June Is 'World Tea Month' in Las Vegas, Says Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman

LAS VEGAS, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Will tea ever be as big as coffee? This week in Las Vegas, attendees of World Tea Expo (June 1 - 3), the largest global event for the tea industry, are asking just that. The event is held annually in Las Vegas by locally-based World Tea Media. In fact, tea might be winning the battle against coffee this week as Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman says -- via official proclamation -- June is "World Tea Month," in honor of the event's 10-year anniversary.

Mayor Goodman's official proclamation states: "In honor of World Tea Expo's vision to develop the tea community and bring greater awareness to the tea industry, we declare June to be World Tea Month, to support World Tea Expo's mission to strengthen the message of tea."

World Tea Expo also kicks off National Iced Tea Month and features a special Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The Expo covers every aspect of tea -- from leaf to cup -- and it gathers some 4,000+ delegates from more than 50 countries. Indeed, all things tea will converge upon Las Vegas for a packed exhibit hall with the very best leafs, blends, pots and tea-related products, as well as the fiercely competitive 2012 Tea Infusion Challenge. Some 200+ vendors are set to showcase hundreds of the freshest new tea products -- unique tea wares, delicious baked-goods, innovative tea products and specialized accessories and gifts. Many Las Vegas hotels, restaurants, spas, retailers and others are also attending World Tea Expo -- the real "tea party" -- to see the next big tea trends and tea products, and to learn about quality tea and how to profit from it.

What: World Tea Expo, Las Vegas Convention Center

When: June 1 - 3; Expo Hall Hours: Friday, June 1, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 2, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 3, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Highlights:

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, June 1, 5:30 p.m. -- Just like the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) gathers people from around the world and welcomes them to Southern Nevada, so does the upcoming World Tea Expo Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, which is appropriately hosted by the LVCVA. This special, not-often-seen-in-the-U.S. tea ceremony encourages all people -- regardless of tea expertise -- to partake and appreciate tea. The ceremony is of Taiwanese origin, created by Grand Master Tsai Rong Tsang, Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute.

Tea Infusion Challenge, June 3, noon to 2:30 p.m. -- For this event, competitors from around the country battle it out and judges determines 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. The exciting and interactive competition demonstrates how the same tea can taste drastically different depending on the method used to steep the tea. Official judges rate contenders on quality of infusion, harmonious extraction, passion for tea, etc.

World Tea Expo is produced by Las Vegas-based World Tea Media, a division of F+W Media. Visit www.WorldTeaExpo.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Aaron Kiel
ak PR Group
310-699-4805
[email protected]

SOURCE World Tea Expo