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Welcome to the 2025 Global Tea Championship!

Embark on a journey that celebrates the rich tapestry of teas from around the world. It's time to showcase your finest teas sourced from the far corners of the globe in a spirited competition that will captivate taste buds and elevate the art of tea-making.

Steeped in tradition, brewed for the future.

Submissions open September 9, 2024 and winners will be announced in Las Vegas at the World Tea Expo Awards Reception on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

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Helpful Quick Links
Award Categories Entry Criteria Judging Criteria: Tea Judging Criteria: Matcha Eligibility for Submissions FAQs
World Tea Expo

Why Participate?

Benefits Include

All entries receive

  • (1) free Expo Pass to World Tea Expo (a $99 value).
  • Inclusion in the Global Tea Championship’s extensive marketing campaign, raising awareness of submissions and winners to the global tea industry.
  • Logos of all participating companies will appear on the Global Tea Championship web page.

Winners receive

  • Grand Champion, Best Leaf and Best Liquor award winners of both the Tea and Matcha categories will have their teas sampled live to thousands of attendees at World Tea Expo 2025 in Las Vegas.
  • Trophy, medal and/or certificate (varies by award).
  • Inclusion in press release and editorial coverage in World Tea News.
  • Social icons/badges for web/social posts.
  • Announcement onsite at World Tea Expo 2025 during Awards Reception.
  • And let’s not forgot those important bragging rights…
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Award Categories

Tea

Grand Prize Award

Highest score for Overall Best Tea

Superior Leaf Award

Highest leaf score for “Best Leaf Appearance” in each tea type

White, Green, Oolong, Black, Puerh

Superior Liquor Award

Highest score for “Best Cup Character” in each tea type

White, Green, Oolong, Black, Puerh

Premium Award

Highest score for “Best Tea” in each tea type

White, Green (Steamed, Pan-Fired), Oolong (Long Oxidized, Short Oxidized), Black (Orthodox, CTC), Pu-erh (Sheng, Shou)

Honorable Mention Award

Highest score for the Most Innovative Tea

Origin Awards

Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Matcha

Grand Prize Award

Highest score for Overall Best Matcha 

Superior Leaf Award

Highest leaf score for “Best Leaf Appearance” 

Superior Liquor Award

Highest score for “Best Cup Character” 

Premium Award

Highest score for “Best Matcha” in each tea type

Ceremonial, Culinary

Honourable Mention Award

Highest score for the Most Innovative Tea

Origin Awards

Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Entry Criteria.

We invite you to submit your most exquisite teas originating from diverse corners of the world. 

Entries are open for submissions from ALL tea producing Origins that can cater to commercial markets.

Entries will be confined to teas of the cultivar "Camelia sinensis" ONLY.

All teas submitted should be compatible to standard brewing practices by tea type through oxidation process. Specifically:

  • 3-5 minutes steep times
  • 175ᵒF-205ᵒF water temps
  • 3gr-5gr  steeping weights

Each tea (entry) will be evaluated independently on Dry leaf (Leaf style/visual/make), Liquor (strength/ body/colour/brightness), Over-all mouthfeel and character.

Entry submissions will be strictly adjudicated under individual Tea type according to oxidation process and re-evaluated on a second (and/or third) round for final appraisal.

Tea samples will need to be received in Utah, USA by December 5, 2024 and will be tasted by our panel of judges during judging in January, 2025.

  • A minimum sample of 100 grams is required for each submission.
  • Packing should be a) airtight b) heat sealed and c) in re-sealable bags, protected from cross-contamination.
  • Shipping details will be sent upon receipt of entry

There is an entry fee of $250.00 USD per tea entry for the first (4) submissions from a single company. Additional entries (5+) receive a discounted rate of $175.

  • World Tea Expo exhibitors are eligible for a 20% discount on entries. (Promo code provided upon signed booth contract. Discount cannot be applied retroactively.)
  • The entry fee is per tea (not per category). Each tea will be judged in all appropriate categories (based on type, origin, etc.)
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Eligibility for Submissions

Eligible

Only Traditional (Straight) teas of the variety Camelia sinensis will be recognized for submission. Orthodox or CTA or Hand (made) Rolled teas. Matcha. Single ingredient (Camelia sinensis) Only.

Non-Eligible

Teas that are flavored, scented, blended, smoked/baked, dipped or coated. Post Processed or sub product teas of Camelia sinensis. Teas infused in Floral, Spice, Herb Blooming tea. Mandarin wrapped.

World Tea Expo

Judging Criteria: Tea

All teas will be assessed for Liquor and Leaf styles on independent parameters respectively. Teas will be evaluated on a scale of 0-10 to provide the judges with greater window for close competition.

Liquor will be assessed on the following criteria

  • Color/brightness
  • Strength/body
  • Flavor notes
  • Overall finish

Dry Leaf will be assessed on the following criteria

  • Appearance
  • Evenness/consistency
  • Make/style/twist/roll
  • Brightness/color

Judging Criteria: Matcha

All matcha’s will be assessed for body, viscosity, brightness and over-all finish. Teas will be evaluated on a scale of 0-10 to provide the judges with greater window for close competition.

Liquor will be assessed on the following criteria

  • Color/brightness
  • Strength/body
  • Flavor notes
  • Tea mousse
  • Overall finish

Dry Leaf will be assessed on the following criteria

  • Appearance
  • Evenness/consistency
  • Texture/viscosity
  • Brightness/color
World Tea Expo

FAQs

How many submissions (entry samples) can I send?​

Who is eligible to enter the competition?​

Is the fee charged, applicable for each tea or for each category of teas?​

Are there any discounts available? 

Can we send teas from any origin?​ 

How much of tea by weight should we send per tea submission (sample entry)?​ 

Will a “Breakfast” tea be accepted as a contender?​ 

Can we send teas that are flavoured?​ 

Can I submit a Hojicha or Kukicha for the competition?​ 

Tea (entry) Eligibility for Submissions

Non-Eligible for Submissions

Are smoked teas allowed for submission?​ 

How will the teas be judged?​ 

What is the final date of sample submission?​ 

When will the results be announced?

Have a question not answered?