Level II - Premier Tea Masters Program

The Premier Tea Masters Program is the second level of training towards the Master of Tea Arts Diploma.

The Premier program is designed to develop two important facets of a tea master: their technical skills, and their professional integrity.

In addition to academic knowledge, the Premier Program provides practical training for tea masters to increase the enjoyment of Chinese tea arts, and to develop their ability to distinguish levels of tea quality.  The courses focus on brewing skills and sensory evaluation.

The Premier program is comprised of ten components:

• #221. Zisha Teapots I
• #222. Zisha Teapots II
• #231. Traditional Chaozhou Style Gongfu Tea Rituals
• #250. Green Tea & White Tea
• #251. Red Tea
• #252. Wuyi & Anxi Wulongs
• #253. Guangdong & Taiwan Wulongs
• #254. Black Tea & Pu'er Tea I
• #255. Pu'er Tea II
• #260. Tea Culture & History

Upon completion of the program courses, candidates may continue their study of the techniques and principles provided in the program to prepare for the Premier Tea Master Certification Exam.

Premier Tea Master Certification Exam

The Premier Tea Master Certification Exam identifies individuals that are proficient in brewing and evaluating tea quality of all major tea categories.  Candidates must come to the Premier exam with extensive preparation to successfully pass this challenging exam.

In addition to advanced skills and technique, candidates are expected to reach a broad degree of knowledge in order to qualify as a Premier Tea Master.
Candidates will be examined on detailed knowledge, such as the varietals of Anxi wulong, the composition of zisha, and the cicadas of Hsinchu.  This level of detailed knowledge of Chinese tea is necessary to earn the title of Premier Tea Master.

The Premier Exam consists of three components:

• Written exam
• Blind Tasting exam
• Service exam - requires the candidate to perform traditional Chinese tea services

Candidates must achieve a minimum pass of 70% in all sections to earn the title of Premier Tea Master (PTM).

Individuals may challenge the Premier Exam without completing the Premier Program courses, however they must have passed the Level I Certified Tea Master Exam.

Candidates must pass the Premier Tea Master Certification Exam before they apply for the Master of Tea Arts Diploma Program.