Tea Championship Reveals Best-of-the-Best In North America

LAS VEGAS, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Tea Championship named 19 first-place winners in its annual Hot Tea Class/ Fall Tea evaluation, which took place Feb. 22 – 23 in Las Vegas, Nev. Tea companies that took a prestigious first-place title include: Ajiri Tea Company; Barnes & Watson Fine Teas; China Mist Brands; Globex America dba Cavallini Coffee & Tea; Naivetea; Qtrade Teas & Herbs; Rare Tea Cellar Inc.; The Republic of Tea; TeaGschwendner; Teas Etc.; Tao Tea Leaf; and Yogic Chai– all of which offer tea products in the North American marketplace.

Competitors showcased an assortment of premium fall teas in 19 different categories – from Assam to Yunnan – and the renowned judges evaluated nearly 200 teas. The Championship is the only independent and professionally-judged tea competition in North America. The competition identifies the highest quality and best tasting teas that are commercially available.

First place "Signature Famous Teas" include:

• Assam –TeaGschwendner, Assam SFTGFOP Marangi Second Flush
• Bai Hao/Oriental Beauty –Barnes & Watson Fine Teas, Bai Hao - Exquisite
• Breakfast Blend –The Republic of Tea, Lucky Irish Breakfast Full-Leaf Loose Tea
• Chai –Yogic Chai, Original Masala Chai
• Darjeeling –Rishi Tea, Organic Fair Trade Darjeeling Estate Select
• Earl Grey –Rishi Tea, Organic Fair Trade Earl Grey
• Jasmine –The Republic of Tea, Imperial Republic Jasmine Pearls
• Keemun –Tao Tea Leaf Ltd., Keemun Kong Fu
• Yunnan –Rishi Tea, Organic Fair Trade Golden Needle

First place "General Category Teas" include:

• Aged/Baked Oolong Tea –Naivetea, Dong Ding Oolong
• Black Tea –Qtrade Teas & Herbs, Winter Frost
• Black Tea CTC (crush, tear, curl) –Ajiri Tea Company, Ajiri Tea
• Blended Black Tea –China Mist Brands, Organic Berry Black
• Blended Oolong Tea –Teas Etc., Ginseng Oolong
• Dark Oolong Tea –Qtrade Teas & Herbs, Red Robe Oolong
• Flavored Oolong Tea –Globex America dbaCavallini Coffee & Tea, Plum, Mango Sake
• Flavored Rooibos Blends –Rare Tea Cellar Inc., Gingerbread Dream Rooibos
• Green Oolong Tea – Rishi Tea, Bao Zhong
• Flavored Black Tea – The Republic of Tea, Fair Trade Cranberry Blood Orange Full-Leaf Loose Tea

A complete list of winners is available at www.teachampionship.com. A Winners' Tasting Circle will be held at 2011 World Tea Expo June 24 -26. The next North American Tea Championship will be held in July in Las Vegas for an evaluation of spring teas.

SOURCE World Tea Expo