World Tea Expo's Global Tea Championship—which celebrates single origin, single leaf, Camellia sinensis only teas—is open for entries through the end of November!
"The judges will adjudicate teas from different producing origins around the globe and evaluate each tea on its own merits. Each tea will be given due respect and poured according to the type and production," explains Global Tea Championship Director Ravi Pillai. "Teas will be assessed on liquor character, strength, aroma, brightness, and overall finish in taste. The leaf will be credited on visual appearance, make, evenness, consistency, density, brightness, and liveliness. The nose certainly will play an important role, and wet infusions looked at with a sharp eye."
Already, a number of companies have submitted their teas for consideration or are working on their applications:
- TRA VIET JSC.
- THE TEA LAB
- ZOUJI AND YUNNAN TEA CO., LTD.
- iTEAWORLD
- ZEALONG TEA ESTATE
- JAPANESE GREEN TEA CO.
- PANIKANDA TEA FACTORY
- THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI TEA COMPANY
- MARATHON GINSENG INTERNATIONAL INC,
- BROOK37 THE ATELIER
- LEILANI FINE TEA
- KAZI YETU LTD.
- NEPAL TEA COLLECTIVE
- DETHLEFSEN & BALK INC.
- ACCORD INDIA INTERNATIONAL P LTD.
- SOOFER CO. INC. dba SADAF FOODS
- JIRANSHANSHE ECOLOGICAL TEA CO., LTD.
- FUSON MACROBIOTICS LTD.
- PARRY AGRO INDUSTRIES LTD.
- NEWBY TEAS
- SEVEN TEAHOUSE
- THE DENMAN ISLAND TEA CO.
Stay up-to-date on who has submitted by visiting our website, where the list is updated as more companies enter.
Will you be joining this list of impressive companies and submitting your own tea for recognition? Just by entering, you'll receive:
- One free Expo Pass to World Tea Expo (a $99 value).
- Inclusion in the Global Tea Championship’s extensive marketing campaign, raising awareness of submissions and winners to the global tea industry.
- Your logo on the Global Tea Championship web page.
If you win, you'll receive:
- Grand Champion, Best Leaf and Best Liquor winners will have their teas sampled to thousands of attendees at World Tea Expo 2025.
- Trophy, medal and/or certificate
- Inclusion in press release and editorial coverage in World Tea News.
- And more!
World Tea News spoke with some of the members of the tea industry about what the Global Tea Championship means for the industry.
Faith Bailes, Conference Producer, World Tea Expo
I had a very interesting conversation the other day with a company that entered the Global Tea Championship (GTC), and I was thrilled to hear what they had to say. They felt World Tea Expo’s GTC rises to a different level of competition by catering to single origin, single leaf (Camellia sinensis only) teas. This accommodates exposure and publicity of the efforts of producers, farmers, and retailers in creating valued teas.
In this ever-changing environment of innovation where everything that is steeped in hot water comes under the title of "tea," we are attempting to boil it down to the just the leaf—it’s all about the leaf and nothing but the leaf!
GTC is honoring all the producers and the excellent work and passion that they put into the leaf. We hope that you can enter your outstanding teas and join us in this special competition focused on the craftmanship from around the world.
Jeff Fuchs, Award-Winning Explorer
From my perspective, it is never a bad thing to keep a competition succinct and simple. In the case of the GTC, it appeals because it pays tribute to Camellia sinensis in its traditional and unadulterated forms. We’ve watched a simple, three letter word, "tea," become attached to an increasingly ambiguous mass of beverages with any number of ingredients within.
Though mixologists and blenders should have a place and time for their brilliant skill sets, a simple and straightforward evaluation of our beloved leaf brings it all back home to three essentials: harvest, production, and preparation of a single leaf. Competitions inevitably will always come down to a kind of subjective perspective of a palate preference, so why clutter even more examples into a rich base?
Will Battle, Director of Tea Merchants & GTC Judge
I think that competitions such as the GTC are a wonderful way for the industry to celebrate excellence in tea production and provide a great global showcase for quality-minded tea producers. I hope that businesses will recognize the winning teas through their buying patterns and that successful producers will be rewarded for the quality teas they have made
Kyle Stewart, Co-Owner, The Cultured Cup, and Certified Tea Specialist
As a tea educator at the World Tea Expo, I focus exclusively on Camellia sinensis, the plant from which all true tea is derived. Many people are often unaware that beverages made from Camellia sinensis come from just this one plant. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that herbal infusions are also considered tea. It is essential to educate the public on this matter. I like to compare tea to wine: Just as wine is made from grapes, true tea is solely produced from the Camellia sinensis plant.
By exploring the limitless flavor possibilities of Camellia sinensis and hosting competitions that showcase the finest teas, we can elevate the status of artisan tea in the public eye and within the wine and restaurant industries.
Plan to Attend or Participate in World Tea Expo, March 24-26, 2025
To learn about other key developments, trends, issues, hot topics and products within the global tea community, plan to attend World Tea Expo, March 24-26, 2025 in Las Vegas, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at World Tea Expo, or to inquire about advertising and sponsorship opportunities at World Tea News, contact:
Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos, Business Development Manager, Questex
Phone: +1-212-895-8493; Email: [email protected]
Looking for professional tea education, certifications, and more? Visit World Tea Academy and register for courses today!
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