Muthaiga Tea Company, established in 2020 in Kenya as a premium loose-leaf tea brand, focuses on creating artisanal blends with African specialty teas. The goal of the company is to reflect African stories through the ingredients in the blends and to connect with the rising middle class of Africa, as well an international audience.
Muthaiga Tea, which is already available in the UAE, is currently exploring opportunities to find partners in the United States and Europe. Of course, to help with that mission, they decided to participate in the upcoming World Tea Conference + Expo, which will take place March 27-29, 2023, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The annual event is co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo.
Tehmeena Manji – the founder of Muthaiga Tea Company and an alumnus of the UK Tea Academy – explained that her business is focused on preserving the entire value chain of tea in Africa, as well as spawning tea-adjacent cottage industries that generate employment and skills for many.
Manji said she looks forward to showcasing all 13 of her company's African artisanal blends at the 2023 World Tea Conference + Expo, and she hopes to shed light on the story of the African Camellia assamica leaf and the beauty of the unique blends they create with teas from across the African continent.
(Photo: Courtesy of Muthaiga Tea Company)
Muthaiga Tea Company is just one of many exciting companies from the global tea industry that’ll be exhibiting at the upcoming World Tea Conference + Expo. Highlights of other exhibitors for 2023 include:
- Caraway Tea Co. and Herbal Packer
- Dethlefsen & Balk, Inc.
- Dweller Teas
- FlavorWaves
- Glenburn Tea Direct
- Government of Nepal
- Jay Shree Tea and Industries Ltd.
- JingWeiFu Tea
- Likkle Tea
- Luxmi Estates
- Metropolitan Tea Company
- Sabinea Blends
- Sasaki Green Tea Company
- Seven Senses Organic
- Sherpa Chai
- Simonelli Group North America
- Sri Lanka Tea Board
- Sugimoto Seicha USA, Inc.
- Tribal Tea Company
- Wild Orchard Tea Company
- Yichang Tea Group
- Zhejiang Skyherb Biotechnology Inc.
- and many more.
To see the full list of exhibitors for 2023, or to check for updates, click here.
‘I Am Personally Super Excited for This Year’
Nishchal (Nish) Banskota, founder of Nepal Tea Collective, one of the exhibitors, said, “World Tea Conference + Expo is the primary gathering of people from the tea industry from all around the world. If you’re in the tea industry and you’re not attending the expo, you’re truly missing out on the immense opportunities for education, collaboration and, frankly, business.”
Banskota noted that World Tea Conference + Expo is where his company met its first customers, and they continue to attract new B2B customers through the event, while gaining much-needed exposure for their business and teas.
“[World Tea Conference + Expo] has become a platform where we launch and showcase new products and mingle with our dear old tea friends while always making new ones,” shared Banskota. “I am personally super excited for this year, since we’ll be officially launching a record-holding tea – presumably from the highest elevation in the world – allowing customers to taste teas from the foothills of Mt. Everest.”
‘One Big Tea Party’
Sugimoto Tea Company is also exhibiting at the World Tea Conference + Expo this March. The company produces authentic Japanese green teas, including everything from sencha to matcha and wholesale services. The business has a multi-generational history of tea making but have long embraced innovation to bring the best tasting tea to their customers.
“We are grateful that the World Tea Expo brings together people from across the tea industry in one big tea party,” said Noli Ergas, account manager at Sugimoto Tea Company. “It’s the only event where we can take time to sit down and share tea with fellow lovers of the leaf. It’s also the only B2B event where we can sample our most prized teas to an audience appreciative of the craft of artisans.”
Hugh Lamond, president of Rooibos North America, shared, “We view the World Tea Conference + Expo as a great opportunity to connect with industry leaders and learn about new trends in the specialty tea market.”
Rooibos North America, which will exhibit at the 2023 conference, was one of the leading pioneers in bringing Rooibos to the U.S., beginning in 1997. “We are now established as the largest ‘direct-from-origin’ source of unparalleled quality Rooibos, Honeybush and Lemon Myrtle products,” explained Lamond, whose company is a trusted supplier of Rooibos to more than 45 countries worldwide.
SerendipiTea is also excited to return to the World Tea Conference + Expo. The company is committed to the highest quality loose-leaf tea, selecting fine certified organics when available, and working closely with tea gardens, estates and specialists from around the world. They also offer wholesale.
“We are excited to see all of our colleagues and associates in the tea world, as well as making new friends,” said Chris Villano, co-owner of SerendipiTea, which is environmentally and socially responsible. “We wish all involved a very successful show, as well as a wonderful and prosperous 2023 and beyond.”
(Photo: Courtesy of SerendipiTea)
‘A Great Place to Make New Connections’
Firsd Tea, the U.S. subsidiary of parent company Zhejiang Tea Group, Ltd., China’s largest tea exporter and the world leader in green tea exports, is also participating in the upcoming World Tea Conference + Expo. Founded in 1950, Zhejiang Tea Group, Ltd has been the largest tea producer and exporter in China for 25 consecutive years, and it has remained one of the leading and most technologically advanced manufacturers and innovators in the Chinese tea industry.
“Firsd Tea is happy to return to World Tea Expo for another successful event,” said Jason Walker, marketing director at Firsd Tea, which offers tea procurement, blending and private label, among other services.
“Each year, we come back to reconnect with tea clients and friends from across the U.S. and the globe,” added Walker. “It is also a great place to make new connections! We look forward to presenting our wholesale and specialty teas. And this year is especially exciting for us as we showcase our new line of bubble tea products for both established bubble tea businesses and those looking to add new bubble tea options to their menus.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Firsd Tea)
‘Excited to Make Our Debut at This Year’s World Tea Expo’
Among the first-time exhibitors, Felicity Loft Tea will premiere at the World Tea Conference + Expo this March. The specialty tea company is based in and inspired by Alaska, and they have a beautifully crafted selection of teas and herbals, along with wholesale opportunities.
“I am excited to be attending the World Tea Conference + Expo for the first time as an exhibitor, after joining the last few years as a guest,” said Megan Weston, founder of Felicity Loft Tea. “I am looking forward to showcasing our Alaska inspired tea and herbal blends. It will be incredibly humbling to bring my piece of Alaska to this large international tea event. As a young tea business, I am looking forward to continuing to build relationships within the world of tea. I am stoked to be meeting with new retailers, suppliers and tea friends!”
ConjureTea – from Chef Shania Thomas-Floyd – is also making its first appearance at the World Tea Conference + Expo. Thomas-Floyd is the first teen “Chopped Champion” from 2011 and was featured in “Crime Scene Kitchen” in the summer of 2021.
Thomas-Floyd has been following her lifelong dreams of dazzling the masses with her special brand of “Pastry Magic,” and with 14 years of culinary experience under her belt, she is definitely a master of her craft. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she recently took her passion for food and her love of all things tea and created ConjureTea. Her hope is that she can forever change the taste buds of her customers for the better – one sip at a time.
“ConjureTea is so excited to make our debut at this year’s World Tea Expo,” said Thomas-Floyd. “We will be showcasing all of our wonderful, hand-crafted tea blends, as well as some brand new products that we cannot wait to share with the world. It is important for us as a small business to be a part of this amazing expo because we want to show the industry what we are bringing to the table and how valuable what we create could be to the tea industry. We are also excited to see what all of the other brands and industry titans will be blowing us away with this year.”
Thomas-Floyd added, “World Tea Expo is the best environment for tea businesses to mix, mingle and network, while having a great time doing what we all love – and we are so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it!.”
(Photo: Courtesy of ConjureTea)
Plan to Attend or Participate in the
World Tea Conference + Expo, March 27-29, 2023
To learn about other key developments, trends, issues, hot topics and products within the global tea community, plan to attend the World Tea Conference + Expo, March 27-29, 2023 in Las Vegas, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at the World Tea Conference + Expo, or to enquire about advertising and sponsorship opportunities at World Tea News, contact:
Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos
Business Development Manager, Questex
Phone: +1-212-895-8493
Email: [email protected]
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