Aug. 30, 2010, Vancouver – The Tea Association of Canada has chosen Vancouver Community College as the second Canadian location to offer courses leading to the “Tea Sommelier” designation.

The Tea Sommelier Certificate is divided into 8 courses – the first two courses, Tea Sommelier - Introduction and Tea Regions of the World are available this fall with the remaining courses expected to be offered in upcoming terms. Each course runs between three and six weeks.

"The Tea Sommelier program is an important component towards further knowledge of tea for the hospitality industry, the tea industry and for tea lovers," said Louise Roberge, president of the Tea Association of Canada. "For the past ten years, tea consumption has increased in Canada and is the second beverage consumed in the world, next to water. With growing trends towards tea and food matching, tea as an ingredient in cocktails, specialty and flavoured teas, and a more educated consumer, the time is right for a certification program that will produce educated tea professionals with the knowledge to suggest, educate and inform consumers about the overall tea experience."

Areas of study in the Tea Sommelier course will include: Introduction to Tea; Tea Regions of the World; Cultural and Regional Evolution of Tea Asia - China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan; Cultural and Regional Evolution of Tea - India, Sri Lanka, Africa and the World; Tea Sensory Development and Evaluation; Tea Types; Tea Garden Management; Preparation and Consumption; Menu Design and Food Pairing; and Tea Service Training.

Brendan Waye, a Certified Tea Specialist based on the West Coast, will lead the program. Waye owns and operates five teahouses and has been involved in the creation and development of 14 others.

The Tea Association of Canada is a not-for-profit association of companies and tea producing countries dedicated to increasing awareness of quality tea and its health benefits.