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Industry Statistics
Tea Defined
Tea Facts

Show Facts

World Tea Expo has been recognized as TSW's Fastest 50, an annual list published by Tradeshow Week magazine, noting the most vibrant events in North America. World Tea Expo received this recognition in years 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Show Highlights

• 2012 World Tea Expo Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony - open to all delegates of the Expo. The serving and receiving of tea Taiwanese style. Must register here to partake.

• Tea Infusion Challenge - a competitive event among attendees to determine the best Infusionist: a tea professional (non-manufacturer) that has comprehensive product knowledge, experienced brewing skills, and innate talent to best express teas' characteristics and intended cups. Congratulations Steven Downer, 2011 Top Infusionist!

• Tea Championship Winners Tasting Circle - Winners of the North American Tea Championship will offer samples of their winning teas at the Winners Tasting Circle located on the exhibit hall floor. Attendees have the opportunity to meet the winning companies, taste winning hot and iced teas and judge the best for themselves.
   
• Reflections in Tea - Interactive Art Exhibit offers prayer and relief to Japanese Disaster Victims. 
   
• Celebrating 10 years! Party and Networking Event - We're not only celebrating the Expo's anniversary, we're celebrating specialty tea and its growth over the past ten years.

Industry Statistics

• Tea sales in the US are expected to grow to nearly $8 billion by 2014 from its current $6.5 billion.¹
   
• Specialty/ premium tea currentyl holds nearly 60% of the marketshare.²
  
  

• Ready-to-Drink (RT) tea sales up by 17% in the natural supermarket channel for the 52 weeks ending February 19, 2011³

• RTD tea is one of only two liquid refreshment beverage categories that had positive growth in 2009. ⁴
  
  
• The USA was the sixth largest consumer of tea after China, India, Russia, Turkey and Japan in 2010.⁵
  
  

¹ Packaged Facts 2011
² Nielsen MarketTrack 2011
³ SPINScans Natural Data 2011
⁴Beverage Marketing Corporation, U.S. Liquid Beverage Refreshment Market, March 2010
⁵ Tea Association of the USA, Trends Report, 2011

Tea Defined

Specialty Tea refers to high quality crafted tea wherein the top two leaves and bud are commonly hand plucked versus machine picked and processed by artisans on estates or gardens that harvested the plant. Specialty whole leaf teas, whether single estate, blends or scented teas are unique each year.

A cup of tea, properly defined, is the liquor extracted from the evergreentree Camellia sinensis. The most popular tea types are black, green, white and oolong varietals. Each type is distinguished by the method used when processing the leaves.

Black Teas are made by fully oxidizing the leaves producing a deep, hearty cup that can stand up to the addition of milk and sugar. Many specialty black teas, however, stand perfectly without such additions and in fact, if added,will maskcomplex, rich flavors and aromas.

Green Teas are roasted and/or steamed shortly after the leaves have been plucked to halt the oxidation process and preserve the color of the leaves. There are thousands of different types of green teas. A particular cup's profile will depend on the tea's origin, time of harvest and method of processing. Green teas contain many active, healthy constituents and powerful antioxidants.

White Teas are delicately hand-plucked only once a year in early spring. The exact processing technique for authentic white tea is unknown by most. White tea is the least processed of all tea types and only semi-oxidized giving them subtle, refreshing, complex and sweet liquors. The highest grade white tea isSilver Needle, which is fleshy in appearance and covered in white down.

Oolong Teas while more complex and commanding than green tea, are more delicate than black teas. An oolong tea can be slightly oxidized to very oxidized depending on the desired profile. Its beauty is revealed after several steepings of the same leaves. Over the course of several infusions, oolongs release rich aromas and delicate flavors otherwise hidden in the first cup.

Herbal Teas are often referred to as teas but unless they contain the Camellia sinensis leaf, they are not true teas in the classical definition. Herbal teas are often naturally caffeine free infusions.

Tea Facts

• After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world.
  
  
• Tea comes from the leaves of a tree called Camellia sinensis. Although the tree can grow over 30 feet tall it is often cut short like a bush so that the leaves can be plucked easily when harvesting.
  
  
• Tea is grown in 36 countries around the world. The most famous tea producing countries are India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Japan and Taiwan. Lesser known areas include Argentina, Bangladesh, Uganda, Malawi, Turkey, Iran, and Brazil. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of tea.
  
  
• Most tea falls into one of three categories: Black, Oolong and Green. Other categories include White and Yellow.
  
  
• A single pound of specialty tea will yield about 180 cups of brewed tea.
  
  
• Tea was accidentally discovered around 2737 B.C. by Chinese Emperor Shen-Nun who was sitting beneath a tree waiting for his water to boil when tea leaves fell into his pot.
  
  
• The United States is the birthplace of Iced Tea. Today over 80% of tea consumed in the U.S. is still sold as an iced drink.