2025 Global Tea Championship winners
LAS VEGAS – Winners of the 2025 Global Tea Championship (GTC) were announced at the World Tea Expo Awards Ceremony on March 25, 2025. The event took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hosted by Questex, this international competition honored the best in matcha and leaf tea. It also showcased exceptional quality, innovation, and craftsmanship from around the world.
Celebrating Global Tea Excellence
The prestigious Global Tea Championship evaluated entries based on leaf appearance, cup character, and overall quality. It also spotlighted innovative producers reshaping the tea landscape. According to Tim McLucas, Vice President of the Bar & Restaurant Group at Questex, the awards reflect a deep respect for tradition while embracing progress.
Matcha Category: Japan Leads the Way
Japanese producers dominated the matcha division. Their entries impressed judges with refined profiles and purity. Notably, Japanese Green Tea Co. claimed multiple top honors:
- Best Ceremonial Matcha – Japanese Green Tea Co.
- Best Ground Leaf Profile – Japanese Green Tea Co.
- Best Cup Character – Japanese Green Tea Co.
- Best Culinary Matcha – Newby Teas
- Grand Prize – Japanese Green Tea Co., Ceremonial Matcha (Japan)
This performance confirmed Japan’s expertise in premium matcha production.
Leaf Tea Category Showcases Global Talent
Outstanding entries in the leaf tea category came from Sri Lanka, China, the USA, and Japan. Each winner demonstrated exceptional skill and unique character:
- Sri Lanka – Lumbini Tea Valley, Silver Feathers
- China – Zouji and Yunnan Tea Co., Tuocha/Shou
- USA – The Great Mississippi Tea Co., Black Orchid Oolong
- Japan – Wakoen Global, Ryokucha Densetsu Kiwami
These results highlight the diversity of global tea craftsmanship.
Superior Awards Recognize Distinctive Leaf and Liquor
To further honor excellence, judges awarded Superior Leaf and Superior Liquor distinctions. These awards celebrated teas with exceptional clarity, texture, and aroma.
Superior Leaf Awards:
- White Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley
- Green Tea – Seven Teahouse, Imperial Spring Dragonwell
- Oolong Tea – Brook37 The Atelier, Moonlight
- Black Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley, Manjary
- Pu-erh Tea (tie) – Seven Teahouse and Orientaleaf
Superior Liquor Awards:
- White Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley
- Green Tea – Wakoen Global, Kakuhori Fukamushi Sencha
- Oolong Tea – The Great Mississippi Tea Co.
- Black Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley, Moonson Black
- Pu-erh Tea – Zouji and Yunnan Tea Co.
These teas demonstrated mastery across all sensory elements.
Premium Awards Honor Category Leaders
The Premium Awards recognized teas that stood out across all evaluation metrics. These selections represent the highest level of quality within their types:
- White Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley, Silver Feathers (Sri Lanka)
- Steamed Green Tea – Wakoen Global, Ryokucha Densetsu Kiwami (Japan)
- Pan-Fired Green Tea – Seven Teahouse, Imperial Dragonwell (China)
- Short Oxidized Oolong – Qing Feng Tea Co., Hui Lan Ming Zhu (Taiwan)
- Orthodox Black Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley, Singharaja Wiry Tips
- CTC Black Tea – Luxmi Group, Attabarie Pf (Rwanda)
- Pu-erh Shou – Zouji and Yunnan Tea Co., Tuocha Shou (China)
These winners reflect precision, innovation, and heritage.
Special Recognition for Innovation and Overall Impact
In addition to category prizes, judges issued two standout awards. These distinctions honored creativity and overall excellence:
- Honorable Mention for Innovation – Lumbini Tea Valley, Silver Feathers
- Grand Prize for Overall Best Tea – Lumbini Tea Valley, Silver Feathers (Sri Lanka)
This Sri Lankan producer continues to redefine expectations in premium tea.
About the World Tea Expo
The World Tea Expo brings together tea professionals, brands, and enthusiasts from across the globe. It combines education, networking, and trend forecasting into a single platform. As part of Questex Hospitality, the expo also powers World Tea News, World Tea Academy, and the Bar & Restaurant Expo. Its influence continues to shape the future of the tea industry.
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