MEET WESLAY: MASTER TEA BLENDER, VAN REES KENYA
The art and science of tea blending
“It’s easy to underestimate the skills and experience that go into your favorite cup of tea! It’s a matter of meticulous blending to balance quality and consistency. As the Master Tea Blender at Van Rees Kenya, this intricate art of tasting and profiling teas is my job, to create blends that consistently meet our clients’ diverse requirements. My role is as much about maintaining quality as it is about building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers.
One of the most fascinating aspects of tea blending is ensuring that every cup of tea is consistent in flavor and quality. Few realize that blending involves combining teas with varying characteristics to account for production differences across seasons and batches. This process requires years of training—on average, five years of on-the-job experience and a deep passion for tea. It’s a skill that brings together art and science, making it incredibly rewarding.
Finding my path in tea
My journey into the tea industry began in 2010, following my earlier career in the fresh produce sector. After earning a prestigious trainee Tea Executive role at Mombasa’s second-oldest tea brokerage company, I was hooked. While the tea industry is deeply traditional and takes time to navigate, I found my true calling. Over the years, I honed my expertise in tea tasting, customer relationship management, and strategic management. Joining Van Rees Kenya in January 2024 was a significant milestone, allowing me to contribute to one of the most respected global tea trading companies.
Room for innovation and development
At the start of 2024, we reviewed and improved our product management processes to better align flavor profiling, sourcing, and production. Because of that, we have been able to deliver value and serve our customers better. A mantra we are very keen to maintain and improve on! What I like about working at Van Rees, is growing your skills and expertise goes together with contributing to the success of the company. I’ve found immense satisfaction in a role that balances technical know-how with creativity, all within a supportive work environment.”
