Like tea? This may be the job for you

There are a variety of jobs you can opt for, as far as the tea industry is concerned. While tea-tasting is one of the most specialised areas of work, the other jobs pertain to that of researchers, plantation managers, tea brokers, consultants, etc.

Work in the tea industry includes plantation, processing, auctioning, branding, marketing and research. Plantation work involves nurturing tea plants, preparing the soil, applying appropriate fertilisers, choosing the variety best suited for the prevailing conditions and supervising the pinching and plucking of leaves.

Processing involves the crushing, tearing and curling of leaves, most of which is done in factories. The tea is then packed and dispatched to auction centres.

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 BSc in botany, food sciences or horticulture is preferred these days. Candidates who have specialised in business management or trading are recruited for marketing jobs.

New entrants are taken as assistants at the plantation level. After
gaining experience and competence, an assistant can get promoted to the level of assistant manager, and then manager of a tea garden. Most assistants can expect to become managers in 12 to 15 years of service.

Potential tea-tasters are trained on the job. Besides natural talents, vigorous training for a number of years is essential to become a professional tea-taster, and then a tea-tasting manager.