The UK Tea Academy

This is a fully immersive and exciting opportunity to learn how black tea is plucked and processed in the U.K.

WHERE WILL THE COURSE BE HELD?
The course will be held at the award-winning Peterston Tea Estate which is situated on the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales. Established in 2015 on a five-acre fruit farm, this is one of a number of up-and-coming tea gardens in the UK and Europe. Tea is grown outside using agroforestry techniques and also in polytunnels; so this is a farm really taking a different approach to tea production. Already gaining a good reputation, their tea is sold by Fortnum & Mason and a number of independent tea shops.

Peterston was awarded the Best Food and Drink Producer in Wales at the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2023.

WHO WILL THE TUTORS BE?
Peterston Tea Estate is run by Lucy George who produces several exciting artisan teas on a small scale. Lucy will lead a tour of the tea garden and a tasting of her Welsh grown teas. Lucy started growing tea in 2014 and promotes biodiversity on the estate using organic practises and agroforestry – growing trees alongside the tea to create a good microclimate for the plants.

Your tutor for the tea making part of the Masterclass is Beverly Wainwright who works as a tea consultant advising small scale growers around the world and who runs the Scottish tea factory where she processes tea for Scottish growers. Beverly started her tea journey 12 years ago in Sri Lanka where she set up her first small-scale factory at Amba Estate producing world renowned teas that continue to provide sustainable livelihoods. She has since worked in Myanmar and the USA and has created award winning black teas. Beverly is an accredited tutor for The U.K. Tea Academy.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The course includes all tuition and course materials, the opportunity to pluck and process fresh leaf, a lovely lunch on both days, and a tea assessment and tasting at the end of the second day. 

WHO IS IT FOR?
This course is an elective Masterclass that will contribute to the Level Three Tea Diploma (and also fulfils the requirement to visit a tea garden), but is open to all, regardless of experience.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

• Introduction to Peterston Tea Estate and growing tea in Wales 

• Tasting of Peterson Tea Estate teas

• PowerPoint presentation covering the basics of black tea making

• Walking tour around the tea garden

• Plucking demonstration and tea plucking

• Introduction to processing as tea begins its withering process

• Opportunity to ask any questions

• A step-by-step guide to the processing of black tea

• Demonstration of tea rolling using a mechanical roller and the opportunity to hand-roll some tea

• Withering, oxidation and drying

• All processing techniques will be hands-on in the factory area

• Tasting and critically assessing the teas produced

Beverly Wainwright and Lucy George of Peterston Tea Estate will be on hand to discuss the processing and answer any questions that you may have.

EXTRA IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING!

Local details:

• Accommodation is not provided but we can give local recommendations if required. There is limited public transport to the village so own transport is advised, but we can help with this so do reach out to hello@peterstontea.com to discuss further

Important booking information:

• You can make a fully refundable deposit of £450 to reserve your place on this course.

• The remainder of the fee (£400) will be due by 29th May 2024.

• Bookings close on 29th May 2024.

• This course requires a minimum number of bookings to run. In case of these numbers not being reached, the course will be cancelled. If this happens, UKTA will advise all bookings by 19th May and will refund the deposit already paid.

• ***VERY IMPORTANT***: Please do not make local accommodation bookings until nearer the time, or be sure to only book your accommodation with no pre-payment and with full cancellation options. We would also advise international travellers to make sure any travel booked to the UK is refundable, where possible.