Health: the evidence
Bundle TSA 2: Core units + Matcha Power: How to Harness it
Bundle TSA 3: Core units + Botanical Infusions
Tea Sommelier Award Core Units
Get inside the rituals, service, business and design of a successful afternoon tea. From scones to strategy, explore how this tradition evolved and how to make it work today.
- 1 hour live Q&A
- Self-guided study online
Explore how tea is grown, processed, traded and consumed through the lens of sustainability and learn what it takes to make tea production fair, resilient and future-ready.
- Self-guided study online
Explore how tea pairs with food across cultures and regional cooking. Understand balance, contrast, and how to bring tea and food combinations together with skill and imagination.
- Self-guided study online
Develop the vocabulary to describe tea with clarity and imagination and learn to express yourself around the sensory aspects of tea, savouring the aroma, mouthfeel, flavour, body and aftertaste.
- 1 hour live Q&A
- Self-guided study online
Explore tea’s place in modern mixology. Create bold, balanced cocktails and mocktails making tea the star performer. Learn flavour pairing and techniques of the mixologist.
- 1 hour live Q&A
- Self-guided study online
The final project brings together your learning in a practical, professional format. You will choose a topic and delivery method that fits your interests. This award confirms your achievement at Level 3 and demonstrates your competence in tea service, sensory skills, communication and applied tea knowledge.
- UKTA Mentor Support
- Self-directed study and research project
- UKTA project guidance
Optional Units (Choose One)
An exploration of the research on the science behind tea’s health claims. Learn how the evidence stacks up about the effects of tea compounds on heart health and metabolism – without the hype or half-truths.
- Self-guided study online
Beyond the tea bush, there are millions of plant parts used for flavour, scent, medicinal use and therapeutic purposes. We explore some favourites, taking a practical approach to extracting flavour from from roots, berries, seeds and leaves for inspirational infusions.
- 1 hour live Q&A
- Self-guided study online
Matcha is a power-packed, powdered tea that has spread from its Zen roots and reverential status in Japan to fast-moving cafés around the world. A look at modern creative preparation to show matcha’s versatilty in a contemporary hospitality environment.
- 1 hour live Q&A
- Self-guided study online
Next Steps after Tea Sommelier Award
On completion of Tea Sommelier Award, you can begin the World Tea Diploma. With both qualifications you can then progress to the Professional Tea Sommelier Diploma – the first Professional Tea Sommelier Diploma with external accreditation.
For passionate enthusiasts or potential tea professionals who want to develop a deeper knowledge of teas through their origin. This course takes you to the heart of the tea culture, history and landscape of six major tea-producing regions: China, Japan, India, Africa, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Join Live Tasting Tutorials with the UKTA’s international Tea Specialists and complete a final project to connect your learning across many teas and all regions to achieve this externally-endorsed qualification.
- Speciality teas sent to you
- 19 hours of live sessions
- Self-guided study online
£2960
This course includes all the units in World Tea Diploma and Tea Sommelier Award. You then design, research and present an extended final project shaped by your own specialism, sector expertise or goals. It could be origin focus, ethical sourcing, cultural practice, flavour profiling, service design or event strategy. The work is supported by your UKTA mentor, but directed by your own curiosity and ambition.
- Individual project around your specialism
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