TEA TASTER PROJECT

The "Tea Taster Training Project" financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey was carried out under the auspices of the Rize Mercantile Exchange and Rize University within the framework of the Youth Employment Grant Scheme. It is a project with a budget of 220,473.50 Euro. Project activities are 1 year and ended on 09.11.2011.

The GOAL OF THE PROJECT

To ensure the participation of unemployed youth in the workforce, to raise the level of socio-economic development of our region through the formation of new labor force,

To create taste in the tea sector, to prevent quality loss in production,

50 unemployed genders by giving the profession, to give the tea sector qualified staff,

To contribute to the development of the industry by increasing the quality standards of tea,

Local governments are examples of supporting actors, such as workers 'and employers' organizations, universities, professional chambers, non-governmental organizations and companies, to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Theoretical Training,

In the theoretical trainings, tutors were given by our domestic and foreign trainers in practice. Together with Sri Lankan tea expert Leonard Bryan Baptist, the world has been given the opportunity to get to know the tea grown in different regions, and the opportunity to see and taste various samples of Turkish tea. Tasting tests have been applied to our trainees from time to time to determine the success chart of the trainings. The results of tasting tests support the efficiency of training.

In the field of tea ceramics, factory visits were arranged for the trainees to improve their theoretical training, to see the working environment of the tea factories and to examine the laboratory environment. In addition, the differences in quality and yield between tea trails grown in high and low regions were investigated.

 The courses include training such as Quality Management System, Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety and Environmental Management System, which are necessary for tea tasters who work in the laboratory environment in factories.

Internships

The trainees who have successfully completed theoretical training within the scope of the project have been given the opportunity to practice and intern at the public and private sector tea factories for 3 months. This activity was realized by the trainees who completed the theoretical training process immediately to start the internship training and to take the practical internship training for 3 months.

During the internships, the trainees have reinforced the information they have learned in their theoretical training and have learned various analysis methods in the laboratory environment. In addition, various orientation training courses have been carried out in the factories, and process steps of tea, sensory analysis techniques and blending methods have been applied in practice. The trainees learned about the sensory differentiation of different grading teas produced in the factories by performing an average of 200 sets of black and green tea tastings per day in their internships.

As a result of the trainings, the trainees learned how to reach the quality of the teas and to identify the process-induced mistakes in the production stage by tasting the tea. Tea drinkers have gained the ability to intervene on the flaw that can occur during the production phase at this point, and they have provided quality standardization in the market. During the internship, trainees' internship files demonstrate the efficiency of factory practices after theoretical training.

Employer Information Activities

Within the scope of our project, informative activities about the studies, training process and trainees about the project related to tea company production in Rize province, including our room members, were realized. This activity is intended to facilitate the attendance of the trainees to the workforce and increase the employability rate following the completion of the intentional trainings. This activity took place over a period of 5 months. It is the outcome of this activity that 20 of the 50 trainees are employed in tea factories.

The trainees who successfully completed the theoretical and practical training within the scope of the project have received their certificates at the closing meeting held within the scope of the project and they have been gained as tea teasers in the sector.

IKG OP Closing Fair

The Tea Taster Training Program has been shown as one of the most successful projects among the total 216 projects implemented within the framework of the HRD OP for the Support of the Young Employment Grant Scheme (127), especially the Grant Scheme for the Support of Girls' Education (89). Sanliurfa DSİ XV. At the Closing Programs of the Grant Programs held at the Conference Hall of the Regional Directorate, the EU Delegation to Turkey was also attracted by Javier Menendez-Bonilla, Head of Social and Regional Projects Division.