Congratulations to the 2018 World Tea Award Winners at the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas
One of many tea tastings at the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas |
Perhaps you haven’t thought that much about what leaves are in your cup of tea. At the World Tea Expo, we learned it’s a broad, yet delicate, multifaceted world much like the wine industry, but even older. World Tea Expo is North America’s specialty tea market and leading tradeshow focusing on premium teas. Those who build their brands and business on quality teas and related products meet at this once a year expo to share fresh ideas, steep in the latest trends and build new business relationships. Buying, selling and education abounded throughout the week-long event in mid-June with attendees capitalizing on the growing demand of premium tea products.
Serving a nearly $14 billion US
tea industry that is expected to grow an additional $500 million per year through
2021, specialty/premium tea is driving this growth and holds much of the market
share today, remaining the main focus of products, services and education at
World Tea Expo.
Who attends the World Tea Expo? The
mix of large and small retailers, tea room owners, distributors, F&B
directors, resort & spa directors, specialty grocers, mass merchants and
business professionals attend every year to see over 300 high-quality tea
suppliers and related vendors from 22 countries exhibit new products and
innovations. Many of the exhibiting companies exhibit nowhere else, making
attendance at the World Tea Expo an exclusive opportunity to visit these
specialty suppliers.
For the cream of the crop;
companies and people that have made significant impacts to the industry, there
are awards honored every year by the World Tea Expo Advisory Board, with the John
Harney Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on one of the most influential tea
industry leaders that have advanced the business of tea with their outstanding impact.
With 19 nominees (*listed below), the 2018 winner is Nigel Melica, Managing
Director of Teacraft Ltd. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Nigel for his family
oriented, scientific approach and hands on accomplishments that have touched
nearly every continent on the planet.
We extend congratulations to all
of the 2018 World Tea Award winners for their outstanding and well deserved accomplishments.
The full list of winners by category is listed below. So, the next time you
peruse your favorite tea shop, online retailer or grocery aisle, pause for a moment
and reflect on the forward thinking, driven individuals that take the tea from
farm to your relaxing, refreshing, delicious cup.
Here
is the complete list of this year’s World Tea Award winners:
Best
Tea Health Advocate: Katharine Burnett, PhD (U.C. Davis)
Best
Consumer-Oriented Tea Marketing Campaign/Promotion: International
Tea Sippers Society – Sip for Peace
Best
Tea Brewing Device (Electric, Battery Powered): Bonavita 1.0L
Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle
Best
Tea Brewing Device (Non-Electric): Mountain Tea tumbler by The Tea Spot
Best
Retail Tea Shop, Cafe, Bar: Camellia Sinensis
Best
Tea Accessory: Double Walled Glass Cups, Pavina Design 12 oz. Tea for One by
Bodum
Best
Tea Publication: Global Tea Hut (Tea and Tao Magazine) – Aaron Fisher (Wu De)
Best
E-Commerce Tea Website: Camellia Sinensis
Best
Tea Trade Website (Wholesale): a tie between International Tea
Importers and The G.S. Haly Company
Best
Specialty Tea Brand: The Tao of Tea
Best
Sustainability Initiative: Young Mountain Tea – Global Tea Exchange in
India & Nepal
Best
Tea Blog: teaformeplease.com – Tea for Me Please by Nicole Martin
Best
Tea Educator: Suzette Hammond – Being Tea
Best
Grassroots Tea Education Campaign: NorthWest Tea Festival –
Seattle/World Tea Series
John
Harney Lifetime Achievement Award: Nigel Melican
* 2018 John Harney Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees:
Rajah Banerjee
|
Founder - Makaibari Tea Estate
|
Dan Bolton
|
Editor/Publisher - Tea Journey Magazine
|
Charlie Cain
|
Principal & Executive Consultant -- Building Oz
|
Babette Donaldson
|
Founder - International Tea Sippers Society
|
Kevin Gascoyne
|
Owner - Camellia Sinensis
|
Sanjay Guha
|
International Tea Consultant
|
Richard Guzauskas
|
Consultant/ Specialty Tea Industry
|
Manik Jayakumar
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Founder & CEO -- Qtrade Teas & Herbs
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Nigel Melican
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Managing Director - Teacraft Ltd.
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Jane Pettigrew
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Author & Speaker - Jane Pettigrew
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Bruce Richardson
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Author /Publisher - Benjamin Press
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Louise Roberge
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President - Tea Association of Canada
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Ron Rubin
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Minister of Tea & Chief Executive Officer - The Republic
of Tea
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David Segal
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Co-Founder & Brand Ambassador (Retired) - David's Tea
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Thomas Shu
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Owner - JT & Tea Inc.
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Tim Smith
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Chief Leaf - The Tea Smith LLC
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Abigail St. Clair
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Owner - TeBella Tea Company
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Maria Uspenski
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Founder - The Tea Spot
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Bill Waddington
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Founder & President - TeaSource
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