May 12 - Judges select finalists for inaugural World Tea ChampionshipTM - The World Tea Expo, the largest trade-only conference in the world showcasing tea, tisanes, gifts and gourmet products.

May 12 - Judges select finalists for inaugural World Tea ChampionshipTM

NEWS RELEASE

May 12, 2008

CONTACT:
Jacquelyn Clair
Marketing Design Group
Phone: 619.298.1445 x106
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For Immediate Release

Judges select finalists for inaugural World Tea Championship™

Las Vegas, NV—More than 200 teas entered into the World Tea Championship^® have been judged, ranked and assigned their World Tea Rating™. The top five entries spanning all hot tea categories will now go head-to-head at the World Tea Expo^®, May 30 – June 1, 2008. Here, professional tea testers will reevaluate all finalists in order to determine the “Best Tea” in each category.

Developed to help discriminating buyers and tea connoisseurs, the World Tea Rating™ system is expected to revolutionize the tea industry as the Parker Rating System did for wine. The World Tea Rating™ is based on evaluation of the brewed color, brewed aroma, brewed flavor, brewed mouthfeel and brewed harmony of each tea. Participating companies will be able to use the rating on their packaging, websites or catalogues to promote the quality of their teas, helping to increase customer understanding, awareness and interaction with premium and specialty tea. All finalists and their World Tea Ratings™ will be published in the World Tea Buyers Guide™, available to participants of the World Tea Expo®.

In the Hot Tea Class, there are 25 different categories including three Super Categories, reflecting the most recognized and popular tea types, blends and herbals. The World Tea Championship™ finalists are:

Super Category Finalist
Black Chamong, Chamong Golden Needle, International Tea Importers Lumbini FBOPF Special, Lumbini Tea Factory Phuguri, TeaGschwendner USA Darjeeling Lingia, TeaGschwendner USA Assam Marangi, TeaGschwendner USA		Green Hoshinomura Gyokuro, Ito En Top Liu An Gua Pian (Melon Slice), PeLi Teas, LLC Misty Mountain, Tafu Corporation Japan Gyokuro, TeaGschwendner USA Dragon Well, The Tea House

Oolong Phoobsering, Chamong Masters Choice, International Tea Importers Formosa Superior Choice, TeaGschwendner USA

Black Tea Category Finalists
Blended/ Flavored Read My Lips, East Indies Tea Company, The Black Celebration, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Almond Cookie, SpecialTeas Anna's, TeaGschwendner USA Caramel, TeaGschwendner USA Pineapple-Mango, TeaGschwendner USA Indian Chai, TeaGschwendner USA Citrus Berry Splash, Teas Etc. Organic Mint Fusion, Teas Etc.		Darjeeling 2nd Flush ITI Special II Flush FTGFOP1, International Tea Importers Darjeeling Jungpana 2nd Flush, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic 2nd Flush Darjeeling, Rishi Tea Darjeeling No.10 Rarity, TeaGschwendner USA Darjeeling Avongrove, TeaGschwendner USA

Breakfast Blend Organic Breakfast Blend, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic China Breakfast, Rishi Tea East Friesian Breakfast Tea, SpecialTeas English Westminster, TeaGschwendner USA English Breakfast Tea, TeaGschwendner USA		Earl Grey Earl Grey, Adagio Teas Hampstead Organic Earl Grey, Hampstead Tea London Earl Grey Royal, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic Earl Grey, Rishi Tea Earl Grey No. 69, TeaGschwendner USA

		OP Organic Keemun Needle, PeLi Teas, LLC New Vithana Kande Supreme, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Ceylon Pekoe Uva Highlands, TeaGschwendner USA Assam Hattialli, TeaGschwendner USA Chamraj Orange Pekoe, The United Nilgiri Tea Estates Co.

Green Tea Category Finalists
Blended/ Flavored Hojicha De La Crème, Art of Tea 22556 Fruit Bowl, Dethlefsen & Balk The Du Hammam, Le Palais Des Thes Organic Orange Blossom, Rishi Tea Vienna Winter Blend, SpecialTeas Genmai Cha, Sugimoto USA Organic Lemon Ginger, Teas Etc.		Hand-Tied Flowering Jasmine Bloom, Adagio Teas Halo, Art of Tea Flowering Silver Needle Green Tea (Lily & Osmanthus), PeLi Teas, LLC White Angel, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Jasmine Dreams, Te Teas

China Style Zhejiang Green Tea, PeLi Teas, LLC Spring Dragonwell Spl, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic Blink Bonnie, Qtrade Teas and Herbs China Lung Ching, TeaGschwendner USA Lung Ching, Zhejiang Camel Transworld (Organic Food)		Jasmine Common Emerald Blossom, Barnes & Watson Fine Teas Fujian Jasmine Green Tea, PeLi Teas, LLC Jasmine Mao Feng, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic Jasmine Yin Hao, Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Chun Hao, Rishi Tea

Japan Style Sencha Erihara, International Tea Importers Organic Sencha, Rishi Tea Hoji Cha, Sugimoto USA Sen Cha, Sugimoto USA Japan Sencha, TeaGschwendner USA		Jasmine Premium Jasmine Pearls, Adagio Teas Silver Needle Jasmine, International Tea Importers Silver Needle Jasmine (Green Tea), Pe Li Teas, LLC Jasmine Needle, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic Jasmine Pearl, Rishi Tea

Herbal Tea Category Finalists
Chamomile Hampstead Organic Lemon Valerian Infusion, Hampstead Tea Bianca, International Tea Importers After Dark Herbal Melange, Specialteas Organic Cold Comfort, Teas Etc. Organic Chamomile Lavender, Teas Etc.		Mint Velvet Tea, Art of Tea Star Spangled Herbal, Barnes & Watson Fine Teas Chocolate Mint Truffle, Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Peppermint Rooibos, Rishi Tea Pitta, TeaGschwendner USA

Hibiscus Raspberry Patch, Adagio Teas Red Berries Fruit Melange, SpecialTeas Summer Romance, TeaGschwendner USA Hibiscus Blossom, TeaGschwendner USA Fruit Paradise, TeaGschwendner USA		Red Rooibos Superior Cut, International Tea Importers Organic, International Tea Importers Xtra Long Cut, International Tea Importers Red Rooibos, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Rooibush Tea, TeaGschwendner USA

Rooibos Blend 22779 Chocolate Orange, Dethlefsen & Balk Kimberly, International Tea Importers Africana, International Tea Importers Organic Blueberry Rooibos, Rishi Tea Rooibos Lemon Chiffon, SpecialTeas

Oolong Tea Category Finalists
Blended/ Flavored Mandarin Silk, Art of Tea 22716 Shalimar, Dethlefsen & Balk Magnolia Oolong, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Bossa Nova, TeaGschwendner USA Ginseng Oolong, Teas Etc.		Green Jade Oolong, Adagio Teas Ti Quan Yin (Autumn), PeLi Teas, LLC Ti Quan Yin (Traditional Autumn), PeLi Teas, LLC Emerald Green Oolong, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Formosa Jade Oolong Superior, Te Teas

Dark Da Hong Pao "Big Red Robe" (Traditional), PeLi Teas, LLC Tae Guan Yin, Rishi Tea Dream Goddess, Te Teas Formosa Superior Taifu, TeaGschwendner USA Red Robe, Zhejiang Camel Transworld (Organic Food)

White Tea Category Finalists
Bai Mu Dan Green Peony, International Tea Importers White Peony, International Tea Importers Super King White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), PeLi Teas, LLC Organic White Peony, Rishi Tea China Pai Mu Tan, TeaGschwendner USA		Silver Needle 22291 Silver Needle, Dethlefsen & Balk Da Hao, International Tea Importers Silver Needle White Tea (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), PeLi Teas, LLC Organic Silver Needle, Rishi Tea China Yin Zhen Silver Needles, TeaGschwendner USA Silver Needle, Zhejiang Camel Transworld (Organic Food)

Blended/ Flavored Winter Moon, East Indies Tea Company, The Ginger Peach (Organic), Octavia Tea White Bouquet, Qtrade Teas and Herbs Organic Honeydew Melon, Rishi Tea Organic Osthmanthus Silver Needle, Rishi Tea Organic Peach Blossom, Rishi Tea

The Iced Tea class is organized by the market applications and sales channels: ready-to-drink, foodservice and freestyle. The Iced Tea Class will be judged and rated live during the show on Saturday, May 31.

All World Tea Championship™ participating teas will be commercially available at the World Tea Expo^®, held May 30th to June 1st at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. For more information on the World Tea Expo^®, including a full listing of events and seminars, new features for 2008, a floor plan and an interactive exhibitor directory, visit www.worldteaexpo.com.

# # #

The World Tea Expo^® is a robust marketplace that brings together hundreds of new products, the latest industry innovations and relevant, cutting-edge educational sessions, providing tea professionals with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, fuel industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea. As the first and fastest growing North American trade show dedicated solely to the tea industry—the World Tea Expo^® attracts more than 4,500 leading tea professionals, merchandisers, R&D executives, scientists and entrepreneurs annually. The World Tea Expo^® is produced by SFG Group LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit www.worldteaexpo.com.

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