Effective Communicators - Year 10 students link Business theory to the real world of tea
3rd March 2023
Students got a chance to really get into the nitty gritty of the Tea Industry and use the skills they have been learning in our Effective Communication topic. Shared below are their thoughts regarding the trip and some images of an activity we did in class in pairs. One person from the pair had to describe and communicate effectively three images in their own way and then at the end we would see how close the person who was listening to the instructions and drawing was to the original images. Students really enjoyed the task and it led to some great discussions on Effective Communication in the business world and the important role it plays.
Mrs Janoowalla
I really enjoyed my time at the Van Rees tea company and hearing how the tea business operates. It was a very interactive trip and being able to taste the teas and see the different types of teas and grading them was fascinating. It is so important to realise the precise nature of your clients as a little factor can change the entire taste of the tea leaves. Country profiling is common as they tend to have specific requests and I did not realise that Kenya is the largest exporter of tea in Africa. Although it is grown in similar regions upcountry on either side of the Rift valley, there are two distinct flavours and colours depending on which side it is grown: the Mount Kenya side is more fragrant and lighter in colour.
Maxwell
My experience at the Van Rees offices was extremely informative and engaging. I found the tasting of the tea very unusual and that ‘slurping’ tea in the technical sense is a real art and requires a lot of experience. The tea tasters at Van Rees are sampling up to 500 different teas a day which I thought was incredible. We learned about the auctioning process when buying the tea which unfortunately is all online now and the Senior manager who spoke to us said it’s a very big disappointment as the auctions were always very lively previously and was a part of the buzz of the job and trading tea. This trip really helped me to put all the different aspects of Business that I am learning into an applied context as we were able to talk to all the various departments such as logistics and finance. I now understand very well what the supply chain process is for example. In addition we learnt about the history of the company which was intriguing and realised how important branding is and how it adds value.
Imani
On Friday, Year 10 had the pleasure of visiting the Van Rees tea company offices. We heard about the history of the firm, the various departments and the behind the scenes action of a business. It was interesting to listen to the employees speaking with such passion and enthusiasm from creating the tea blends to transporting the tea. We even had the chance to try tea tasting and grading it. The most memorable experience was sitting down and sharing a cup of Kenya’s finest tea which they export. Overall the trip was enjoyable and gave us insight of what it takes to manage a business.
Tasneem
On Friday we were able to go to Van Rees Tea Company. I really enjoyed asking the questions I had prepared regarding the Tea Company which gave us a valuable insight on how a business is run and why it runs. We also got to practise tea tasting, which I have never done before and it was a good experience. Van Rees are a monopsony so we learned about how they buy their tea, which is by using the electronic auction system in Mombasa.
Alex
I really enjoyed our trip to Van Rees Tea House. It was very interesting to learn about the inner workings of a real business, and also learn facts about Kenya and other countries, like how Kenya is the biggest Tea exporter in Africa. On the trip, we got to taste and “grade” the tea, which is an activity employees there do regularly and in little time, tasting many various teas in under a minute. However, to taste it you have to slurp it into your mouth, and spit it out, which I found rather strange at first. We then got to learn about finances, such as how Van Rees operates in USD, despite it being a Dutch brand. I was able to learn a lot, in terms of how tea auctions work, which are now (to the disappointment of the senior manager) mostly online rather than in person, so he feels the buzz and excitement is gone.
When asking about competition the company Van Rees have, the manager responded that he feels their brand has been around for so long, that just the name alone encourages buyers to stay loyal. This taught me a lot about how brands and names mean a lot in the business world and how the 4Ps in marketing (Price, Product, Place, Promotion) play a vital role in keeping the business strong.
Lilly-May
Our trip to the Van Rees offices was a very interesting educational experience. During our time there we learnt about the functioning of a tea factory, how they organise their network and how they trade with their customers and of the tea industry. Through this we got to see how a real business operates and the information we learn in class is incorporated.
David Roy
