The Global Tea Championship is designed to identify and reward the highest quality teas from around the globe. The competition features a wide range of categories, including:

Award Categories: Tea

Grand prize award for “Overall best tea”

Superior leaf award for “Best leaf appearance” in each tea type

• White
• Green
• Oolong
• Black
• Puerh

Superior liquor award for “Best cup character” in each tea type

• White
• Green
• Oolong
• Black
• Puerh

Premium award for “Best Tea” in each tea type

• White
• Green
•  Steamed
• Pan fired
• Oolong
• Long Oxidised
• Short Oxidised
• Black
•  Orthodox
• CTC
• Puerh
•  Sheng
• Shou

  Honourable mention award for the most Innovative tea

• Origin Awards
• Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Award Categories: Matcha

Grand prize award for “Overall best matcha”

Superior leaf award for “Best leaf appearance”

Superior liquor award  for “Best cup character”

Premium award for “Best matcha” in each tea type

• Ceremonial
• Culinary
• Honourable mention award for the most Innovative tea
• Origin awards
• Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Winning a Global Tea Championship award offers industry recognition and helps brands establish themselves as leaders in the competitive global tea market.

“As we open submissions for the 2025 World Tea Expo Global Tea Championship, we are reminded of the importance of recognising and celebrating the incredible diversity and quality within the global tea community,” said Tim McLucas, vice president of the hospitality group at Questex. “This competition not only honours excellence in tea production but also brings together a community of passionate professionals dedicated to advancing the tea industry. We look forward to discovering and celebrating the outstanding teas that will set the standard for quality and innovation in the coming year.”

Award winners will be announced at World Tea Expo which takes place March 24-26, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV.

For more information on submission guidelines, categories, and how to enter, click here.

The post Submissions now open for World Tea Expo Global Tea Championship 2025 appeared first on Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

Australian Tea Masters’ extensive tea experience, together with its wide global network, provides an opportunity to expand World Tea Academy’s educational options, and provide enhanced choice and value for students, in the fast-growing tea market.

Since 2011, Australian Tea Masters had been devoted to promoting the art, culture and knowledge of tea. With a goal of building a community of tea lovers and professionals who value and understand the excellence of high-quality teas as well as the tea farmers who produce the tea.

Australian Tea Masters will be responsible for operational management of World Tea Academy and will introduce expanded choices of classes and educational opportunities for tea professionals to learn, collaborate and engage with the global tea community.

As part of this collaboration, new World Tea Academy features include:

• Launch of a new website, which provides improved flexibility for completing classes
• Ability to complete classes on demand
• Choice of online classes, plus new in person education in select locations
• Opportunity to attend the annual World Tea Expo, which takes place 18-20 March 2024 in Las Vegas, with special discounted rates for students, and World Tea Academy meetups

Classes are now available online at worldteaacademy.com. Additional new opportunities will be launched soon.

“We are immensely proud to be joining forces with Questex and the World Tea Academy,” said Sharyn Johnston, CEO, Australian Tea Masters “This partnership marks a landmark moment for us, offering an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our deep commitment to tea education on a global stage. Our unwavering dedication to providing tea education has always been at the core of our mission. Through this collaboration we anticipate expansion in both our reach and available resources. Our online platform represents the forefront of tea education, and we are fully committed to continually enriching our range of courses and we can bring our expertise to a respected platform for tea education welcoming tea enthusiasts and professionals from all corners of the globe to engage in a rich, dynamic learning environment. We’re particularly excited about bringing our unique blend of traditional and contemporary tea knowledge to a wider audience. This is an opportunity for us to inspire connect and elevate the tea industry as a whole.”

Tim McLucas, VP and market leader of the Bar & Restaurant Group at Questex added, “We’re delighted to partner with Australian Tea Masters to enhance the World Tea Academy and widen the opportunity for tea education internationally. Building on the success that Sharyn Johnston and her team have demonstrated within the global tea industry, Australian Tea Masters is uniquely positioned to support the growing demand for online tea education, plus provide new opportunities for professionals to meet and learn in person and connect face to face with the tea community including producers, retailers, suppliers and other key industry stakeholders.”

The post New collaboration will see expansion of World Tea Academy education hub appeared first on Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

World Tea Expo attracts a concentrated audience of tea buyers including retailers, tea shop and tearoom owners, restaurants, grocers, universities, health and wellness venues, bars, plus other hospitality venues looking for the latest tea products to support their business growth.

• Explore the immersive Expo Hall with over 200 suppliers and sample teas from around the world, plus kombucha, boba tea, spices, and botanicals. Discover the latest in packaging, technology, supplies, and the newest innovation; meet buyers, new prospects, and try new teas and tea cocktails at the enhanced Tea Bar.
• Set your business up for success by attending the expanded conference programme with new conference tracks, data sessions, new tea primer certification, high profile industry keynote, and much more. Gain invaluable insights from industry legends, up-and-comers, and successful operators.
• Meet new prospects and existing customers at key networking events including the exciting meet and greet, opening night reception, first-time attendee happy hour, and a new industry happy hour.

New this year is the World Tea Expo Beverage Challenge, to be unveiled onsite and set to become the ultimate platform for individuals, companies, producers, and suppliers to showcase their craftsmanship, creativity, and dedication to the art of tea. Participants from around the world are invited to bring their passion and innovation to the forefront and compete for recognition and acclaim in various categories. Submissions will open 2 October 2023 and full details, including categories and FAQs, can be found here.

“We are excited to present an evolved World Tea Expo that appeals to a rapidly changing global tea industry,” said Tim McLucas, vice president of Bar & Restaurant Group. “This event is designed to stimulate business growth opportunities by connecting the international tea community and provides the most up to date education and trends data on how to appeal to today’s and tomorrow’s fast growing audience of new tea consumers. If you’re interested to discover innovative ways of engaging with new customers and eager to expand your business within the tea and hospitality sector, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. We look forward to welcoming the community to a revitalised World Tea Expo experience.”

Early bird registration is now open for World Tea Expo at WorldTeaExpo.com. To book your exhibit space or to become a sponsor or advertiser, connect with Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos at ekaraboitis@questex.com.

The post World Tea Expo returns for March 2024 appeared first on Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

World Tea Conference + Expo was originally scheduled to take place 14-16 July in Denver, Colorado.

“Adding World Tea Conference + Expo to co-locate alongside Nightclub & Bar Show is an important and exciting move for the tea, bar and restaurant industries,” said Tim McLucas, vice president, bar & restaurant, Questex. It provides critical new opportunities for business growth and evolution, in addition to expanding the audience reach, and encouraging innovation and new business partnerships.”

According to Questex, the rapid spike in demand for low and no alcohol beverages is a critical and fast-growth segment of the beverage industry, which is expected to be a trillion-dollar industry by 2024. With support from the specialty tea industry, this strategic co-location will create exciting new opportunities to connect buyers and sellers of tea and tea related products with the bar and restaurant industry; and bring fresh growth to World Tea Conference + Expo at an important time in the industry’s evolution.

World Tea Conference + Expo focuses on the business of tea with unique sampling, tasting and education on how to profit from tea. The event attracts the national and international tea community, including buyers and decision makers from retailers, grocery, hotels, distributors, foodservice, spas, plus tea and coffeehouses, among others.

Product categories represented include: tea and herbal tea suppliers, teaware, giftware, equipment and supplies, flavours & ingredients, tea support & education, herbals/botanicals, CBD products, packaged foods, packaging/labels, technology/POS, and payment processing.

The event will feature a lively expo floor with hundreds of new tea products, three-day conference program including workshops and bootcamps with leading tea experts and speakers. Event highlights include:

• Tea Bar: new expo floor feature to sample the latest teas from around the world including tea infused cocktails
• Kombucha Experience: dedicated expo floor experience exclusively focused on kombucha producers
• CBD Innovation: all you need to learn about CBD in one area – how it works, where to purchase it and how to blend it
• New Business Launch Pad: discover the latest emerging trends and stay ahead of the competition
• Tea-infused culinary demonstrations showcasing the versatility of tea
• Skill-Building Sessions: vary from tea-infused cocktails to food pairing and blending skills
• Evening reception and networking.

For members of the tea community unable to travel to Las Vegas, Questex will offer a World Tea Conference + Expo hybrid option to provide access to live education, on-site product activations, expo floor features including the new Tea Bar and Food & Beverage Innovation Center.

The health and safety of exhibitors, sponsors and attendees is Questex’s top priority. Following federal and local guidelines, Questex has crafted unique protocols for each event experience, which includes event specific health and safety initiatives, response team identified for every event and on-site health and safety guidelines. For more details on the on the company’s health and safety protocols, visit: questex.com/event-safety.

Registration for World Tea Conference + Expo will open soon at WorldTeaExpo.com.

Early bird registration for Nightclub & Bar Show 2021 starts at USD $99 and expires 17 May 2021. For more information or to register, visit: NCBShow.com/Register.

The post World Tea Conference + Expo changes dates & city appeared first on Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.