by Kristan Obeng

World Tea Expo Attendee Appreciation Program members were treated to a private lunch and a presentation about the English tea industry today in Las Vegas.

The AAP, launched last year, included a lunch to thank 60 people who have attended the Expo three years consecutively. World Tea Media President George Jage hosted the lunch, which featured special guest speaker Jonathon Jones, garden director of the British tea garden Tregothnan. Jones detailed the English tea industry for the audience.

Marian Caso, owner of Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour, said she has been coming to the Expo for five years. “I want to stay ahead of the game instead of behind,” she added. “I also wanted to continue my tea education, network and find vendors.”

Jonathan Sims of Tea Embassy said he came when the Expo first started. “I like coming to see industry friends and new products.”

Jones spoke about Tregothnan, the 100-acre estate in Cornwall where the English tea industry started, after the owners realized the importance of the thousands of Camellia plants growing in the gardens.

Francis Friedman, an attendee from New York, said, “I’m impressed by the way they have gone after it by using Camellias as a starting point. (Tregothnan) has a man who knows about plants running things,” he said, referring to Jones.

Jones said he and others spent 10 years developing tea in the gardens. “We started plucking early; we couldn’t wait!” he recalled. “We used our hands, which is expensive to do in the UK. So we can’t compete in volume or price.”

English tea is sold at a premium price, but many Brits buy it because they like having their own tea industry, according to Jones.

“It is good marketing to build on national pride,” Friedman said. He also noted that Tregothnan directors had “followed a pragmatic plan, visiting tea production facilities and asking for help.”

Jones said people from India are coming to the UK to help with production of black tea. He added, “The Japanese have been helpful too. They have the British Fair in Osaka and we bring our tea there.”

Jones gave samples of Tregothnan tea to AAP members. He said, “I urge you all to find out more about British tea. If you haven’t had an afternoon tea from England, please do.”