The food industry often needs tasters to evaluate the quality of a new product. Working as a taster can be rewarding and profitable at the same time. Let's try to understand how to start this career.
Steps
Step 1. Age requirements
To do this job, you usually have to be of age.
Occasionally, when a product is destined for the younger market, it may happen that tasters under the age of 18 are required. In this case the boy or the parents must sign an agreement that relieves the manufacturer of any legal responsibility before carrying out the tasting
Step 2. Follow an appropriate training path
Most companies require that the taster has completed a training course in the food and wine field. Candidates with a diploma or degree in this area of study are usually at an advantage.
- If you do not have a diploma in food and wine disciplines, it is advisable to attend a specialization course. This can certainly give you more chances than other potential candidates.
- Food companies often contact university nutrition departments to identify the best candidates for this job, both in terms of tasting and conducting tasting sessions. The remuneration in this case can be in cash or in discount vouchers. Thanks to this experience, a student can also see the impact of their work in the development of a certain product.
Step 3. Familiarize yourself with the technical terminology
A taster must be able to provide, in addition to the positive or negative judgment on a particular product, information that describes it precisely. Consistency, viscosity and palatability are just some of the characteristics that need to be evaluated.
Taste a small amount of the product and move your tongue inside your mouth to capture all the nuances of its flavor, preferably with your eyes closed, or looking at the residual portion of the product you are testing. Take a sip of water and taste a larger portion. Move the food around your mouth and slowly mix it with the saliva. You have to wait a couple of minutes before swallowing - longer if food is to be chewed, less if it's a cream or liquid
Step 4. Consider a specialization
As in other fields, professionals who specialize in a particular sector have a better chance than those who have a general but not very thorough knowledge. Being specialized in a certain sector can be very advantageous from a business point of view.
While it is advantageous to specialize in a certain sector, make sure that this is not too niche and limiting from a business point of view. For example, instead of specializing in the meat industry, you could broaden your field to proetic foods in general. Or, instead of a particular type of cheese, you can consider a dairy specialization. By dedicating yourself to a specific industry, you can build a lasting career
Step 5. Test your taste buds
Every professional will tell you that to achieve excellence in your field you must never stop learning. This also applies to a career as a taster. A taster should always be on the lookout for new flavors, to improve the analytical skills of their palate.
Advice
- It is important to keep in mind, for those who want to pursue this career, that contracts in this sector are usually short-term. In many cases, a taster does not work for just one company, but provides his service to several customers. In fact, some sessions can last just a few minutes. The large chains of food industry and distribution are an exception. For example, Wal-Mart and Target often offer long-term contracts for the tasting of their products.
- Those who suffer from food allergies must pay close attention when approaching this profession. When applying for an assignment, make sure the customer is aware of your situation to avoid unwanted side effects following the tasting.
