How to Become a Tea Taster

Updated On: 12-Feb-2023

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Tea tasting is an art and the main job of a tea taster is to taste the teas and give the expert advice on the various ways in which the tea can be brewed to achieve a particular taste.

Taste of different flavours is tested by the tea taster and brands the varieties depending on the qualities. The job of tea taster is ensuring the quality standards and prepares the blends.

Tea tasting is a highly specialized area and it is not something that one can learn through any course but one can only specialize in this profession via trial and error method and regular practice.

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Job and responsibilities of a tea taster:

Tasting the tea and provide their feedback for a quality tea final product
In a manufacturing company, they need to keep any eye on the production process by looking at colour and size of leaves to determine if they have been fermented or dried under fire and send back them to factory to rectify if needed
Coordinating with gardens, look after import and export
In broker's office, they play a role of advisor and let the manufacturer know about the latest market trends

The aspirants need to complete the graduation in Home science, food technologies, Biology, Agriculture, Horticulture or Botany. After completing the degree in any one of the specified fields, the students will be eligible to join the tea tasting courses.There is no specific degree to become a tea taster, but some certificate courses are there which helps you understand tea tasting techniques and scientific knowledge. The duration of these courses generally spans of 3 months to 1 year.

An aspirant should have a sharp sense of taste and sense of smell skills
They should have knowledge of the cultivation and manufacturing process in tea plantation such as tea kinds, varieties and grades and the characters of the resulting liquors
They should away from smoking, alcohol, strong spicy food etc.
Should have knowledge about tea market and emerging market trends
Leadership skills
Strong communication skills
Decision Making skills
Attention to details
Must be a tea lover

If you love tea and have good taste and sense of smell skills along with the educational background in home science , biology , agriculture or horticulture then this may be a perfect career choice for you.One can earn Rs. 5000 per month as a trainee. One the training is over and you earned some experience the salary can be 20,000 to 30,000. And the highly experienced professional can easily fetch Rs. 50,000 or more.A tea-taster is often employed by big tea companies for ensuring quality standards and for identifying different tea samples. Tea tasters are recruited by manufacturing companies, brokers and buyers. India is among the leading producers of tea in the world and offers a wide range of career opportunities in this sector.
India is exporting the tea in many countries, new companies are entering in the field with new flavours and types. Even if you have noticed, the list of tea types in hotel menu is expanding these days. So if you have an interest in this field, go try your luck.Pros