World Tea Expo Reveals Finalists in Best New Product Awards

Each year, World Tea Expo reviews and selects the very best new tea and tea-related products from among its many exhibitors. This year’s finalists of the Best New Product Awards include an easy way to make matcha tea to go, a system to create hand-crafted beverages, a tea infuser inspired by origami, and a very strong earl grey tea, among others.

World Tea Expo — the leading tradeshow and conference focused 100 percent on premium teas and related products — is set to reveal the winner in each category on May 30 during the event’s World Tea Awards on the Queen Mary ship.

World Tea Expo takes place May 29 – 31 in Long Beach, Calif. at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, and is co-located with the annual Healthy Beverage Expo. See WorldTeaExpo.com and HealthyBeverageExpo.com.

“Best New Product – Tea as an Ingredient” Finalists:
—Butterflies in the Tummy, Dethlefsen & Balk (Booth No. 835) — A melange of exotic fruit paired with subtle vanilla, this tea makes a full-bodied, refreshing iced tea and delights in a hot cup, too.
—Tea India: Chai Moments Cardomon Latte Mix, Harris Tea Company (Booth No. 545) — This mix provides an authentic Chai experience that captivates taste buds, in a convenient on-the-go format.
—Lumbini Ladalu Chakra, Lumbini Tea Factory Sri Lanka (Booth No. 829) — A hand-made tea with a light and sweet taste, Lumbini Ladalu Chakra is part of the exclusive collection of Lumbini Tea Factory.
—Jin Xuan Milk Oolong, Octavia Tea (Booth No. 627) — From the mountains of Taiwan, this tea is unforgettable with the alluring taste of sweet cream and freesia with a tropical fruit finish.

“Best New Product – Innovation” Finalists:
—Matcha to Go, Aiya America (Booth No. 721) — A tea ceremony remade for modern speed; simply add to a water bottle and shake or stir into hot water.
—Bonavita Porcelain Immersion Dripper, Bonavita (Booth No. 640) — This porcelain dripper is the perfect single-cup (16 oz.) steeper for teas and tisanes.
—Biotre, Pacific Bag, Inc. (Booth No. 527) — Pacific Bag spent two years developing Biotre film, a biodegradable barrier material for packaging, which protects products and is ideal for the tea industry.
—Teart Infuser, Teart (Booth No. 354) — This disposable paper infuser is inspired by the art of origami, designed to assure optimum leaf expansion.

“Best New Product – Tea Ware” Finalists:
—FLOWTEA, EIGENart (Booth No. 732) — Designed in Germany, this double-walled glass tea-maker for on-the-go tea lovers is available in five designs with filter, steel lid, neoprene cover and carrying loop.
—Hospitality Tea Pot, FORLIFE (Booth No. 840) — Designed for both commercial and home use, this un-chippable, stackable tea pot is perfect for the food service industry and tea enthusiasts.
—Deluxe Iced Tea Beverage System, Takeya USA (Booth 636) — Create and enjoy hand-crafted beverages in three simple steps with Takeya’s patented Flash Chill Iced Tea System.
—Stainless Mug with Tea Leaf Filter, Zojirushi (Booth 813) — This mug allows drinkers to steep fresh tea and drink without getting a mouth full of loose tea, while keeping the drink hot or cold for hours.

“Best New Product – Open Class” Finalists:
—Asian Ginger Tea & Cookies, McCoy Ceylon Commodities (Booth No. 450) — This combo is for those who appreciate a quality tea blend with a cookie, specially baked to complement the tea’s flavor.
—Earl Grey Strong, teapigs (Booth No. 947) — In need of a sophisticated boost? This strong black tea with delicate Darjeeling and fancy bergamot is an early grey but with wallop.
—Everything Healthy Tea Book, Blue Gate Books (Booth No. 333) — An introduction to teas and their healing qualities, this book covers buying and brewing the most healthful teas.
—Tea Pee – Prostate Support Tea, Nuwati Herbals (Booth No. 754) — The herbs in Tea Pee have been traditionally used to assist with discomfort and frequent urination, and to support healthy bladders.

posted by: Eric Fujimori
06/02/14