2017 Global Tea Championship Results Announced for Single Service and Fall Loose Leaf

Judges evaluated 245 teas Feb. 25-26 during the Global Tea Championship meeting at Allegro Coffee in Thornton, Colorado. World Tea Media organized the event. Scott Svihula, who participated as a judge said, “Since this is now opened to global entries, we had teas represented by 16 different countries. We tasted some single-origin teas in the open classes from countries that are relatively new to the US market. However, on the flavored categories, we are still getting entries that are artificial tasting or using a heavy hand in flavoring and not used to enhance the tea experience. There were even a few entries in which flavors were used that were obviously not created for tea beverage.” Tea purveyors submitted a spectrum of tea varieties—from breakfast blends to flavored green teas and herbal infusions—for this round’s packaged single service and fall hot (loose leaf) classes. Each tea was given equal consideration as judges examined the leaves, liquor and taste. To earn third place, teas had to earn a score of 60. Second place required a score of 70; and the threshold for first place was 80. Several categories did not have first place winners. All entrants receive constructive peer reviewed feedback. Several purveyors entered teas in the flavored black category, while a handful of categories did not have many submissions.  Some teas were entered in the wrong categories and had to be disqualified. The Global Tea Championship judges highlighted:

• The overall good quality of entered selections, but lack of exceptional teas.
• The appearance of blending challenges, such as use of whole-sized ingredients with smaller tea leaf. Harmonizing on density of each ingredient is critical for consistent flavor profile.
• The positive direction of higher-quality teas and ingredients being used in the single serve bagged category.

Judges for these classes were: Kelly Amoroso, Suzette Hammond, Richard Endicott and Scott Svihula. The Global Tea Championship 2017 Packaged Single Service and 2017 Fall Hot (Loose Leaf) results follow.

Fall Hot (Loose Leaf)

Kukicha (Loose): Second: Teaja Organics Kukicha Hojicha (Loose): Second: Sugimoto America SA Hoji Cha Third: TeaSource Hojicha Gunpowder (Loose): No winners Jasmine Green (Open Leaf) (Loose):        Second: Garden to Cup Organics Moonlight Jasmine Third: Teaja Organics Starlight Jasmine Jasmine Green (Pearl) (Loose): First: Teaja Organics Jasmine Pearls Private Reserve Second: Garden to Cup Organics Jasmine Pearls Private Reserve Third: Royal Tea NY Jasmine Pearls Assam (Loose): First: Florapharm Tea USA LP Assam GTGFOP1 Halmari (cl) Second: Dinjoye Tea Estate Assam Golden Tips Third: Chota Tingrai Tea Estate Chota Tingrai Assam Whole Leaf Black Tea (TGFOP1) Darjeeling (2nd) (Loose): No winners Darjeeling (Autumnal) (Loose): Third: Teaja Organics Darjeeling Autumn Keemun (Loose): Second: Garden to Cup Organics Imperial Keemun Private Reserve Third: Meimei Fine Teas Imperial Gongfu Black Tea Yunnan (Loose): Second: Garden to Cup Organics Yunnan Golden Tip Third: Teaja Organics Yunnan Golden Monkey Black Tea (Orthodox) (Loose): First: Lumbini Tea Factory (Pvt) Ltd Lumbini Sinharaja Wiry Tips (FBOPF Extra Special) Second: Florapharm Tea USA LP NOP Organic Nepal Hand Rolled Floral Guranse Third: Teaja Organics Wuyishan Golden Tips Pu-erh Tea (Loose): Second: International Tea Importers Pu-erh Third: Garden to Cup Organics Pu'erh 1998 Private Reserve Dark Tea (Loose): Second: Garden to Cup Organics Lu’an Private Reserve Black Tea ( Machine, CTC) (Loose): Second: Amarawati Tea Company LTD Halmari Gold CTC Third: Compañia Ecuatoriana del Té, C.A. Black CTC 2017 Breakfast Blend (Loose): First: Lumbini Tea Factory (PVT) LTD Lumbini Breakfast Tea (FBOPF) Second: Tapestry Tea Company Irish Breakfast Third: Garden to Cup Organics Quatrain Breakfast Blended Oolong (Loose): First: Teaja Organics Lemongrass Mint Oolong Second: Garden to Cup Organics Osmanthus Oolong Blended Black (Loose): Second: Agricola Himalaya High Grown Colombian Cacao Kisses Third: De Koffieliefhebber Crispy Chocolate Blended Pu-erh/Dark (Loose): First: Tea Sip Black Walnut Brownie Third: Carytown Teas Blood Orange Puerh Ginseng Oolong (Loose): First: Garden to Cup Organics Ginseng Oolong Supreme Second: Sipping Streams Tea Company Ginseng Oolong Third: Teaja Organics Ginseng Oolong Moroccan Mint (Loose): Second: Tea Forte Moroccan Mint Third: Garden to Cup Organics Moroccan Mint Flavored Oolong (Loose): First: Citizentea.com Creamy Nut Oolong Second: Teazen Angelic Aroma Third: La Creme Coffee & Tea Pumpkin Spice Oolong Tea Flavored Black (Loose): First: Churchill's Fine Teas Lemon Drops Black Tea Second: Garden to Cup Organics Citron Mint Black Third: Tea Sip Lemon Lime Earl Grey Black (Loose): Second: Garden to Cup Organics Majestic Earl Grey Third: Whispering Pines Tea Company Earl Gold Reserve Flavored Pu-erh/Dark (Loose): First: Teaja Organics Tangerine Basil Pu’erh Second: Dethlefsen & Balk Pu-Erh Pistachio Third: La Creme Coffee & Tea Diet Blend Tea Chai (Masala Chai) (Loose): First: Tea Sip Masala Chai Third: Teaja Organics Mumbai Chai Lapsang Souchong (Loose): Third: Mark T. Wendell Tea Company HU-KWA

2017 Packaged Single Service

White Tea (Bagged): Third: Silk Road Teas White Peony Green Steamed (Bagged): First: Shohokuenchaten Co., Ltd. Uji Gyokuro Tea Bag Second: Ito En (North American) Inc.  Matcha Green Traditional Third: Newby Teas Green Sencha 25 Count Tea Bags Green Pan Fired (Bagged): Second: Zealong Tea Estate Zealong Green Third: Shangri La Tea Co. Inc. Organic Green Green Oolong (Bagged): First: Zealong Tea Estate Zealong Oolong Black (Single Origin) (Bagged): First: Zealong Tea Estate Zealong Black Second: Glenburn Tea Direct Pure Darjeeling Tea Third: Newby Teas Darjeeling 25 Count Tea Bags Breakfast (Bagged): Third: Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Emperor's Breakfast Pu-erh/Dark Tea (Bagged): Second: Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Vintage Pu'er Green Blended (Bagged): Third: Ito En (North American) Inc. Matcha Green Ginger Oolong Blended (Bagged): No winners Black Blended (Bagged): Third: Farmer Brothers Artisan Collection Chai Spice Black Tea Sachet Pu-erh/Dark  Blended (Bagged): No winners Herbal Blended (Cup): Third: Special Tea Company Detox Supreme with BC30 Probiotic Herbal Blended (Bagged): First: Numi Turmeric Three Roots Second: Twigs Naturals Caribbean Christmas Tea Third: Farmer Brothers Artisan Collection Organic Chamomile Lavender Mint Herbal Tea Sachet Herbal (Bagged): Third: Twigs Naturals Mint Tea White Flavored (Bagged): Third: Big T NYC Tell-Tale Glow Green Flavored (Hot Soluble): No winners Green Flavored (Bagged): Second: Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Royal Passion Fruit Green Third: Newby Teas Oriental Sencha 25 Count Tea Bags Oolong Flavored (Bagged): No winners Black Flavored (Hot Soluble): No winners Black Flavored (Bagged): Second: Two Leaves and a Bud Tea Company Organic Earl Grey Black Tea Third: Mighty Leaf Tea Earl Grey Crème Rooibos Flavored (Cup): No winners Rooibos Flavored (Bagged): Second: Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Blood Orange Rooibos Third: Walters Bay Vanilla Rooibos Herbal Flavored (Bagged): Second: Two Leaves and a Bud Tea Company Organic Detox Herbal Tea for Recovery Third: Celestial Seasonings Sangria Zinger