LAS VEGAS, Nev.
Fourteen first-place winners in the annual Iced Tea Class evaluation were announced today by organizers of the North American Tea Championship.
Judging took place May 24 in Montebello, Calif. The Championship is the only independent competition, judged by professional cuppers, to distinguish the highest quality and best tasting teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace.
Tea companies that took a prestigious first-place title at the Championship include:
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group; ITO EN LTD.; Milo's Tea Company; Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee; Numi Organic Tea; QTrade Teas & Herbs (which won two first-place titles); Rare Tea Cellar; Revolution Tea; Rooibee Red Tea; Teas Etc.; Tejava; The Republic of Tea; and Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates.
Tea experts who judged the North American Tea Championship include: Michael Cardenas, owner, Innovative Dining Group; David De Candia, senior manager and tea master/tea blender, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; and Patrick Main, quality manager, Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
Kim Jage, executive vice president of World Tea Media, the producers of the North American Tea Championship, said, “The competition was fierce. Across the board, the quality of these specialty iced teas was much more refined than years past.”
She noted that specialty iced teas are gathering steam in popularity and quality. A total of 43 tea companies showcased an assortment of more than 130 premium iced teas – nearly double the entries in the 2010 competition. Entrants ranged from small, boutique tea manufacturers to mid-size tea companies and mass manufacturers, and there were winners to represent each.
Wilbur Curtis, a leading manufacturer of tea brewers and accessories, was the host and equipment supplier of the competition. Cirqua Customized Water provided 300 gallons of water for the Championship.
The tea submissions were evaluated blind and through organoleptic analysis of the following characteristics: dry leaf, brewed color, brewed aroma, brewed flavor, brewed mouth-feel and brewed harmony. An overall numerical value on a 100-point scale was then calculated based on the ratings of each characteristic above. Winners were determined by rank.
A complete list of first, second and third-place winners of the North American Tea Champions is available at www.teachampionship.com.
Box Score
| Multiple Winners | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| QTradeTeas&Herbs | 2 |
|
|
| Walters Bay | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dr.Pepper/Snapple | 1 | 1 |
|
| Milo’s Tea Co. | 1 | 1 |
|
| Republic of Tea | 1 |
| 2 |
| Mother Parkers | 1 |
| 1 |
| California Teas |
| 2 |
|
| Shangri La Tea |
| 2 |
|
| S&D Coffee |
| 1 | 1 |
| Tao of Tea |
| 1 | 1 |
First Place Winners
| Category | Tea | Company |
| Foodservice |
| |
| BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea | Classic Southern Iced Tea Concentrate | Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee |
| BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea | Revolution Iced - Classic | Revolution Tea, LLC. |
| Flavored Black Tea | Meyer Lemon Black | Teas Etc |
| Flavored Green Tea | Tropical Green Iced Tea | Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates |
| Flavored Herbal | Lemon Berry Meritage-Organic | Rare Tea Cellar |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Summer Classic [Organic & Fair Trade] | QTrade Teas & Herbs |
| Unflavored Green Tea | Imperial Green [Organic] | QTrade Teas & Herbs |
| Ready to Drink |
| |
| Flavored / Sweetened Herbal | RRT Watermelon Mint | Rooibee Red Tea |
| Flavored Black Tea | Earl Grey Pu-erh Tea | Numi Organic Tea |
| Flavored Green Tea | Snapple Green Tea | Dr. Pepper Snapple Group |
| Flavored Oolong Tea | TEA'S TEA Low Calorie-Mango Oolong | ITO EN, LTD. |
| Sweetened Black Tea | Milo's No Calorie Tea Gallon | Milo's Tea Company |
| Sweetened Green Tea | Calorie-Free Sweet Green Tea | The Republic of Tea |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Tejava | Tejava |
Second Place Winners
| Category | Tea | Company |
| Foodservice |
| |
| BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea | True Leaves Sweet | CHINA MIST BRANDS |
| BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea | B.W. Cooper's Organic Iced Brew Tea | Cooper Tea Company |
| Flavored Black Tea | Mango Black Iced Tea | Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates |
| Flavored Green Tea | Lavender Fields Green Tea | Shangri La Tea Company |
| Flavored Herbal | TROPICAL CRIMSON | Rishi Tea |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Quality Blend 1oz. Filter Pack | S&D Coffee, Inc. |
| Unflavored Green Tea | Serene Green Organic Iced Tea | Shangri La Tea Company |
| Ready to Drink |
| |
| Flavored / Sweetened Herbal | Mango Organic Rooibos | Templar Food Products |
| Flavored Black Tea | Lemon Twist Iced Tea | California Teas |
| Flavored Green Tea | CHAITEA PASSION FRUIT | GOURMETTI BRANDS |
| Flavored Oolong Tea | Osmanthus Oolong | The Tao of Tea |
| Sweetened Black Tea | Snapple Sweet Tea | Dr. Pepper Snapple Group |
| Sweetened Green Tea | Original Sunshine Green Tea | California Teas |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Milo's Unsweet Tea Gallon | Milo's Tea Company |
Third Place Winners
| Category | Tea | Company |
| Foodservice |
| |
| BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea | Teafinity Sweet | S&D Coffee, Inc. |
| BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea | Classic Southern Iced Tea Concentrate | Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee |
| Flavored Black Tea | Peaches Coconut | MarketSpice |
| Flavored Green Tea | Pomegranate Crisp | Silver Service Refreshment |
| Flavored Herbal | Petal Petal | Art of Tea |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Special ITI Iced Tea Blend #609 | International Tea Importers Inc |
| Unflavored Green Tea | Traditional Green Iced Tea | Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates |
| Ready to Drink |
| |
| Flavored / Sweetened Herbal | Natural Hibiscus Tea - Superflower Tea | The Republic of Tea |
| Flavored Black Tea | Caddy Shack - Half Tea Half Lemonade | Peace Tea Beverage Company |
| Flavored Green Tea | Peach Sencha | Templar Food Products |
| Flavored Oolong Tea | Oooli Passion Mango | Oooli Beverages Inc. |
| Sweetened Black Tea | Calorie-Free Sweet Black Tea | The Republic of Tea |
| Sweetened Green Tea | Honest Tea Honey Green Tea | Honest Tea |
| Unflavored Black Tea | Darjeeling | The Tao of Tea |
About the North American Tea Championship
North American Tea Championship is produced by World Tea Media, which also produces World Tea Expo, World Tea East and World Tea News. Until 2010, the North American Tea Championship was called World Tea Championship and it was held in-conjunction with the Expo. Today, it is an independent event, judged by professional cuppers, that evaluates premium teas from around the world that are sold in North America. The annual Championship is made up of two classes: Hot Tea and Iced Tea. Each class consists of its own categories and judging panel. The Hot Tea Class is evaluated twice a year: February for fall teas and July for spring teas. The Iced Tea Class is evaluated once a year in May. Winners of the Tea Championship are announced after each respective evaluation. For more information, visit www.teachampionship.com