Explore the World Through Tea!
ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Training

February 2-3, 2019
Asheville, North Carolina

The International Tea Masters Association, now in its 11th year of operation, is coming to picturesque Asheville, North Carolina, with its ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier Course™ for becoming a Certified Tea Sommelier™, one of the most prestigious titles in the tea industry. Asheville features an eclectic downtown, 30 art galleries, a burgeoning culinary scene, and thriving live music.

The training starts with the 2-Day ITMA Comprehensive Tea Sommelier Course™held on-site at the Renaissance Asheville by Marriott on October 27th & 28th, from 9am to 5pm each day. The 8-Week ITMA Tea Sommelier Tasting Course™ starts the following week involving home study, tasting and evaluating 18 specialty teas. This will be followed by tasting and evaluating a Mystery Tea, a Report (oral or written) on a topic assigned by ITMA, and a Final Examination ($95 Examination Fee).

The training will be led by ITMA Certified Tea Master™ Frankee Muller, who recently moved to Oriental, NC, from Montana after selling her bed & breakfast inn.  She is a life-long tea aficionado and promises to make this an especially memorable, life changing experience for everyone.

Accommodations are available at the Renaissance Asheville by Marriott (31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC 28801  Phone 828-252-8211).  October is the high season in Asheville, so we recommend securing accommodation as soon as possible. The 2 -Day ITMA  Comprehensive Tea Sommelier Course™, which accommodates up to 10 registrants, will be held at the hotel.

The training contains all the educational requirements an individual needs for achieving the association’s prestigious ITMA Certified Tea Sommelier™ designation once the program, blind tea tasting, dissertation, and final examination are successfully completed.

Registrants will experience some of the most exquisite and often rarest loose-leaf teas from around the world. The training will also include: Health Benefits of Tea and Valuable Guest Service Skills.

Tuition for the complete training program is $1,475 for association members ($1,725 for nonmembers). To register, post a $250 non-refundable tuition-deposit using the button below. The tuition balance will be invoiced to registrants by e-mail  and must be paid by February 18, 2019.

Future Dates

April 27-28 2019, Raleigh, NC

June 8-9, 2019, Charlotte, NC