AVAP’s ‘Teas of the World’ Contest Ends on High Notes

“I have no experience in any tea championships, there really are none that I know of in the US. There is one, but it is more of a marketing championship, and not necessarily a tea championship. Either way, because of it’s structure, the winning teas mean very little to me and my purchasing… I’ve tried many of the winning teas and they were not what I would consider championship teas. Some of the competition teas I’ve had from Taiwan and China were very good, but I bought them after the competition, somewhat based on their scoring, but also because I like them in the samples I tried… “Tea Buyer from USA

“It helps in marketing and those who attend and participate also get to know different kinds of teas. We have never directly participated but some of our teas have won. Interestingly our best teas have never won could be because they did not participate or they lost to other teas. It is also possible to make just a small quantity of extra ordinary teas just for competition purposes. That is why I feel it is interesting as different things get tried. I think we should have one in India…” Tea Grower from India.

Very interesting observations on tea championships from two very different countries, USA – where tea bags and cold brew are still dominant and India which produces some of the world’s greatest teas.

I did this survey when I was just beginning to write for AVPA’s “Teas of the World” Contest. And it was interesting to have these two comments – one from a buyer and another from a seller of tea – in understanding what could be the expectations from a global tea championship.

AVPA’s Teas of the World contest managed to successfully fit their purpose and objective to answer these two very different points of views.

“In spite of the global enthusiasm, the majority of tea consumers buy teabags from supermarkets. It becomes critical to show trade professionals and the general public alike that tea holds a genuine gastronomic value… For classic origins (China, India…) as well as new ones (Africa, South-East Asia…), the Contest gives an equal opportunity to all producers by providing them with an additional marketing asset to enhance their work… “ AVPA

Lydia Gautier, president of the Experts’ Jury for this first edition of AVPA ‘s “Teas of the World” Contest says “This contest is part of a worldwide movement of emancipation of the producers and they deserve it because they transmit us knowledge which is at the heart of the value of the tea as soon as leaving the plantation. I expect this contest to highlight the work of the producers at the source; it contributes to a dynamic of bringing together producers and consumers, with more transparency.”

On asking her view on what constitutes a good tea as she concludes the judging sessions, Lydia says, “a good tea should have a good balance between the sweet pole and the bitter pole, in a broader meaning than technical meaning: bitterness belongs to the plant, while the sweet stems from its shaping by Man to reveal its personality.” And that’s exactly how the teas were tested and graded at the contest.

AVPA’s first Teas of the World contest came to a grand closing in Paris on 10^th July 2018  with more than 100 teas contesting from across the world. The jury worked for almost two weeks to categorise and select teas as per guidelines framed by them to make sure to compare only what’s comparable. All participating teas were equally judged in a blind tasting with two steepings: Chinese-style and European-style.

The awards that were conferred to all the winning teas at this glittering event included Gold, Silver, Bronze, Gourmet and Support Diploma.

Heartiest congratulations to all the winners and hoping that this helps you in bringing your tea to every deserving tea lover across the world. And also believing that this experience has enriched you with collective tea wisdom, and that each one of you shall use this unique knowledge in creating value for yourself as well as for all your stakeholders. As I had written in my first blog for AVPA, tea is and should be part of the knowledge industry. Let this knowledge ripple down to everyone who is waiting to be charmed by this delightful beverage.

Until we meet again… Cheers to our Cuppa…

Here is the complete winners’ list:

Brand	Tea name	Producing            region	Country	Company or producer name	Category	Award
La Ruta del Tè	Green tea	Obera, Misiones	Argentine	Don Basilio SRL	Green	Bronze
Compagnie Coloniale	Grand Yunnan	Préfecture autonome dai de Xishuangbanna,	Chine	Compagnie Coloniale	Black	Bronze
L’Autre Thé	Nan Mei	Lincang, Yunnan	Chine	L’Autre Thé	White	Gold
Bitaco	High-grown Colombian White tea	La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca	Colombie	Agricola Himalaya S.A.	White	Silver
Les Jardins de Gaïa	Subarna FTGFOP 1FF	Darjeeling	Inde	Les Jardins de Gaïa	Darjeeling FF	Bronze
Nunshen	Barnesbeg First Flush	Darjeeling	Inde	Nunshen	Darjeeling FF	Gold
Les Jardins de Gaïa	Full Moon Spirit	Darjeeling	Inde	Les Jardins de Gaïa	Darjeeling FF	Gourmet
Lochan	Giddapahar Spring Wonder	Darjeeling	Inde	Lochan Tea Limited	Darjeeling FF	Gourmet
Nunshen	Arya Ruby First Flush	Darjeeling	Inde	Nunshen	Darjeeling FF	Gourmet
Les Jardins de Gaïa	Mineral Spring FTGFOP 1FF	Darjeeling	Inde	Les Jardins de Gaïa	Darjeeling FF	Silver
Bankitwangi	Black tea	Cianjur, West Java	Indonésie	PT. Bukitsari	Black	Gourmet
Sunday Natural	Hon Gyokuro Yamashita Takumi	Uji	Japon	Sunday Natural Products GmbH	Green	Gold
Sunday Natural	Hashimi Shincha Tanegashima Shoju	Tamegashima island	Japon	Sunday Natural Products GmbH	Green	Gold
Les Jardins de Gaïa	A l’ombre du Phénix	Ujitawarachou, Kyotofu Suzukigun	Japon	Les Jardins de Gaïa	Green	Gourmet
Les Jardins de Gaïa	Rosecha	Haruno, Shizuoka	Japon	Les Jardins de Gaïa	Out of category	Silver
Nunshen	Capusa	Ilam	Népal	Nunshen	Black	Gold
Tea by Me	Green First Flush	Brabant	Netherlands	Tea by Me BV	Green	Gourmet
Rukeri	Organic Black OP	Kinihira	Rwanda	Sorwathe LTD Rwanda	Black	Gourmet
Dalu, Giri & Kelay	Sinharaja Wiry Tip (FBOPF Ex Sp)	Deniyaya / Kolawenigama, Ruhuna High	Sri Lanka	Lumbini Tea Factory Pvt Ltd	Black	Gourmet
Yi Xiang Natural Farming Tea Farm	Oolong tea	Mingjian, Nantou	Taiwan	Yi Xiang Natural Farming Tea Farm	Light Oolong	Bronze
Zenique	Black oolong	Mingjian, Nantou	Taiwan	Yi Da International Co., Ltd. Taiwan Branch	Oolong foncé	Bronze
Xue Jian Oolong Tea	Oolong S17055	Tai-An, Maio-Li	Taiwan	Li-Hsin CHANG – Xue Jian	Medium Oolong	Bronze
Hwa Gung Tea	Lishan oolong (5)	Taichung	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Light Oolong	Gold
Xue Jian Oolong Tea	Oolong S1805	Tai-An, Maio-Li	Taiwan	Li-Hsin CHANG – Xue Jian	Light Oolong	Gold
	Taiwanese-Style Shui Xian	Songboling, Baguashan, Mingjian Township, Nantou	Taiwan	Chen Yu-Wen	Dark Oolong	Gold
Chen-Wey Tea House	Tieguanyin Tea	Mucha	Taiwan	Chen-Wey Tea House	Medium Oolong	Gold
	Family Reserve Oriental Beauty	Hsinchu County	Taiwan	Chen Yu-Wen	Oolong Oriental Beauty	Gold
Hwa Gung Tea	Eternity black tea	Taichung	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Black	Gourmet
Hwa Gung Tea	Lishan oolong (6)	Taichung	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Light Oolong	Gourmet
Xue Jian Oolong Tea	Oolong S1804	Tai-An, Maio-Li	Taiwan	Li-Hsin CHANG – Xue Jian	Light Oolong	Gourmet
Zenique	Jin Shyuan oolong	Mingjian, Nantou	Taiwan	Yi Da International Co., Ltd. Taiwan Branch	Light Oolong	Gourmet
Er Wu Cha Mi	Natural Ecology High Mountain	Nantou	Taiwan	Yung-An Tea Co Ltd	Medium Oolong	Gourmet
Purple Tiger	Dong ding oolong	Shanlinxi, Nantou	Taiwan	Shiuan Long Enterprises Co., Ltd	Medium Oolong	Gourmet
Hwa Gung Tea	Legends Nantou black	Yuchi	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Black	Silver
Chen-Wey Tea House	Lishan Oolong	Lishan	Taiwan	Chen-Wey Tea House	Light Oolong	Silver
Fortune Tea Garden	Wenshan Bao-Chung	Pin Lin District	Taiwan	Fortune Tea Garden	Light Oolong	Silver
Hwa Gung Tea	Lishan ooloong (7)	Taichung	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Light Oolong	Silver
Xue Jian Oolong Tea	Oolong S17057	Tai-An, Maio-Li	Taiwan	Li-Hsin CHANG – Xue Jian	Light Oolong	Silver
Zenique	Aromatic oolong	Mingjian, Nantou	Taiwan	Yi Da International Co., Ltd. Taiwan Branch	Light Oolong	Silver
	Songboling Bao Zhong	Songboling, Baguashan, Mingjian Township, Nantou	Taiwan	Chen Yu-Wen	Light Oolong	Silver
Hwa Gung Tea	Oolong black tea (2)	Taichung	Taiwan	Hwa Gung Tea co	Dark Oolong	Silver
Yo-Ming-Tang	Chin-shin honey	Shizuo, Alishan, Chiayi	Taiwan	Yo-Ming-Tang	Medium Oolong	Silver
Le Bénéfique	Thé vert en tige	Of, Trabzon	Turkey	Idylle SARL	Green	Support diploma
Sobica	Carosa	Tay Con Linh, Vi Xuyen, Ha Giang	Vietnam	Sobica J. S. C.	Black	Bronze
Sobica	Latchi	Tay Con Linh, Vi Xuyen, Ha Giang	Vietnam	Sobica J. S. C.	Black	Gourmet
Tam Duong Tea	Red Beauty		Vietnam	Ecolink	Black	Gourmet
Sobica	Oflora	Moc Chau, Son La	Vietnam	Sobica J. S. C.	Light Oolong	Gourmet
Sobica	Ceriso	Moc Chau, Son La	Vietnam	Sobica J. S. C.	Medium Oolong	Gourmet
Tam Duong Tea	Naked Tea	Sa De Phin, Sin Ho	Vietnam	Ecolink	Green	Gourmet
Tam Duong Tea	Fairy Tea	Tiên Nguyên, Quang Bình, Ha Giang	Vietnam	Ecolink	White	Silver
Tam Duong Tea	Dragon’s Tails		Vietnam	Ecolink	White	Silver
Tam Duong Tea	Yellow Tea		Vietnam	Ecolink	Out of category	Silver
Sobica	Rizote	Tan Cuong, Thai Nguyen	Vietnam	Sobica J. S. C.	Green	Silver

You can download it here: Winners’ List

About Lydia Gautier :

Lydia, who was initially trained as an agronomist worked in French and South American vineyards before specialising in tea. She has been practicing her trade of tea expertise with passion for more than 20 years now creating blends, sourcing teas from origin, and also teaching and advising. She is also the author of best-selling books about tea : Le thé, arômes et saveurs du monde, published in 2005, which is now considered a reference book on tea and translated in several languages ; Thés et Mets : Subtiles Alliances concerns tea sommellerie, released in 2008 ; 1001 Secrets sur le Thé published in 2012 has won the Best in the World Gourmet.