Smart Skills
Much of the work is centered around the tea gardens — as the plantations are called — where the tea bushes are cultivated. Most tea gardens have a tea factory close by, where the fresh tea leaves are processed.. Several varieties of teas from different gardens are brought to tea auction centres, where auctions are held every week for the domestic sale and export of tea. Here again there are specialised tea-tasting experts who decide the fate of the teas from the gardens and price it accordingly. Work vistas There are a variety of jobs one can specialise in the tea industry. Plantation work: This involves the nurturing and growth of the tea plant in the gardens, the subsequent plucking, processing and packaging of the tea leaves. Plantation work involves nurturing tea plants in the plantations which includes preparing the soil, applying the appropriate fertilizers, choosing the right variety best suited for the prevailing conditions and supervising the pinching and plucking of the leaves. Processing work involves the crushing, tearing and curling (CTC)of the leaves which take place in factories. The tea is then packed and dispatched to auction centres. Auctioning work: The various samples of tea from different plantations are tested, blended and branded by the tea tasters in the auction centres. Brokers who are experts in evaluating the various teas and pricing them accordingly conduct the auctions. Most tea brokers have had a background in tea planting, and have developed finely tuned abilities in tea tasting. Marketing: Different varieties of tea bought in bulk are then blended and marketed according to their flavours, and the taste requirements of different consumers. Tea companies employ tea tasters adept at blending the teas, and marketing personnel who handle the sales and distribution of the different brands. Tea tasting: is one of the highly specialised area of work. The quality of tea depends on its flavour, and so tea-tasting is a highly specialized area of work. Tea tasters have to develop a fine sense of distinction between the taste and aroma of different teas. Most tea companies employ tea tasters for ensuring quality standards, and preparing blends.The tea taster’s palate is the ultimate testing ground. Tea tasters also advise researchers on the commercial factors like taste, economic viability and maturabilty for tea development. Research: There is much research work being conducted by scientists- botanists, bio-technologists and others - for producing disease resistant, high yielding varieties of tea, as also strains which produce leafs that are natural blends of various teas.The Tea Research Association at Jorhat, in Assam is a premier organisation where pioneering work is being done in this field. Eligibility Even though anybody who has a basic educational background can get into the tea industry, and pick up the skills required on the job, a degree in Agricultural Science or a B.Sc. in Botany, Food Sciences, Horticulture or allied fields is preferred these days. Those with an MBA in marketing or rural management can also get into marketing of tea. However, learning on the job in a tea garden is the best training any candidate can receive for a career in tea. Course clues There are a number of institutes providing training in Tea management. The minimum qualification required to get admission in a training institute is Class X or plus two. These institutes teach tea production to processing, finance, marketing and sales where tea tasting forms part of the curriculum. While tea tasting need natural talent tea tasters are trained either on the job / or in an institute to detect and differentiate the various tea qualities. By looking at the brightness (blackish or brownish), colour (like coppery or bright red), strength and body of the tea, and flavour, they are able to distinguish teas according to their type, specific region and quality. They also examine the evenness, colour or brightness of dry/infused leafs to know the strength and body of the tea. They have to be trained to make their palates proficient enough to register even minute differences. While many tea tasters develop their skills over years of work, a Tea Tasters Academy in Coonoor in the Nilgiris trains new entrants in this field. Most professionals are required to work in the tea gardens, which is also the best position to start a career in the field. Tea companies which own tea gardens employ graduates to start work in tea gardens, and after several years of experience in the field, can move them to the marketing and blending departments at the company headquarters. Placement prospects There are also jobs in tea associations and positions on the Tea Board of India. An experienced tea planter can also move into tea brokerage, tea tasting or take up employment at a tea auction house. Many professionals work with marketing and sitribution companies, or have set up tea marketing companies, blending various varieties of teas and marketing them to specialised consumer markets. Experienced tea professionals can also become consultants providing advice on the varieties of tea to be planted, new varieties and their sources, recruitment and training of personnel, compensation, benefits and incentives to personnel and labour and so on. The demand for tea both within the country and abroad far exceeds the supply, ensuring the growth and scope within this industry. So as you sip your next cup of tea think of the many job options that have been created by this small green plant. It could also give your future a sweet aroma of success. Training talk
(The list is not exhaustive) The writer is a
noted career
expert
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TEA
is one of the most refreshing and popular beverages of the world.
India as the world’s largest consumer of tea, is also the largest
producer and exporter. Therefore, though not very well -known there
is wide scope for careers in the tea industry.
