Umlazi woman makes history as South Africa’s first Black female tea taster
Hlengiwe Gcabashe never planned on becoming a professional tea taster, but one opportunity changed everything.
What started as a job opportunity has turned into a history-making career for Hlengiwe Gcabashe from Umlazi, who is making waves as South Africa’s first Black female tea taster.
Speaking to Carol Ofori on East Coast Radio, Gcabashe revealed that she never imagined tea tasting would become her career. After studying Public Administration and Management at UKZN, she joined a tea factory as an HR administrator.
Then she spotted an opportunity to train as a professional tea taster and the travel perks caught her attention.
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After a year of training and a competitive assessment, Gcabashe was selected. Three years later, she became a fully-fledged tea taster, buyer and blender.
It was only when she walked into a tea auction surrounded by hundreds of men that she realised just how significant her achievement was.
She was told she was the first woman doing the job.
Now, Gcabashe hopes her journey will inspire young Black girls from townships and small towns to explore careers they may never have known existed.
Her advice? “Open the door, find your space, take your seat, and shine.”
And if you thought you knew how to make the perfect cup of tea, you might want to hear what a professional tea taster has to say about it!
Listen to the full conversation here.
