North American Tea Championship Recognizes 11 Single-Serve Teas

The North American Tea Championship (NATC) named 11 first-place winners in key categories of its Packaged Single-Service evaluation. The Championship is the only independent competition, judged by professional cuppers, to distinguish the highest-quality and best-tasting teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace. 

The evaluation took place Nov. 6 and 7 in Las Vegas. Some of the winning teas will be featured at the upcoming World Tea Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, May 6-8.  

“The North American Tea Championship evaluations are the only competitions in North America that fairly rank tea products available in the market for the benefit of both the trade as well as consumers,” said Tony Tellin, an NATC evaluator and the director of operations at Steven Smith Teamaker, Portland, Ore. “This year’s judging proved to be more enjoyable than ever; packers have really stepped up their game and are offering some fantastic experiences to tea consumers, who are spending a little more and tasting how good tea can be.”

Lydia Kung, an NATC evaluator, tea buyer and expert with Eastrise Trading Corp./VeriLeaf LLC in Monrovia, Calif., said, “Brewing loose-leaf teas is a familiar and practiced routine for those in the tea industry. However, for many consumers, convenience in making a cup of tea is still foremost, and the recent NATC Packaged Single-Service evaluation shows how much the quality of teas in bags has improved.” 

Packaged Single-Service Tea first-place winners by category include: 

Glenburn Tea Direct, Assam Pyramid Leaf Tea Bags, Black Tea – Single Origin.            

Newby Teas (U.K.) Ltd., English Breakfast Silken Pyramids, Black Tea Blends – Unflavored.      

Nina’s International, The de Marie-Antoinette 10 Sachets, Black Tea Flavored. 

Teapigs, Popcorn Tea, Green Tea Blended/Flavored.

Newby Teas (U.K.) Ltd., Peppermint Silken Pyramids, Herbal. 

QTrade Teas & Herbs, Yellow Submarine, Herbal Blended/Flavored. 

Teapigs, Jasmine Pearls, Jasmine Scented Green Tea. 

Silk Road Teas, Tieguanyin, Oolong Tea. 

Hiya LLC, Green Tea, Steamed Green Tea. 

Waterfall Tea Co., Organic White Peony, White Tea. 

Waterfall Tea Co., White Champagne Raspberry, White Tea Blended/Flavored.

A complete list of first-, second- and third-place winners, as well as details on the championship, are available at www.teachampionship.com. 

The next North American Tea Championship, for the fall Hot Tea Class, takes place in February 2015. 

For the recent competition, submissions were evaluated blind and through organoleptic analysis of characteristics, including flavor, body, color, clarity, and balance (leaf appearance was not a factor). An overall numerical value on a 100-point scale was calculated based on the ratings of each characteristic, and winning teas were determined by rank.

All teas that competed were brewed using one single-serve pack (teabag, sachet, portion pack, etc.) and steeped in an 8-ounce serving cup. For the evaluation, the water temperature and steep time for each category was according to a specific brew plan chart.