Tea Expo Unveils Championship Winners, Best Cocktail Mixers Print E-mail
Tuesday, 05 May 2009

The 2009 World Tea Expo closed Monday, May 4, in Las Vegas, sending home several elated winners from its World Tea Championship and Top Tea Cocktail.

In its second year, the Championship featured new entrance criteria and categories, as well as an awards ceremony that took place during the Expo’s networking reception Saturday evening, May 3.

Big winners in the competition were Rishi Tea, Qtrade Teas & Herbs, PeLi Teas, Ito En and Shangri La Tea Company.

 

"It was a tremendous honor to have so many of our teas selected as World Champions," said Joshua Kaiser, founder and president of Rishi Tea. "We work fervently every year to source what in our opinion are some of the finest teas in the world.  It means a lot to have a group of our peers within the tea industry validate our efforts.  ... The years to come will bring many challenges for the industry, and it is critical that we work together to strive for increasing the quality of the tea as well as the communities in which they are grown and processed.  The World Tea Expo is helping to unite our industry and challenging all of us to sharpen up our game. We can't wait!" 

 

A complete list of winners follows:  

Hot Tea Class

Assam: 1st Place, Assam Ditchu by Teas Etc.; 2nd Place, Assam Marangi by TeaGschwendner USA; 3rd Place, Satrupa SFTGFOP1 by Qtrade Teas & Herbs

 

Black

  • General: 1st Place, Zhenghe Golden Monkey (Special) by PeLi Teas; 2nd Place, #510 Golden Monkey (Fujian) by SpecialTeas Inc.; 3rd Place, New Vithanakande Classic by Qtrade Teas & Herbs
  • Blended/ Flavored: 1st Place, Pineapple Mango by TeaGschwendner USA; 2nd Place, Pangaea Extra Special by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Lemongrass Black by Rishi Tea

Breakfast Blend: 1st Place, Organic/ Fair Trade China Breakfast by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Smooth Breakfast by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, English Breakfast by TeaGschwendner USA

 

Ceylon: 1st Place, Ceylon OP1 by Teas Etc.; 2nd Place, New Vithanakande FBOPF Extra Special by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, Ceylon Uva Highlands by TeaGschwendner USA

 

Chai: 1st Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Masala Chai by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Sewpur Assam (Organic) Masala Chai by Chamong; 3rd Place, Indian Chai by TeaGschwendner USA

 

Darjeeling: 1st Place, Jungpana Choice by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 2nd Place, Darjeeling Risheehat 2nd Flush SFTGFOP1 by TeaGschwendner USA; 3rd Place, Darjeeling Lingia 1st Flush SFTGFOP1   TeaGschwendner USA

Dragonwell: 1st Place, Dragon Well Qingming by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Dragon Well Mingqian by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Spring Dragonwell by Qtrade Teas & Herbs

 

Earl Grey: 1st Place, Earl Grey No 69 by TeaGschwendner USA; 2nd Place, Earl Grey Grand by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Earl Grey Supreme by Rishi Tea

 

Green

  • Blended/ Flavored: 1st Place, Sencha Yuzu by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Goji/Blueberry/Pomegranate by Dethlefsen & Balk; 3rd Place, Genmai Cha by Sugimoto USA, Inc (SA Japanese Green Tea)
  • Dry-Fired:  1st Place (Tie), Wuyang Chunyu by Qtrade Teas & Herbs and Ilrohyang of Sulloc Premium Tea by Amorepacific Corporation; 3rd Place, Zhejiang Green Needle Tea by PeLi Teas
  • Steamed: 1st Place, Yame Hon-Gyokuro by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 2nd Place, GyoKuro by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Organic Kukicha by Rishi Tea

Herbal

  • 1st Place, Tartary Buckwheat by Puripan Inc.; 2nd Place, Organic/ Wild Schisandra Berry by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Mulberry Leaf by Puripan Inc.
  • Blended/ Flavored: 1st Place, Organic Cinnamon Plum by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Summer Romance by TeaGschwendner USA; 3rd Place, Organic Unity by Rishi Tea

Jasmine: 1st Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Jasmine Green Tea by Rishi Tea

 

Keemun: 1st Place, Sechrna by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 2nd Place, Keemun Hao Ya by PeLi Teas; 3rd Place, Keemun Needle by PeLi Teas

 

Matcha: 1st Place, Matcha Rishi by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Ceremonial Matcha by AIYA America Inc.; 3rd Place, Matcha Supreme by AOI Tea Company

 

Oolong

  • Blended/ Flavored: 1st Place, Lychee Green Oolong by Naivetea; 2nd Place, Plum Oolong by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, Plum Oolong by Rishi Tea
  • Dark, Medium Oxidized: 1st Place, Fenghuang Dancong (Super) by PeLi Teas; 2nd Place, Formosa Superior Choice by TeaGschwendner USA; 3rd Place, Fenghuang Dancong (Special) by PeLi Teas
  • Green, Lightly Oxidized: 1st Place, Jade Oolong (Golden Leaf Selections) by Barnes & Watson Fine Teas; 2nd Place, Ti Quan Yin (Super) by PeLi Teas; 3rd Place, Jade Oolong by Rishi Tea

Puer: 1st Place, Puer Tea (Special) by PeLi Teas; 2nd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Puer Classic by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Ancient Puer Palace by Rishi Tea

 

Sencha: 1st Place, Sencha Spirit by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 2nd Place, Sencha Superior Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Organic Sencha by Rishi Tea

 

Treasure, Flowering: 1st Place, L.T. Grade A Collection by Tea Beyond; 2nd Place, Royal Lily by Fujian Guang Fu Tea Co., Ltd; 3rd Place, China Yin Zhen Flowering by TeaGschwendner USA

White

  • Any category: 1st Place, Organic Silver Needle by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Organic Silver Needle by Two Hills Tea Ltd.; 3rd Place, Silver Needle by Fujian Guang Fu Tea Co., Ltd
  • Blended/ Flavored: 1st Place, Organic Silver Needle Jasmine by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Organic Silver Needle Osthmanthus by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Island Dreams by Qtrade Teas & Herbs
  • Yunnan: 1st Place, Dian Hong (Special) by PeLi Teas; 2nd Place, Golden Monkey Organic by Teas Etc.; 3rd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Yunnan Golden Buds           by Rishi Tea

Iced Tea Class

READY TO DRINK (RTD)

  • Best Packaging: 1st Place, KimBees Lemon-Raspberry Gourmet by KimBees Gourmet Sweet Tea    
  • Black, Flavored: 1st Place, MarketSpice Signature Blend by MarketSpice; 2nd Place, Pomegranate Splash by MarketSpice; 3rd Place, TEAS' TEA Naturally Sweet-Citrus Black by ITO EN
  • Black, Unflavored: 1st Place, Anteadote Organic Black Teaby Adagio Teas; 2nd Place, Just Tea - Black (Manufactured by ITO EN), by Wegmans
  • Green, Flavored: 1st Place, Jasmine Green Tea by ITO EN; 2nd Place, Just Tea - Green Jasmine (Manufactured by ITO EN), by Wegmans
  • Green, Sweetened: 1st Place, Tazo Organic Iced Green by Tazo Tea; 2nd Place, KimBees Lemon-Raspberry Gourmet by KimBees Gourmet Sweet Tea; 3rd Place, KimBees Almond Gourmet Sweet by KimBees Gourmet Sweet Tea
  • Green, Unflavored: 1st Place, Oi Ocha Dark by ITO EN; 2nd Place, Just Tea – Green (Manufactured by ITO EN) by Wegmans; 3rd Place, La Crème 100% Organic Unsweetened Green Tea by La Crème Coffee & Tea
  • Oolong, Unflavored: 1st Place, Oolong Shot    by Ito En; 2nd Place, Just Tea – Oolong (Manufactured by ITO EN) by Wegmans; 3rd Place, Anteadote Organic Oolong Tea by Adagio Teas

FREESTYLE

  • Tea: 1st Place, Iron Buddha and the Flower by Barnes & Watson Fine Teas; 2nd Place, Black Tea Pre-Mix by AIYA America Inc.
  • Best Presentation: 1st Place, Tea in a Jar - Aloe Vera by Puripan Inc.
  • Herbal: 1st Place, Tea In A Jar - Aloe Vera by Puripan Inc.; 2nd Place, Rosa de Jamaica by Qtrade Teas & Herbs; 3rd Place, Tea In A Jar – Ginger by Puripan Inc.
  • Herbal, Flavored: 1st Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Tropical Crimson by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Organic Berry White Iced Tea by Sungarden Specialty Tea; 3rd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Blueberry Red by Rishi Tea

FOODSERVICE

  • Best Value: 1st Place, Walters Bay Black Iced Tea by Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates    
  • Black, Flavored:1st Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Summer Lemon by Rishi Tea; 2nd Place, Passion Fruit Jasmine Art of Tea; 3rd Place, Porganic Maple Caramel Iced Tea byShangri La Tea Company
  • Black, Unflavored: 1st Place, Natural Organic Black Iced Tea by Shangri La Tea Company; 2nd Place, 100% Nilgiri Ice Tea Blend by International Tea Importers; 3rd Place, Walters Bay Black Iced Tea by Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates
  • Green, Flavored: 1st Place (Tie), Organic Ambrosia Green Iced Tea by Shangri La Tea Company and Organic Serene Green Citrus Iced Tea by Sungarden Specialty Tea; 2nd Place, Organic/ Fair Trade Citron Green by Rishi Tea; 3rd Place, Walters Bay Mint Green Iced Tea by Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates
  • Green, Unflavored: 1st Place, Natural Organic Green Iced Tea by Shangri La Tea Company; 2nd Place, Liquid Jade by Art of Tea, LLC; 3rd Place, Walters Bay Green Iced Tea by Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates

Moving from the traditional to the trendy, the Top Tea Cocktail live mixing competition also produced a winner. Yesterday, May 4, Max Solano took top honors for his Genevrier Verte. It contained China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea, lemonade, Hendricks gin, Agwa Coco Leaf, lime juice, vanilla and egg white.

 

The win might not have surprised anyone who knew Solano is a mixologist for Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 and Delmonico Steakhouse. His drink was selected by judges Karen Foley, publisher of Imbibe Magazine, Michael Politz, publisher of Food & Beverage magazine, and Michael Cardenas, owner of Innovative Dining Group. The winning recipe will be featured in the two publications represented by the judging panel.

 

“I’m going to have to come up with something new for next year,” said Stephanie Knight of Lavender Tea Lounge, whose Matcha Ginger margariTea made it to the final round of competition.

 

The next World Tea Expo is scheduled June 11-13, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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