SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — The North American Tea Conference annually recognizes producing countries for excellence in tea. The Gold Medal Tea Competition groups entries by country regardless of type.
This is unusual as oolong and green teas, for example, are quite different in characteristics. This is why judges are asked to rate the teas for qualities common to all tea. The judges’ form for example calls for an assessment of appearance (leaf wet, leaf dry) and flavor with a tally for “overall impact” that ignores comparisons of the many intricacies used in judging identical types.
Teas are scored 1-10 with winners named by country. Top prize goes to the tea with the highest score overall. Winners were awarded a trophy at the Chairman’s Dinner, Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel & Resort.
Listings below are by: Country, Company, Region/Province, Estate, Grade, Production Category/Type.
Top Prize
Bluegate Beverage/Avataa Tea, Udaya Kumar, Nilgiri, India, Billimali Estates Twirl Green Tea, Green
Winners by Country
Argentina
1st Las Trienta SA, Missiones, Urrutia, BOP, Green
2nd Las trienta SA, Missiones, Urrutia, OF, Black
China
1st Shan Shan Tea Co., Zhejiang, Shan Shan Leaf OP, Green
2nd Shan Shan Tea Co., Anhui, Shan Shan Leaf OP, Black
India
1st Bluegate Beverage, Nilgiri, Billimali Estates Twirl Green Tea, Green
2nd Goodricke Group, Castleton Muscatel, FTGFOP1 Darjeeling, Black
Kenya
1st Tea Board of Keya, West Rift Valley Chemoni 664 PF1 Black
2nd Tea Board of Kenya, West of Rift Valley, Kapchorua 659, PF1 Black
Rwanda
1st Sorwathe, Tea Importers, Inc. Kirihira District, Rukeri ,OP Black
2nd Gisovu Tea Co., Karongi District, Gisovu Tea, PFI Black
Sri Lanka
1st Lumbini Tea Factory, Ruhuna, Lumbini, FBOPF Super Extra Special, Black
2nd RTS Holdings, Sabaragamuwa, Sithaka, FBOP, Black
Taiwan
1st Immaculate Leaf, Nantou, Dragon Phoenix Canyon, Shinlin XI Top Grade, Oolong
One response to “Gold Medal Tea Competition Winners”
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