Offering the Finest, Most Complete Training in the Tea Industry.

Recognized throughout the world, the International Tea Masters Association is the Gold Standard in tea education. It was founded in 2007 to provide Mastery Level training, education, and professional certification to individuals desiring to become an ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier™, an ITMA Certified Tea Blender™, an ITMA Certified Tea Taster™, or an ITMA Certified Tea Master™. Its superior faculty and outstanding curriculum are unmatched in the entire tea industry.

The association is respected as meeting superior educational standards by offering its ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course™ for achieving the ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier™ designation, its ITMA Certified Tea Blending Course™ for achieving the ITMA Certified Tea Blender™ designation, and for its ITMA Certified Tea Master Course™ for achieving the ITMA Certified Tea Master™ or ITMA Certified Tea Taster™ designation, the most respected titles in the tea industry.

Our Tea Masterclass: How to Start a Successful Tea Business™, which is an exceptional learning endeavor for anyone starting a new tea business, is available online via Skype..


Please note the price tag below are for none members.  All prices are in US Dlls..

ITMA Certified Tea Blending Course – $2,325.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course – $1,725.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified Tea Master Course – $3,225.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified Tea Master Course via Skype –  $3,225.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course via Skype– $1,725.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified How To Start a Successfull Tea Business– $2,225.00 US Dlls. for non-members.

ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course in person with Tea Master Parag Hatibarua in India– $980.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course with Rocel Leoncio via Skype/Zoom– $995.00 US Dlls.

ITMA Tea Sommelier Final Examination- $95.00 Dlls.

ITMA Tea Master Final Examination- $95.00 US Dlls.

For none members but interested in joining ITMA, please click on this link 

TEA TRIP TO MALAWI WITH SATEMWA TEA ESTATE AND ITMA

Dive deep into the world of tea with an unparalleled adventure in Malawi’s pristine tea landscapes at Satemwa Tea Estate, in collaboration with the International Tea Masters Association (ITMA).

Here, theory meets practice. While ITMA provides a structured and rigorous theoretical foundation about teas from around the world, Satemwa brings these lessons to life. Traverse the lush fields, from young tea plants to mature bushes, ready for plucking. Experience firsthand the transformation of fresh tea leaves into exquisite white, green, oolong, black, and dark teas. Explore the diverse tea varieties and cultivars, and understand their unique profiles and significance.

Beyond just tea crafting, this journey illuminates the broader canvas — the social and environmental dynamics that influence these tea communities. Immerse yourself in the rhythms of life on a tea estate, nestled amidst the rolling green, and engage in enlightening tea dialogues with experts, steeped in three generations of passion.

Concluding your journey, the ultimate reward awaits: Craft your own tea blend, a memento of your Malawian tea adventure and the amalgamation of ITMA’s knowledge with Satemwa’s rich heritage.

Join us June 2024, and weave your own tea story, where global tea knowledge beautifully intertwines with local tea artistry.

 Timing :  23th of June – 28th of June

 Full Program

 Pre Travel : ITMA e-learning course what is a tea sommelier, tea utensils.

Arrive on Sunday : get to know each other and introduction of the program

 Monday:

    1. Visit a tea nursery: importance of natural compost, tea rooting systems, varieties

    2. Good agricultural practices: pest management, pruning, irrigation, uprooting,…

    3. Visit small holder tea fields – learn more about 7 day plucking rounds

    4. Meet plucking gangs for CTC & specialty orthodox tea – what is the difference?

    5. Theoretical part on tea processing techniques – factory class room – by ITMA.

    6. Practical part on tea processing techniques: withering room + rolling machines + steamers + drier.

Tuesday:

    1. 07:30 am: Specialty tea plucking workshop – you learn how to pluck your own fresh green tea leaves in a tea field. You pluck different cultivars.

    2. Weighing your green leaf and up to the withering area in the factory.

    3. Tea cupping at the Satemwa cupping room

    4. Visit to the Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa (TRFCA) in Mulanje. When science meets tea. Learn about the history of this institute and its importance for the global tea industry. Find out the difference between the agronomy and botanical research approach. Learn about tea cultivars, tea varieties and their characteristics. Discover their tea gene bank and understand about how bee populations help the tea science in Malawi!

Wednesday:

    1. Part 1 – 2.5 hours

      1. Specialty Tea Processing workshop – you will play around with green, semi oxidized and black processing techniques. You will get explanations how to handle the different tea crafting machines. Ball rollers, micro driers,…

      2. You learn about defaults and defects and how these could influence the taste and flavor.

  • You will taste your own tea during the different processing steps to understand what certain processes are doing with the taste.

  1. You will understand the importance for hand sorting & grading.

  2. You will go home with your own freshly handmade teas.

  1. Visit to the Satemwa school – class rooms – nursery.

  2. Visit the Satemwa Clinic and some Fair Trade projects.

  3. Part 2: history of tea, Japanese tea, herbals  by ITMA

 Thursday:

    1. Part 1 (optional)

      1. Start Satemwa Coffee Tour on foot.

      2. Visit the coffee washing station – learn about arabica coffee, coffee picking, different processing methods, about fermentation, drying beds, coffee fruit / cascara,…

  • See how coffee & tea interact on Satemwa.

  1. Coffee cupping / tasting

  1. Part 2: ITMA – Chinese teas + tasting by ITMA

  2. Part 3 : what’s next for people interested in ITMA tea sommelier certification program

Post Travel : e-learning on tea and health + e-learning on world tea market insights by ITMA

Flights &Visa

Ethiopian Airlines offers convenient routes to Blantyre International Airport (BLZ). For travelers from Europe, anticipate a budget of approximately 1000 euro for a round-trip ticket in economy class (between 1500 – 2000 EUR in you travel from outside Europe), which attendees will need to book themselves.

While previously, tourists had to secure a VISA to enter Malawi, this mandate has been recently waived. Should a VISA become necessary again, it’s the responsibility of the participant to obtain it.

Accomodation

There are two distinct accommodation options available on the estate, subject to availability, with payments to be made directly to Satemwa in Malawi:

  1. Huntingdon House: Boasting 5 upscale rooms, a special rate of 185 euro per person per night on a full board basis is available for this event.

  2. Chawani Bungalow: A more intimate setting reminiscent of a tea family home, this bungalow offers 4 rooms, a spacious patio, and a swimming pool. It’s the perfect spot for aficionados to bond over their favorite brew. A special rate for this event is set at 135 euro per person per night for single room occupancy. If opting for shared accommodation, the cost is 115 euro per person per night, inclusive of full board.

Transport in Malawi

  1. Airport transfer: Blantyre Airport to Satemwa (+/- 1 hour): 50 euro per person per trip – to be arranged in advance.

  2. On the estate – free to walk – several indicated walks on Satemwa. Little maps are available.

  3. During the tea education modules – all transport is included.

  4. Before and after the tea education modules – transport can be arranged via a local travel

agency by the participant.

 Food & Drinks

  1. Breakfast: eggs, toast, cereal, yoghurt and fruit. Water, tea & coffee included

  2. Lunch: 2 course meal – water, tea & coffee included

  3. Diner: 3 course meal – water, tea & coffee included.

  4. Soft drinks, beer and wine will be available – we will use a honesty tap system.

 Trip before & after Covid

  1. Best to check latest regulations on testing & vaccination with the airlines prior to arrival in

Malawi. Other useful info can be found via: https://www.facebook.com/malawimoh

Booking & Payment

 Contact Stijn Van Schoonlandt at stijn@kruze.be who will be your ITMA instructor during this event for booking & payment.

Obtain a certification with one of our courses taught by our ITMA™ Certified Tea Masters.
Check out our upcoming events.

Please note: If You want to reserve your spot for any of the programmed courses, please make a deposit through the lower section.
Standard Membership is available to all individuals other than students and those who qualify for complimentary membership. 
The ITMA annual Standard Membership has a cost of $79.0 dollars.
If you reserve one of the courses without being an active member of ITMA, the courses will have an extra cost of $250.0 dollars each.

— The following is the list with our calendar of scheduled courses.—

Secure your place and make a security deposit selecting your Instructor and the Certified Course. (At the CART once you proceed to checkout, please include at the "Additional Information" section the dates of the course you wish to attend)

Be sure to read our registration and refund policy:

Refund Policy: 2 weeks prior to the course: full refund of the course fee. 1 week prior to the course: 50% refund. Less than a week (7 days prior to the course): no refund. No show: no refund.

Early registration is strongly advised to secure your place in the course of your choice. While every attempt will be made to adhere to the published venue and posted dates, we reserve the right to make adjustments, which may include class cancellation, transfer to a larger meeting room, or transfer to another venue. All registered students will be notified of any changes or cancellations. If your course is cancelled or rescheduled, you may request transfer to another course or a tuition refund, less the nonrefundable tuition deposit of $250. If you completed the training and were certified with a credential by the Association, you must surrender your Certificate of Completion and agree not to use the Title under any circumstances. You will receive email notification of acceptance of your registration as soon as it is processed, usually within 24 hours.

Current U.S. tax law permits certain deductions for tuition, books, supplies and similar expenses incurred to maintain and improve professional skills. Tuition payments may also be eligible for Lifetime Learning tax credits. For current tax information, consult your local tax professional.

Important Consideration:  Any Certification Course has to be completed in a period of maximum 24 months with a minimum passing grade of the Final Examination of 70.

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