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.

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The prize was awarded by an independent international jury of nine experts who chose the best among the winners of the 9 single-origins that make up the recipe of the unique illy blend: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda.

The SMS Cluster ECOM of Nicaragua won the Coffee Lovers’ Choice award, voted for by consumers around the world who in the weeks leading up to the event blindly tasted the same samples in illy coffees.

“For the second year in a row, a Brazilian company that adopts regenerative practices has given us the best coffee in the world. In the Fazenda Serra do Boné, the health of the soil, biodiversity, and water sources are preserved thanks to the use of organic fertilizers, biological control and the reuse of processing by-products,” said Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè. “We are once again noticing important signs that confirm how regenerative agriculture is the right path towards a more resilient production capable of guaranteeing productivity and superior quality, of which coffee is the forerunner with the highest growth rates.”

The panel of judges who selected the Best of the Best included Massimo Bottura, chef patron of Osteria Francescana and founder of Food for Soul; Viki Geunes, chef-owner of three-Michelin-starred Zilte in Antwerp; Felipe Rodriguez, head chef at São Paulo’s Rosewood Complex; Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO); Q Grader professional tasters Felipe Isaza and Dessalegn Oljirra Gemeda; journalists Vanessa Zocchetti (Madame Figaro), Sebastian Späth (Falstaff), and Josh Condon (Robb Report).

The jury described Fazenda Serra do Boné’s award-winning coffee as creamy, sweet, and full-bodied, with an elegant balance of fresh fruit aromas, caramel undertones, subtle hints of brown sugar, and a persistent chocolate finish with floral notes of jasmine – a beautifully complex coffee that perfectly embodies its Brazilian origin.

This year’s event attracted a diverse group of public figures, including Francis Ford Coppola, Marina Abramović, Pat Cleveland, Alex Riviere, Chiara Maci, Candela Pelizza, Tamu McPherson, Sveva Alviti, Christoph Leitner, Simon e Marina Ksandr, Nick Lowry, Maddy Devita, Justine Martilotti, and Brittany Leigh Ball. The celebration of coffee excellence took place at a gala dinner at Peak in Hudson Yards, hosted by Spanish TV journalist Olivia Frejus Lloyd.

Beyond awards, the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award fosters global discussions on coffee sustainability. The day began at the United Nations headquarters in New York where representatives from across the coffee supply chain gathered for a roundtable discussion titled “Global Coffee Alliance: Mobilizing a Public-Private Fund to Fight Climate Change.” The panel, moderated by Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, featured chairman Andrea Illy, Italian Ambassador to the UN, Maurizio Massari; executive director of the ICO, Vanúsia Nogueira; chef and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Massimo Bottura; UNIDO project manager, Andrea De Marco; senior director of sustainable coffee at Conservation International, Raina Lang; and UNEP director for the New York office, Jamil Ahmad; who explored initiatives to advance sustainable coffee production in the face of climate challenges.

The panel emphasised the urgent need to transition coffee cultivation to a regenerative model to enhance resilience, improve farmer livelihoods, and reduce environmental impact. A major focus was on establishing a USD $10 billion public-private fund over the next decade, which will target smallholder coffee farmers in tropical regions heavily impacted by climate change.

“Since Expo 2015, we have worked tirelessly to build a framework to protect coffee for generations to come,” said Andrea Illy. “Regenerative agriculture has shown it can produce high yields and quality while restoring natural resources. We must act quickly to scale these solutions globally through an international fund. It is essential we implement regenerative solutions now, as we see they work and deliver positive outcomes.”

Throughout the discussion, panelists underscored the importance of uniting stakeholders from governments, international organisations, and the private sector to bring impactful, lasting change to coffee-growing communities. Reichenbach highlighted that consumer awareness and participation are key drivers in the industry’s sustainability journey.

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Food and drink that is awarded 2 stars is deemed ‘Outstanding’ – going above and beyond delicious. Less than 10% of entries achieve this rating every year, and Dualit is one of them. Products awarded 1 star are judged as ‘Simply delicious’, delivering fantastic flavour. Around 25% of entries receive this star rating every year.

Here is the list of all the awards, as well as notes from the judges, that Dualit has received in the 2024 Great Taste Awards:

Dualit Intense Aluminium Coffee Pods: 2-Star

“Lovely crema matched by a very comfortable mouthfeel, acidity is pitched at just the right level and the dark chocolate notes are well measured. The addition of milk adds greatly to the sweet notes of molasses and chocolate. We loved this.”

“This is a coffee with presence. An assertive flavour, true to the description of a dark roast. There is some complexity and a touch of brightness to temper that darker note. The addition of milk adds a lactic sweetness but in no way muffles the bold character of this coffee. Nuts and chocolate certainly, this has a satisfying finish, we like what we are left with. A good coffee.”

“Thick bubbly crema with a smoky, mineral and earthy nose. Those characteristics are the keystone of this coffee, but it also delivers richer notes through the acidity, cocoa and toasted nuts. It is complex and just manages to balance itself to make a convincing cup of coffee.”

Dualit Decaf Home Compostable Coffee Pods: 1-Star

“Lovely crema, thick, rich and inviting. For a decaf, this is bursting with flavour and is largely well-balanced. We detected some earthy spiciness which was well balanced in the mouth and offered a pleasing finish. Adding warm milk, it developed well to give a complex spiciness with some additional sweetness, that whilst some judges thought a little thin, nevertheless gave us all a balanced finish.”

“Wholesome coffee aromas and a bubbly crema full of body. That full-on coffee lands on the palate and brings with it some fruity notes and cocoa, intertwined nicely, with a good silky texture. A little sour on the finish, but well roasted, tasty and satisfying – an excellent decaf.”

Dualit Organic Colombian Home Compostable Coffee Pods: 1-Star

“Vibrant, enticing aroma. A satisfying taste with reasonable complexity and acidity. Bouncy fruitiness combines well with the darker coffee character. A good coffee to serve with or without milk – we find the addition of milk does nothing to muffle the personality of the coffee.”

“Good, thick crema on a coffee that shows considerable complexity. Controlled acidity is matched with an intriguing level of fruitiness – grapefruit perhaps. The addition of warm milk adds an element of lactic sweetness to the drink and rounds everything off into a perfectly satisfying cup.”

“Nice viscous crema and a good coffee nose to this. The texture follows through on the palate, as does the strong coffee flavour, which also holds some bitter chocolate that sits well with the coffee. There is a nice back up flavour of stewed fruit, mature and comforting, leaving a long and pleasant aftertaste.”

Dualit Americano Compostable Coffee Bags: 1-Star

“As a bag coffee, it has performed beyond our expectations.”

“Lovely rich aromas from the bag, which dissipate gently as it brews in the cup, retaining the richness well. On the palate there is a good rush of flavour, smooth and in harmony with itself. Nothing specific but a great blend and depth of flavour that leaves a long finish and makes for a satisfying cup of coffee.”

Dualit coffee products are available at dualit.com

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The UK roaster launched the Arabica variety as a world-exclusive in 2020 in joint collaboration with Cenicafé National Research Centre, the FNC (Colombian Coffee Federation), and a number of Colombian coffee farmers that it works with on a long-term, direct-trade basis. 

Cenicafé 1 was developed as an answer to climate change in Colombia. It’s resistant to pests which thrive as the planet heats up and grows in these warmer temperatures, meaning farmers don’t need to deforest land further up the mountain to make ends meet.

Will Corby, Pact’s director of coffee and social impact, said, “First and foremost, I want to recognise the decades of work that Cenicafé put into developing this variety, as well as the trust they put in us to bring this to market as a single-varietal coffee for the very first time.

“It’s also down to María Olano, a true coffee expert and close friend of ours at the FNC, Cecilia Camacho, who was behind the first Cenicafé 1 coffee on our menu, and all other farmers that we’ve worked with who have taken the pioneering step to plant this variety to combat climate change”. 

“This is far from the sole achievement of Pact Coffee. No individual could have done this alone – and this only goes to show the importance of a direct-trade supply chain and what this can mean for sustainability.”

Cenicafé 1 is set to return to the Pact menu this autumn. 

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Pukka Herbs’ Morning Berry tea, which delivers naturally caffeine-free energy, uses organic, ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients.

The blend has been awarded for its outstanding quality and contribution to the beverage sector, earning recognition in the following awards:

• The Great Taste Award 2023: One Gold Star
• Natural Lifestyle Product Awards 2023 (Food & Drink): Winner for Best New Drink
• The Grocer New Product & Packaging Awards: Silver in the Hot Drinks & Cold Brew Category
• Natural and Organic Products Europe 2023: Runner-up for Best New Organic Drink Product

The awards recognise the benefits and flavour profile of the blend. Pukka acknowledges that herbs usually have multiple effects so has worked to create a unique herbal blend in Morning Berry for the perfect morning awakening.

• Blackcurrant fruit – packed full of anthocyanins that support circulation and therefore healthy blood flow to the brain
• Rooibos (red bush) – popular, caffeine-free South African tea, rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, offering an array of benefits to support overall health
• Hibiscus flower – rich in antioxidants and supports healthy circulation
• Blackberry fruit – packed full of anthocyanins which have anti-inflammatory effects
• Rosehip – rich in protective bioflavonoids, providing antioxidant benefit
• Spearmint – deliciously fresh and uplifting, perfect for clearing the mind
• Rosemary – traditional remedy for supporting memory and cognition
• Ginseng – energising tonic used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to enhance physical and mental performance

Discussing the success, Laure de Chaisemartin, Pukka marketing lead UK & Ireland, said: “Awards are a wonderful recognition of the passion and hard work our team puts into every product. We’re delighted Morning Berry has been so well received by the industry and customers. This success inspires us to continue creating herbal wonders that taste great and also contribute positively to people’s wellbeing and the planet.”

For more information about Pukka Herbs and its award-winning range of organic herbal teas, please visit.

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The 2024 Sustainability Awards are a way to celebrate for-profit and non-profit companies that showcase innovation, collaboration, and positive impact across the entire coffee value chain.

The companies, organisations, projects, and people receiving these awards have not only dedicated themselves to confronting the challenges facing the specialty coffee industry—from climate change to gender inequality—but also to collaborating across geographies, cultures, and value chain roles, and to sharing the lessons they have learned for the benefit of the entire coffee sector.

A committee comprised of SCA staff has selected the finalists in each award category after receiving an overwhelming amount of submissions. Previous SCA Sustainability Award winners will now help select the winner in each category. Winners will be announced on SCA channels in late-March 2024, and recognised at Specialty Coffee Expo in April and World of Coffee Copenhagen this June.

2024 Sustainability Award Finalists

For-profit

• REBUILD WOMENS HOPE COOPERATIVE
• Black Baza Coffee Co.
• Fazenda Três Meninas
• Neighbors & Crops
• Sancoffee
• Amavida Coffee and Trading Company

Non-profit

• International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA)
• Root Capital
• Blockchain Coffee Beans
• World Coffee Research
• TechnoServe
• Community-Led Development Incubator Program by The Chain Collaborative

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The Sustainability Awards were created in 2004 to promote, encourage and honour the efforts of those serving as role models through sustainable projects in the specialty coffee sector. Each year, aligned with our Sustainable Coffee Agenda, an ad hoc SCA Sustainability Committee reviews dozens of applications from around the globe. The deadline to submit an application is 31 January 2024. The 2024 Sustainability Awards will recognise for-profit and non-profit organisations that advance sustainability in the coffee sector while inspiring others to design and initiate similar endeavors innovations.

Nominations for each category below can be submitted at sca.coffee/sustainabilityawards.

Sustainability Award: For-Profit

This award recognises the role that for-profit companies play in the sustainability of the coffee sector. Please note that this award is for businesses that have been operating for at least three years. Products, projects, and ideas do not qualify for the award.

Sustainability Award: Non-Profit

This award celebrates a non-profit organisation (or one of its projects) that advances the coffee sector’s pursuit of sustainability. Please note that this award is only for organisations/projects that have been operating for at least three years. Products, companies, business models, and ideas do not qualify for the award.

A note on the previous category of the Individual Award: The SCA is reevaluating how to best identify and celebrate individuals from across the value chain who have contributed to advancing sustainability in the coffee industry and will pause the Individual Award until further notice.

Finalists will be announced in February of 2024.

The Sustainability Committee of the SCA Sustainability Center will review all applications and consider a wide range of applicants, reflecting the depth and breadth of sustainable work being done in all areas across the specialty coffee industry.

If you have any questions on how to complete your application, contact
sustainability@sca.coffee.

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The Great Taste Awards are held annually, with the results being announced in August where, this year Novus won one of the ten prestigious Triple Gold Medals (the highest award) in the ‘Alternative lattes and cold brew infusions’ category.

Rooibos Espresso tea has been designed to be drunk as an authentic tea latte and produces a prominent tea note which cuts through the textured latte milk.  The tea itself is recovered from the sieving process at a South African plantation to produce Novus Tea’s super grade long-cut Rooibos.

Allan Pirret, sales director for Novus Tea, explains the roots of the award-winning beverage: “While Rooibos is a herbal tea, from the Western Cape Region, it is a red leaf tea with real depth and body, which is why it can be prepared in a standard espresso machine.

Although we have been buying from the grower for some years, our decision to start distributing the Rooibos Espresso came about as the result of discussion during the pandemic, when they explained to us about the very fine particles which they had started recovering from the sieving process, which would otherwise go to waste.  These are so fine they can be processed in a standard espresso machine, though we have had to design and produce a special filter basket which we offer to customers. This slows the extraction process down – and produces a crema which has the latte milk added afterwards.”

The judges were commented on the new tea; “Visually beautiful with a surprising amount of body and we really liked the earthy floral subtle bergamot undertones – a delightful drink.”

Another added: “Sweet and herby on the nose – this carries through well to the palate.  The sweet reddish colour is stunning – we loved the new way of drinking Rooibos, heavenly with milk,” and a third judge observed: “The product works well as a latte, with the addition of milk adding to the complexity and depth of fruit and floral flavours.”

Essentially, Rooibos tastes of honey, orange and vanilla, with buyers liking its many sustainable features: the fact that it is naturally decaffeinated means that it does not need to be processed to remove the caffeine content.  Plus, it is produced from what is arguably waste material and is vegan-friendly, so is right on trend for those looking for a healthy alternative in their tea.

Recently sampled at London Coffee Festival by coffee fans and experts, the taste was exceptionally well received, with tasters enjoying the vibrant orange colour of the tea latte.

Available in packs of six, 1kg pouches, the wholesale price comes in at just over GBP £18 per kilogram. It will also be available online in 250g form for consumers.

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Florida-based coffee roaster, Oceana Coffee, entered coffee into five different categories and took home medals in all 5 categories entered, including a silver medal in the alternative milk category. Planet Oat’s oat milk was paired with Oceana Coffee’s espresso blend for this award winning  combination.

“It has been another amazing year being involved with Golden Bean North America. We have been entering coffees into the Golden Bean competition since 2015 and every year it gets a lot more difficult to win a medal at any level. So to have our coffee’s win medals and do well is amazing, it certainly helps me to stay relevant and keep up with methods along with our green coffee sourcing and selections. I am very proud of our team and our product and look forward to sharing our coffees for years to come,” commented Scotty Angelo, co-founder of Oceana Coffee.

The Golden Bean, which originated in Australia 17 years ago before creating its North American competition ten years ago, judges espresso, milk and filter coffees with medals awarded in 11 categories: Espresso, Milk Based, Pour Over Filter, Alternative Milk Based, Decaffeinated (Milk Based), Elite (green coffee costing over $60lb) , Franchise / Chain Store Espresso, Franchise / Chain Store Milk Based, Franchise / Chain Store Pour Over Filter. Coffees, Super Automatic, and Single Serve categories are judged through a blind tasting format by roasters who attend and participate in the event and conference.

The Golden Bean invites roasters to not only send in their entries but also to participate in the seminars and fun sponsored evenings. This creates a valuable opportunity for roasters to network and form alliances within the industry.

Oceana Coffee is open daily at two locations in Palm Beach County, Florida for dine in, take out, and online ordering.

Oceana Coffee Roastery: 221 Old Dixie Hwy #1, Tequesta, FL 33469, (561) 401-2453

Oceana Coffee Cafe: 150 US-1 #1, Tequesta, FL 33469, (561) 768-7887

For more information on Oceana Coffee, visit oceanacoffee.com.

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“It’s time to acknowledge the people and organisations who are exemplifying excellence in the coffee community,” said Robert Carter, CAC President. “We want to celebrate the pioneers who have led the way in the coffee industry in Canada, and also the innovators and new and growing up-and-comers who are already making an impact!” 

The 2023 CAC Awards categories include: 

Lifetime Achievement Award – The CAC’s highest recognition for an individual whose extraordinary and ground-breaking contribution(s) has been a driving force of positive change and has had a significant, profound, and lasting impact on the coffee community. 

Innovative Achievement of the Year – This Award recognises a company, product or service that the Canadian coffee industry widely views as a progressive achievement that will positively benefit the future of coffee. Bonus if there is a goodwill aspect (eg charity component, environmental or sustainability impact). 

Small Chain – Big Impact Award – A coffee business with a minimum of 3 and a maximum 40 locations in Canada that is creating a buzz in the industry – from a marketing, product innovation, diversity & inclusion, charitable or other perspective. 

Volunteer of the Year – This Award recognises an outstanding volunteer whose overall leadership and contributions stood out during the past year. 

For more details and to submit a nomination click here.

The deadline for nominations is 9 October 2023. 

Nominations will be judged by an external committee. Winners will be announced at the CAC Conference on 9 November 2023 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. 

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The Leafies were launched last year by the UK Tea Academy, establishing the first dedicated tea awards in the UK. These prestigious awards aim to celebrate beautifully crafted teas from all corners of the globe. With the participation of nine expert judges from diverse tea-producing regions, nearly three hundred teas from over 27 countries were blind tasted and evaluated, resulting in an impressive selection of Highly Commended and Gold-winning teas.

A selection of last year’s Gold winners are currently available from the Rare Tea Counter at Fortnum & Mason’s flagship London store. As the official partner of The Leafies this year, Fortnum & Mason will once again provide the opportunity to sell some of the exceptional winning teas.

Expressing her enthusiasm about the continued partnership with The Leafies, Ottilie Cunningham, tea buyer at Fortnum & Mason, said, “It is a real joy being part of The Leafies. The combined knowledge of the judges really is second to none, and we have discovered some exciting new teas for the counter as a result. I very much look forward to what this year’s competition will bring.”

As part of its mission to educate more individuals about high-quality tea, the UK Tea Academy has introduced new categories for The Leafies, specifically tailored to retailers. Jane Pettigrew, director of studies at UKTA, explains, “We had such outstanding teas at last year’s awards, but of course they are often small batch, high value, and not readily available to the general public. This year, by introducing dedicated retail categories, we can encourage retailers to enter and demonstrate that great-tasting, loose-leaf teas can be both accessible and affordable.”

Online entry forms can be completed until Monday 11 September, with the judging week scheduled for early October. The winners of The Leafies 2023 will be presented with the awards at a ceremony in London later this year. Visit the ukteaacademy.com to find out more. To enter The Leafies 2023, please click here.

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With a whopping two billion cups of coffee consumed globally each day, the World Coffee Innovation Awards are all about showcasing the unsung heroes behind the scenes – the people, brands and companies that are shaping the future of coffee.

From farms to roasting plants to cafes and individual innovators, the Awards shine a spotlight on the cutting-edge advancements that often go unnoticed, for example, revolutionary machines, unique packaging, novel blends, or a spin on an old classic.

Winners will be announced at Caffe Culture Show in October at Islington’s Business Design Centre, London. Being shortlisted for the World Coffee Innovation Awards is a mark of excellence that will prevail long after the ceremony and can demonstrate the impact a company or individual is making in the food and beverage industry.

Find out more about the World Coffee Innovation Awards here.

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The NEXTY Awards recognise the pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry, highlighting brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and the planet. Nearly 600 products completed this year with over 700 category nominations, with only 78 selected as finalists. Brewed similar to tea, fully compostable Steeped Packs require no machines or specialty brewing equipment and are quickly becoming the sustainable standard in single-serve coffee.

“Steeped doesn’t take its Barista-Approved standards lightly and we’ve worked closely with industry experts to validate every aspect of the Steeped Brewing Method, from freshness and quality to extraction and shelf life. We are delivering consistency and authenticity for specialty coffee lovers in a sustainable single-serve format,” said Josh Wilbur, founder and CEO, Steeped Coffee. “We are proud to make quality coffee accessible to more people with our revolutionary, simple brewing method that helps reduce our lasting impact on the planet.”

The Natural Products Expo East is the industry’s largest event on the east coast, featuring more than 1,500 brands. Exhibitors showcase the latest innovations shaping the future of organic and natural food and beverage, personal care and supplements. The NEXTY Awards recognise the most progressive, innovative, inspiring and trustworthy products in the natural products industry. Finalists are chosen based on the NEXTY criteria centered around innovation, inspiration, integrity, and impact.

Steeped partners with more than 300+ top roasters across the country to deliver sustainable quality coffee in each single-serve cup. The company’s original Breakwater Blend is made from 100% specialty grade coffee that is ethically sourced, with Fair Trade and USDA Organic Certifications, from the Tolima region of Columbia. Each Steeped Pack contains craft-roasted, freshly ground pre-portioned coffee that is triple nitro-sealed to guarantee each perfect  cup.

“Steeped Coffee’s single-serve brewing method is disrupting traditional coffee service for individuals, companies, and the hospitality industry,” said Wilbur. “We all have a role to play when it comes to protecting the world we live in and we take that responsibility seriously. That’s why our award-winning Guilt-Free Packaging that is certified commercially compostable  takes every possible step to ensure that your sacred coffee rituals go unnoticed by the next generation.”

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The team was awarded the internationally recognised awards for Farrer’s Colombian single origin ground coffee, Farrer’s Colombian Nespresso compatible capsules and Farrer’s Lakeland Special Tea.

As well as selling tea and coffee to a range of retail and hospitality businesses up and down the country, the UK’s oldest coffee roasters (founded in 1819) also provides its products to customers through its website, as well as a coffee subscription service.

The Great Taste awards celebrate the very best artisan and specialty producers, with 12,777 products from around the world entered into this year’s awards, with only 3,818 being awarded a 1-star accolade. Judged by 144 of the most discerning palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers, and producers, as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is the most coveted of all food and drink awards.

Dave Walsh, Farrer’s general manager, commented: “We are delighted to have won three Great Taste awards. Not only do these awards show the hard work of our team, but they demonstrate that we are doing justice to the tea and coffee that we source.’’

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With 15 one-star awards, 7 two-star awards and even a three-star award for their honeybush and rooibos infusion, this haul of 23 awards brings teapigs’ total to 137 prizes to date.

All teapigs’ teas are certified plastic free and are carefully selected and slurped by Louise Cheadle, teapigs’ co-founder and chief tea taster who has over 20 years of professional tea tasting experience.

“We’re really excited about these awards,” said Louise, “and we’re looking forward to bringing even more quality teas to the range. We do our best to source the best quality and best tasting tea out there and it’s brilliant to get feedback like this. Since day one we’ve been on a mission to get people drinking real tea again so it’s fantastic to be recognized for the work we’ve done so far. So, if you’re looking for a core classic flavour for your tea menu or something unusual to attract your customers, we’ve got an award-winning tea that fits the bill!”

Taking pride of place this year with a three-star award is teapigs’ honeybush and rooibos. This blend of two naturally caffeine free and nutrient rich South African plants was given the highest accolade of three stars with the judges describing this “beautifully aromatic infusion” as “full of vim and vigor, yet sweet and gentle with it” and that it was “hard to imagine how this could be improved, it’s stunning.”

Two other award-winning teas from the teapigs range were their everyday brew and single-estate breakfast tea, both of which were awarded two stars, and both contain quality black tea from Rwanda. These two teas are at the heart of teapigs’ ethical scheme. Some of the finest black teas in the world are sourced from Rwanda, and teapigs are committed to giving back to the communities that bring them their premium, whole leaf tea. teapigs donate 5-15 pence from every pack of everyday brew and 50p from every single estate breakfast tea they sell to the Point Foundation; an organisation that supports orphans and vulnerable young people in Rwanda. To date they have raised over £350,000 from pack donations alone and have done various other fundraising events to help this awesome cause.

teapigs’ everyday brew is also 100% Rainforest Alliance certified – meaning that the tea estates their everyday brew is sourced from have been audited to meet standards that require environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

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The Specialty Food Association’s sofi Awards have been honouring the best in specialty food since 1972. The two winning teas are part of 148 winning products selected by a national panel of specialty food experts from nearly 2,000 entries across 39 categories. Every eligible entry is carefully assessed by food professionals including chefs, culinary experts, academics, food writers, and category buyers. Products are blind judged on taste, including flavour, appearance, texture and aroma, ingredient quality and innovation. This year, for the first time, sofi judging was held at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center following strict safety guidelines.

“We are deeply honoured and humbled to receive this coveted distinction for two of our great-tasting teas by the Specialty Food Association,” said Kristina Tucker, minister of Enlightenment and Commerce at The Republic of Tea. “SuperAdapt Burnout Blocker is a lusciously delicious herbal blend with organic ginger and cinnamon combined with the medicinal mushrooms, chaga and cordyceps. Daily Beauty steeps an enchanting violet colour with sweet notes of blueberries and lavender. This herbal blend quickly became a favourite since its introduction in 2019. We are thrilled that these innovative flavour profiles and high-quality teas are being recognised and celebrated.”

The SuperAdapt collection of teas feature adaptogens, a category of healing herbs to help handle stress. The SuperAdapt Burnout Blocker is caffeine-free. Its air-tight tin contains 36 round, unbleached paper tea bags and retails for $13.75.

Beautifying Botanicals Daily Beauty is a collagen-promoting blend of nourishing ingredients including the exotic blue butterfly pea flower, hibiscus, rose hips, bamboo, and schizandra berries. This caffeine-free herbal tea is a beauty ritual, hot or over ice, with blueberries and lavender. It retails for $13.75 per tin.

Both award-winning teas are available at www.RepublicofTea.com as well as natural and specialty retailers across the US.

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However, although the live event will not be taking place, the food and beverage manufacturing community will be able to access the conference content in the coming months; ProFood World will also host educational webinars featuring ProFood Live presentations.

With the support of PMMI, ProFood World will recognise its winners of the Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards and the Manufacturing Innovation Awards at Pack Expo International and Healthcare Packaging Expo in Chicago, from 8-11 November 2020. The awards will be presented at Innovation Stage 1.

The dates and times are as follows:

• 4:00 PM – 8 November 2020 | Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards
• 4:00 PM – 10 November 2020 | Manufacturing Innovation Awards

Some of the winners to be honored in November include:

• J.M. Smucker’s — New Uncrustables plant in Longmont, Colorado
• Atelier Hermes Boissons – First in the world to HPP bulk process juices that are sent directly to filler
• Lotus Bakeries – Manufacturers of the popular Biscoff cookie –first plant in the U.S.

“While it’s disappointing the conference has been canceled, we’re glad we have the ability to bring some of the conference to food and beverage manufacturers virtually,” said Joyce Fassl, editor in chief of ProFood World and content director for ProFood Live.

“We’re also grateful the award-winning companies can be honored at Pack Expo International and Healthcare Packaging Expo in November. We hope many in the manufacturing community will join us for these events.”

For more information, visit: ProFoodWorld.com

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“We’re elated to receive a Good Food Award; it’s a reflection of our values and commitment in this industry,” said owner and head roaster Elliot Reinecke. “More than anything, however, proud to share our practices in hopes that others will choose transparency and responsibility in the industry. That’s the true honor.”

Steady State Roasting produces specialty coffee which is responsibly-sourced from around the globe. Additionally, Reinecke, adhering to Steady State’s notion of building trust and community — and supporting those who are relentlessly committed to their craft, has personally met the farmers who produce the roastery’s beans.

With a focus on honesty and accountability — and opting to take the transparency pledge, Steady State shares harvest dates, producers, regions of origin and prices of purchase for green coffee beans on its website. This is done in the hope of bringing awareness to pricing decisions that support living wages for farmers and producers and aiding consumers in making informed decisions on where to spend their money.

The roastery’s sensory lab welcomes guests to travel the world through taste, by sampling flavour profiles from various countries in espresso drinks, pour-overs and specialty beverages. From Steady State Roasting’s humble beginnings in a shed behind Reinecke’s rental home, his passion for the craft and dedication to responsible sourcing has elevated the roastery to a distinguished local business, with global merits. As an up-and-coming leader in the coffee industry, Steady State also takes pride in educating coffee aficionados about the work that goes into a daily cup of coffee, as well as inviting local coffee dreamers to rent out its roasters by the hour, to create their own specialty roasts.

“We now offer free cuppings at our San Marcos roastery,” said Reinecke, “Often, we find that people have the perception that all coffee tastes the same, or that it’s the additions that change the flavor. In reality, a cup of coffee tastes different depending on where it was grown, how much rain the region saw that year and a slew of other factors. Adding the education element has both been fun for customers and helpful in creating a respect for the lengthy process that creates your morning pick-me-up.”

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An independent jury of nine top culinary and coffee connoisseurs from around the world gathered for a series of blind coffee tastings, brewed individually from the harvests of nine different countries, to thoughtfully determine the best bean of the 2018-2019 season.

Twenty-seven top grower representatives from nine countries (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda) were recognised and celebrated for their sustainable quality. Each lot, before being examined by the independent jury in New York, was selected through intensive analysis at illy’s Quality Lab and then judged on aromatic richness/complexity, balance/elegance and aroma intensity/strength.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to recognise Colombia, ‘Spirit of Peace’ and Asacafè for their achievement, as well as applaud all of our finalists who are focused on producing the highest-quality coffee through sustainable methods,” said Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè.

“This award celebrates and honors the Spirit of Peace project, that we have supported since the very beginning, with the aim to give a chance for the rural Colombian coffee community to become the engine of a bigger transformation through the economic reintegration of the ex-combatants and their victims in the Cauca region.”

The “Coffee Lover’s Choice” honour was awarded to Rwanda’s Ngamba Coffee Washing Station, represented by Ms. Celine Niwemugeni, for the second consecutive year. Presented by illycaffè CEO Massimiliano Pogliani, the prize was determined by a demanding jury of its own: more than 1,000 discerning visitors to flagship illy cafès locations in London, Milan, Paris, Shanghai and San Francisco.

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, named after illycaffè’s visionary, second-generation leader, celebrates the company’s hand-in-hand work with farmers for nearly 30 years to offer the best sustainably grown coffee to the world, as well as its commitment to improving the wellbeing of the world’s coffee growers.

“The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award starts with the unique illy blend, developed consistently year after year, which gives us a deep knowledge of the coffee origins. We then combine this expertise with our direct sourcing model, working hand-in-hand with coffee growers to produce the highest quality Arabica beans sustainably,” said Massimiliano Pogliani, illycaffè CEO.

“Coffee lovers and connoisseurs around the world are becoming more and more interested in learning and understanding not only about aromatic and taste profile typical of a specific terroir – very similarly to what happens int the wine world – but also how their coffee is produced and who produces it. This is the deep meaning of this Award, which wants to shorten the distance and bring together growers & consumers.”

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