North American Tea Champions - Iced Tea Class

LAS VEGAS, Nev. 

Fourteen first-place winners in the annual Iced Tea Class evaluation were announced today by organizers of the North American Tea Championship.

Judging took place May 24 in Montebello, Calif. The Championship is the only independent competition, judged by professional cuppers, to distinguish the highest quality and best tasting teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace.

Tea companies that took a prestigious first-place title at the Championship include:

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group; ITO EN LTD.; Milo's Tea Company; Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee; Numi Organic Tea; QTrade Teas & Herbs (which won two first-place titles); Rare Tea Cellar; Revolution Tea; Rooibee Red Tea; Teas Etc.; Tejava; The Republic of Tea; and Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates.

Tea experts who judged the North American Tea Championship include: Michael Cardenas, owner, Innovative Dining Group; David De Candia, senior manager and tea master/tea blender, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; and Patrick Main, quality manager, Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

Kim Jage, executive vice president of World Tea Media, the producers of the North American Tea Championship, said, “The competition was fierce. Across the board, the quality of these specialty iced teas was much more refined than years past.”

She noted that specialty iced teas are gathering steam in popularity and quality. A total of 43 tea companies showcased an assortment of more than 130 premium iced teas – nearly double the entries in the 2010 competition. Entrants ranged from small, boutique tea manufacturers to mid-size tea companies and mass manufacturers, and there were winners to represent each.

Wilbur Curtis, a leading manufacturer of tea brewers and accessories, was the host and equipment supplier of the competition. Cirqua Customized Water provided 300 gallons of water for the Championship.

The tea submissions were evaluated blind and through organoleptic analysis of the following characteristics: dry leaf, brewed color, brewed aroma, brewed flavor, brewed mouth-feel and brewed harmony. An overall numerical value on a 100-point scale was then calculated based on the ratings of each characteristic above. Winners were determined by rank.

A complete list of first, second and third-place winners of the North American Tea Champions is available at www.teachampionship.com.

Box Score

Multiple Winners

1st

2nd

3rd

QTradeTeas&Herbs

2

 

 

Walters Bay

1

1

1

Dr.Pepper/Snapple

1

1

 

Milo’s Tea Co.

1

1

 

Republic of Tea

1

 

2

Mother Parkers

1

 

1

California Teas

 

2

 

Shangri La Tea

 

2

 

S&D Coffee

 

1

1

Tao of Tea

 

1

1

First Place Winners

Category

Tea

Company

Foodservice

 

 

BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea

Classic Southern Iced Tea Concentrate

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee

BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea

Revolution Iced - Classic

Revolution Tea, LLC. 

Flavored Black Tea

Meyer Lemon Black

Teas Etc

Flavored Green Tea

Tropical Green Iced Tea

Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates

Flavored Herbal

Lemon Berry Meritage-Organic

Rare Tea Cellar

Unflavored Black Tea

Summer Classic [Organic & Fair Trade]

QTrade Teas & Herbs

Unflavored Green Tea

Imperial Green [Organic]

QTrade Teas & Herbs

Ready to Drink

 

 

Flavored / Sweetened Herbal

RRT Watermelon Mint

Rooibee Red Tea

Flavored Black Tea

Earl Grey Pu-erh Tea

Numi Organic Tea

Flavored Green Tea

Snapple Green Tea

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

Flavored Oolong Tea

TEA'S TEA Low Calorie-Mango Oolong

ITO EN, LTD.

Sweetened Black Tea

Milo's No Calorie Tea Gallon

Milo's Tea Company

Sweetened Green Tea

Calorie-Free Sweet Green Tea

The Republic of Tea

Unflavored Black Tea

Tejava

Tejava

 Second Place Winners

Category

Tea

Company

Foodservice

 

 

BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea

True Leaves Sweet

CHINA MIST BRANDS

BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea

B.W. Cooper's Organic Iced Brew Tea

Cooper Tea Company

Flavored Black Tea

Mango Black Iced Tea

Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates

Flavored Green Tea

Lavender Fields Green Tea

Shangri La Tea Company

Flavored Herbal

TROPICAL CRIMSON

Rishi Tea

Unflavored Black Tea

Quality Blend 1oz. Filter Pack

S&D Coffee, Inc.

Unflavored Green Tea

Serene Green Organic Iced Tea

Shangri La Tea Company

Ready to Drink

 

 

Flavored / Sweetened Herbal

Mango Organic Rooibos

Templar Food Products

Flavored Black Tea

Lemon Twist Iced Tea

California Teas

Flavored Green Tea

CHAITEA PASSION FRUIT

GOURMETTI BRANDS

Flavored Oolong Tea

Osmanthus Oolong

The Tao of Tea

Sweetened Black Tea

Snapple Sweet Tea

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

Sweetened Green Tea

Original Sunshine Green Tea

California Teas

Unflavored Black Tea

Milo's Unsweet Tea Gallon

Milo's Tea Company

 Third Place Winners

Category

Tea

Company

Foodservice

 

 

BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea

Teafinity Sweet

S&D Coffee, Inc.

BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea

Classic Southern Iced Tea Concentrate

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee

Flavored Black Tea

Peaches Coconut

MarketSpice

Flavored Green Tea

Pomegranate Crisp

Silver Service Refreshment

Flavored Herbal

Petal Petal

Art of Tea

Unflavored Black Tea

Special ITI Iced Tea Blend #609

International Tea Importers Inc

Unflavored Green Tea

Traditional Green Iced Tea

Walters Bay

Bogawantalawa Estates

Ready to Drink

 

 

Flavored / Sweetened Herbal

Natural Hibiscus Tea - Superflower Tea

The Republic of Tea

Flavored Black Tea

Caddy Shack - Half Tea Half Lemonade

Peace Tea Beverage Company

Flavored Green Tea

Peach Sencha

Templar Food Products

Flavored Oolong Tea

Oooli Passion Mango

Oooli Beverages Inc.

Sweetened Black Tea

Calorie-Free Sweet Black Tea

The Republic of Tea

Sweetened Green Tea

Honest Tea Honey Green Tea

Honest Tea

Unflavored Black Tea

Darjeeling

The Tao of Tea

About the North American Tea Championship

North American Tea Championship is produced by World Tea Media, which also produces World Tea Expo, World Tea East and World Tea News. Until 2010, the North American Tea Championship was called World Tea Championship and it was held in-conjunction with the Expo. Today, it is an independent event, judged by professional cuppers, that evaluates premium teas from around the world that are sold in North America. The annual Championship is made up of two classes: Hot Tea and Iced Tea. Each class consists of its own categories and judging panel. The Hot Tea Class is evaluated twice a year: February for fall teas and July for spring teas. The Iced Tea Class is evaluated once a year in May. Winners of the Tea Championship are announced after each respective evaluation. For more information, visit www.teachampionship.com