I recently had the honor of being invited to judge Tea Masters Cup in Vietnam. The event was held at the International Coffee and Tea Expo in Hanoi, and the expo involved both the best baristas competing for the title of Vietnam Barista Champion and some of the best tea masters in Vietnam vying for the Tea Masters cup title.
Over the four days we evaluated 80-plus contestants, which meant a total of over 160 beverages alongside both local judges and international judges. The level of competition was world class, and the great thing about this event is the focus on the local teas, in this case, Vietnamese teas.
Not only did the contestants showcase the teas, but they also showcased their culture, and this was breathtaking. I have judged many Tea Masters cups, but Vietnam holds a special place in my heart. The passion and dedication that the participants put into this competition was so inspiring.
Tea Masters cup is an international competition and has three categories.
1 Tea Preparation where the masters are provided with a tea from the country they are competing in and they can also prepare a tea of their choice.
This category is judged on Brewing technique, serving manner, aroma, taste and aftertaste.
2 Tea and Food pairing is judged on pairing teas with food, and this involved some incredible varieties of food, both sweet and savory.
This category is judged on neatness, appeal, presentation, taste and potential for commercial use.
3 Tea Mixology was the most exciting of all, and participants came up with an incredible array of mocktails and cocktails with overwhelming flavor profiles.
This category is judged on technique, presentation, appeal, organaleptic qualities, and tea synergy.
The winners of the Golden Leaf awards also provided teas for the event, and they themselves had the chance to have their names up in lights showcasing their medals and offering tea tastings to the general public.
The event was sponsored by the Vietnam Tea Association and Minh Lam tea.
What intrigued me on my first visit to Vietnam over 10 years ago was actually the high quality of tea and variety being produced in Vietnam. Vietnam has always been known for its commercial grade black tea, yet a visit to the Snow Shan area high in the mountains told me a completely different story.
Snow Shan refers to a high-altitude area and the ancient tea trees that grow there in the Northern mountains about five hours drive from Hanoi.
The elevations are up to 2500 feet and some of the tea trees here are hundreds of years old and look like they are covered in a light, white snow, which is actually white lichens.
It has a rugged climate, and the tea leaves are handpicked and then handcrafted by the local minority groups known as the Dao and H’Mong.
Teas from Snow Shan trees have a delicious flavor and are complex with a hint of freshness from the mountain aroma. Researchers have discovered that Snow Shan teas tend to have lower tannins and higher amino acids, which produces a lingering, natural sweetness.
This area now produces all categories of tea and one of the top specialty teas are the Snow Shan white tea buds, a truly elegant tea.
The flavor notes of Snow Shan teas have been described as wildflowers, honey, resin, and a fresh forest mist note.
At this year’s World Tea Expo, Honey Red was a crowd favorite at the tea bar, a delicious oolong style of tea with rich, honey notes.
One of the hidden gems are the ancient tea tree puerh-style cakes, which can be stored and aged like good puerhs; both sheng and shou are produced.
Of course, there are other regions in Vietnam who also have amazing teas such as Thai Nguyen, also known as the tea capital, for its high-grade, pan-fired green teas, and Lam Dong for its high-elevation oolongs.
If you have the chance to taste them, the lotus teas of Vietnam are also so special, and the delicious robust green and black teas as well.
For a Vietnam tea experience, you can take a tour with An Shim Tea, a world champion tea master, and we were lucky enough to visit a brand new tea house, state-of-the-art factory, and accommodations being built in the Snow Shan region with everything you could wish to experience and where you can make your own tea from the ancient tea trees.
Due to our wonderful experiences with Vietnamese teas over the years, we have just launched our first single origin specialty tea course on World Tea Academy where you can not only learn about the teas of Vietnam, history, growing areas, etc., you can also receive a range of Vietnamese teas, including the beautiful Snow Shan teas and support materials to help you become a specialist in Vietnamese teas. Sign up for the course today!
The 2026 World Tea Expo will take place March 23-25, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Register now!
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at World Tea Expo, contact:
Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos, Business Development Manager, Questex
Phone: +1-212-895-8493; Email: [email protected]
Looking for professional tea education, certifications, and more? Visit World Tea Academy and register for courses today!
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