One of my favorite things about tea is that I can never stop learning more about it. Even after nearly seventeen years, I am still finding ways to dig deeper. Earlier this year, I enrolled in the online Japanese Tea Foundation Course offered by the Global Japanese Tea Association. In this post, I’ll be sharing a bit about the experience and my takeaways from it.
What is included in the course?
Receiving the package of course materials felt like Christmas morning. I couldn’t wait to unwrap everything, especially the teaware. Here is what is included:
- Four live Zoom lessons
- Course handbook and presentation slides
- Japanese teas for brewing and evaluation
- Traditional Japanese teaware
- 2 Tokoname kyusu with ceramic filters
- 6 Minoyaki sencha cups
- Minoyaki matcha bowl
- Takayama chasen
- Takayama chashaku
- 5 Ceramic display plates
- Metal sieve
- Set of bamboo chopsticks
- A personally signed copy of the book Japanese Tea: A Comprehensive Guide by Simona Suzuki
- Shipping to your address
- Certificate upon successful completion of the course
The Experience
The Japanese Tea Foundation Course consists of four 2-hour-long sessions held over Zoom. The group size is limited to 5, which I appreciated because it felt more intimate and personal. Classes are held on Japan Standard Time since the instructor is based there. That presented a bit of a challenge since I live in New Jersey. Drinking a lot of caffeine from 8:00 to 10:00 pm was not ideal, but you all know that I will do anything if there’s tea involved.
Each week the Japanese Tea Foundation Course consisted of tea tasting, lecture slides, and videos. Simona often prompted us with questions to encourage discussion and to see what we thought of each tea. The topics ranged from the basics of what tea is to the intricacies and problems of the Japanese tea industry. I’ve been drinking Japanese teas for over a decade, but I still felt like I came away with knowledge and skills gained.
One thing I found particularly interesting is that Simona always had us start with fully boiling water. We practiced cooling down the water using the teaware on hand rather than using a variable temperature kettle. This is a tea skill I have not used in some time, so I was a bit rusty, but it was a great reminder to not always rely on technology.
The last week was both the most insightful and most intense of the course. The focus was on matcha, so there was a lot to cover. We compared ceremonial and culinary grade teas. We also tasted matcha alongside tencha as well as a kukicha made from the veins that were removed during tencha processing. I have a much deeper understanding and appreciation for everything that goes into matcha before it comes to me.
At the end of the course, I completed a multiple-choice exam. I’ve never been a good test taker, so that part was nerve-wracking, but I’m happy to report that I only got one question wrong.
Q&A with the Global Japanese Tea Association
I reached out to Simona at the Global Japanese Tea Association to ask some questions about the organization, its activities, and the courses it offers. I hope that the answers will help you to learn a bit more about them.
What is the Global Japanese Tea Association, and what are the organization’s goals?
The Global Japanese Tea Association is a membership-driven, non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to expanding the world of Japanese tea through global collaboration. We recognize the various challenges Japanese tea faces both within and outside of Japan. Domestically, there is a declining demand for tea and an aging tea farming population. However, internationally, interest in Japanese tea is growing, yet access to it and reliable information remains limited. Our goal is to bridge this gap by fostering connections and promoting knowledge about Japanese tea worldwide.
How were the tea courses developed? What are the differences between the levels?
Our tea courses were developed in a unique way, starting with the highest level, the Japanese Tea Master Course. This intensive two-week program is held in Kyoto, Japan, offering an immersive experience. However, we soon realized that not everyone could travel to Japan solely for studying tea. This led us to develop the Level 1 – Japanese Tea Foundation Course and the Level 2 – Japanese Tea Intermediate Course. Both of these courses are structured as eight-hour programs and are available in Japan, in several countries around the world, and online.
The Foundation Course provides a solid introduction to Japanese tea, covering the main tea kinds, production methods, and key brewing techniques. The Intermediate Course builds on it, offering a deeper exploration of Japanese tea regions, industry, and culture, as well as introducing some lesser-known tea kinds. Finally, the Master Course offers a hands-on experience, bringing students to visit tea farms and factories, attend tea ceremonies, explore pottery regions, and develop deeper appreciation for Japanese tea along the way. Each level is designed to be highly practical, emphasizing hands-on learning through tea brewing, tasting, and evaluation.
What type of students usually take the courses? Do you need to be involved in the tea industry?
Our students come from diverse backgrounds, and prior experience in the tea industry is not a requirement. While some participants already work with tea professionally, many join simply out of a deep passion for Japanese tea, with the possibility of turning their interest into a career in the future.
What is the Global Japanese Tea Association hoping to accomplish in the future?
Looking ahead, the Global Japanese Tea Association aims to make Japanese tea more open and accessible to people around the world. At the same time, we strive to inspire tea producers and industry professionals in Japan by introducing innovative approaches and fostering new ideas. Japanese tea has a rich history spanning centuries, and our hope is for it to continue thriving for generations to come so that future tea enthusiasts can enjoy its unique flavors and aromas.
Is it worth it?
I absolutely think that the Japanese Tea Foundation Course was worth the time and expense. Keep in mind that part of the cost includes very high-quality and authentic teaware. I love that they are supporting Japanese artisans in this way. As mentioned earlier, I still gained a lot, even as someone who has been drinking Japanese teas for a long time. The teas we tasted were good quality and marked with the producer’s name. Extra samples were often included, so I had about 12 packets left at the end. I’m so glad this resource exists, especially in an online format, where it is accessible to those who might not have a local tea shop.
I’ve already enrolled in the Japanese Tea Intermediate Tea Course, and I can’t wait to dig even deeper. I have also joined the Global Japanese Tea Association as a Tea Fellow to support its work and connect with other Japanese tea lovers.
Have you ever taken a course like the Japanese Tea Foundation Course? Is there a particular tea topic that interests you the most? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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