Tea-ing off to a great career

India being the world’s largest producers, exporters and consumers of tea, there are various career options for those passionate about tea and the business of getting tea to the market.

The variety of jobs one can specialize in a tea industry, put together, are known as tea management. Tea-tasting is a highly specialized area of work. Other areas are that of researchers, plantation managers, tea brokers and consultants.

Work in the tea industry includes plantwork, processing, auctioning, branding, marketing and research. In India, the best tea growing areas are Assam, Darjeeling and the Nilgiris.

Although anyone with 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, horticulture or allied fields is preferred.

Jobs can be sought with tea companies or tea gardens, tea broking houses, tea associations and the Tea Board of India.

There are a number of institutes providing training in tea management such as Assam Agricultural University and Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore.