Hundreds of new tea products at the World Tea Expo 2019
Image: World Tea Expo
More than 3,000 professionals from the tea community and vertical markets will converge on Las Vegas for the 17th Annual World Tea Expo, June 11-13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (with a pre-conference program on June 10). The event will feature an exposition with 200+ exhibitors and hundreds of new products, more than 50 educational sessions and workshops, and the first US national qualifying round of the Tea Masters Cup.
The event is due to gather more than 3,000 international professionals from various industries, including grocers and retailers, coffee and tea houses, restaurants and foodservice, hotels, manufacturers, distributors and more. Attendees will gain insights about tea and new ways their business can profit from it, in addition to discovering the latest trends and products.
More than 60 industry experts will speak at the expo, presenting a cross-section of educational sessions on the latest tea trends, business-building strategies and industry issues.
Just some of the educational topics on the agenda include: Implementing a Tea Service Strategy to Increase Sales; Opportunities for Tea in Foodservice; Presenting Tea like Wine – For Restaurants and Their Customers; Bucking Traditional Retail Trends with Private Label Tea; Seven Steps to Building a Successful Online Tea Business; How to Break into the RTD Game; Making Tea from Leaf to Cup – An Experiential Green Tea Processing Workshop; Bringing CBD to the Mainstream with Tea; and The Future of Tea – What Will the Industry Look Like?; among many more.
Hundreds of new products will be showcased across the event. Rona Tison, executive vice president of corporate relations for ITO EN (North America) INC, one of the sponsors and exhibitors said: “We are excited to be bringing our new matcha teas and newly arrived first flush-Shincha to the lively World Tea Expo exhibit floor. The event is the perfect venue to connect and nurture new business opportunities, all while expanding ones knowledge of the ever growing market of tea. Especially, as tea is expected to grow exponentially in foodservice in the years to come.”
Some of the other companies participating on the expo floor include: International Tea Importers, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Dethlefsen & Balk, DMH Ingredients, East Indies Coffee and Tea, Rooibos Ltd., Flavor Waves, Harney & Sons, Martin Bauer Group, Rishi, t-sac and The Tea Spot.
Among the new additions at World Tea Expo is the first US national qualifying round of the Tea Masters Cup. The Tea Masters Cup is an international system of competitions for tea professionals held in four different categories: tea preparation, tea pairing, tea mixology and tea tasting.
Samantha Hammer, the World Tea Expo event director and World Tea brand leader, said: “World Tea Expo is the preeminent, global event for the tea community and vertical markets that sell, serve, manufacture or distribute tea. Each year, we’re thrilled to showcase the latest tea innovations, explore important tea issues, and focus on business-building strategies. The event is a must-attend for networking, conducting deals, and celebrating tea with leading professionals from more than 50 countries.”
Other highlights include The World’s Rarest Teas: An Exclusive Tasting Event, which will present a selection of teas from around the world. Curated by professional tea taster Kevin Gascoyne, owner of Camellia Sinensis, the experience will feature some of the rarest and most exclusive batches of teas.
The Global Tea Championship Winners Tasting Circle will allow attendees to taste Global Tea Championship medal-winning teas. And the 6th Annual World Tea Awards rounds out World Tea Expo, to honor some of the best and brightest from the tea industry.
