I love tea and afternoon tea seems irresistible, but I am often confused by the wide variety of teas, so I wanted to learn more. Through the UK Tea Council I discovered this tea masterclass given by Jane Pettigrew and tea taster Tim Clifton, tea experts.
What does a tea masterclass cover?
The Tea Masterclass is a full day course (9:30 am to 5:30 pm) and usually takes place at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel in central London.
Topics covered include:
- Tea history
- Where does tea grow?
- Distinguish between different teas
- Tea making
- Tea tasting
- How to make the perfect cup of tea
- Tea and health
All of this is delivered with a color slide show to demonstrate tea processes and sources, as well as tea to touch, smell and drink.
Cost and reservation
The cost of the course includes lunch, a snack, Jane’s latest book and a certificate of attendance. (Check Jane’s website for the latest prices and booking details.)
The Tea Experts
Jane Pettigrew is a tea specialist, historian, writer, and consultant. Since 1983, he has been working in the UK and around the world to explain and share the fascinating world of tea.
Tim Clifton is an international tea taster and tea consultant who has worked with many of the biggest names in the tea industry.
Who takes a tea masterclass?
The course is suitable for those who enjoy drinking tea at home and would like to expand their knowledge and attract those who work in the tea industry. In my course, there were Japanese students who had studied tea in Japan, a Kenyan tea grower, luxury hotel staff, others who were planning to set up a tea room or tea shop, and me, someone who just loves tea. teas but I knew very little about it. Numbers are limited to 20, so you can talk to others in the course.
Tea Masterclass Review
I signed up for the class because I’ve become a bit obsessed with afternoon tea, but I still knew little about tea. I wanted to know more about the different types of teas and how to prepare and drink them correctly, and this is what I learned, and more.
The coaches are very friendly and make sure the day is fun as well as informative. Jane and Tim have been leading the tea masterclass for a few years and can adjust the course to fit the prior knowledge of the class. I was very impressed by his knowledge and enthusiasm about tea and his ability to explain complicated processes in a way that we could all understand.
I found out where the different types of tea grow and how it is collected and then made. Tim let us into the descriptions of the tea industry so we can read a tea label from a plantation and really know what all those abbreviations and numbers mean. Jane shared her list of recommended tea suppliers so you can order with confidence.
As with all full-day courses, it can be difficult to stay focused after lunch, but we are encouraged by more tea tastings and the enthusiasm of the coaches.
Tea tasting
It was fun being in a room with a group of adults noisily sipping their tea to get the full flavor. I wonder if I can go out with that again in a luxury hotel in London.
I found it surprisingly difficult to describe the aromas and flavors of each tea, so I was pleased that the woman next to me had so many great suggestions. I won’t tell you which tea smells like “roast chicken” and which are “moldy socks,” but they were accurate descriptions!
It could be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information, but I didn’t want the course to be shortened or just half a day as I loved my day learning about tea.
