World Tea East Exhibitor Profiles - Wild Tea Qi

Wild Tea Qi
Website: http://wildteaqi.com
Booth #209

If you are looking for teas that will set you apart from your competition you will want to come sample the teas from Wild Tea Qi. Our Ancient Phoenix Fermented Puer and Ancient Phoenix Raw Puer both won the gold medal in their categories by the Yunnan Government for 2011. Our teas are hand harvested from the remote regions of China, creating naturally organic teas that have a multitude of health benefits and are eco-packaged, Wild Tea Qi is a fair trade tea line supporting the local people.

Wendy was preparing and offering up steeped samples at her booth. She was happy to talk about her products, and her preferred preparation methods, along with alternative preparation methods. I could not resist ordering some of the breakaway bars on the spot. They arrived soon after I got home, and were well packaged with a nice note. This vendor both didn't give out take home samples.

World Tea East Exhibitor Profiles - Adagio Teas

World Tea East Exhibitor Profiles - Adagio Teas
Website: http://www.adagio.com/
Twitter: @adagioteas
Booth #214
Adagio Teas was founded in 1999 with the aim of providing consumers with unmatched quality and variety of teas. A direct importer of the world's finest teas, Adagio provides award winning loose leaf bulk, pyramid sachets and unsweetened bottled teas to tea shops, gourmet retailers and natural grocers throughout the world. Also known for innovative tea wares such as the ingenuiTEA teapot and informative websites, Adagio continues to be a leader in the specialty tea industry.

Adagio was one of the few tea vendors who did not have steeped tea samples available. They did offer up two samples from the holiday packs for me to bring home and try.

World Tea East - Tea Break Room

For those in the lectures there was a Tea Break Room sponsored by Teas Etc and Bunn at World Tea East.

Sorry the pictures are blurry!

I stopped in for a cup of oriental beauty oolong after my black tea tasting on Friday.

Each tea had a tag, hot water dispenser, pre-measured tea in paper t-sacs, and a vial of loose leaf tea. I liked the loose leaf being on display so you were able to see and smell the leaf, some people had strainer cups and were able to use the loose leaf in the vials instead of the pre-measured bags to steep up a cup. The cups were ceramic, and there were a variety of sweeteners available.

World Tea East - New Product Showcase

In the exhibit hall there was a new product showcase area, sadly all photos were taken on my phone and it is a bit hard to see these, but I just wanted to give you an idea the variety.


Above, top to bottom, left to right: ?, TeaTime, the foreign office, thistledown cozies, tiesta tea, Tracy Stern SALONTEA


Above, top to bottom, left to right: aiya's matcha zen cafe blend - aiya america, travelers zita - finum, tea pot scarf - harshita designs, tastefully small savory bites - salvia press, the original beestick - designed by a bee - tea tangent, puer breakaway bar - wild tea qi, walnut puer aging case - wild tea qi


Above, top to bottom, left to right: Harney & Sons, MarketSpice, ?,?.rishi,?


Above, top to bottom, left to right: Adagio, ?, ?, 41738 table vacuum cleaner "elvis" Dethlefsen & Balk, ?, ?


Above, top to bottom, left to right: ?, empty, empty, A touch of rooibos recipe book - herbal teas/rooibos, Guayusa - Runa, ?
Sorry I got this photo before they finished setting up!

Copy of the Press Release:
World Tea Expo, June 24 - 26, Names Best New Products

From Hemp Iced-Tea and Tea Infused Scones, to Chai Tea Body Lotion and a Low-Calorie Ready-to-Drink Tea, Winners Represent the Best for Tea Retail

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 6, 2011) --- World Tea Expo, the largest and most prominent event for the tea industry, is gearing up to showcase the top new products from the tea marketplace with the announcement of its 2011 Best New Product Awards. All of the winning companies are set to showcase their innovative offerings, alongside more than 200 other tea and tea-related businesses, June 24 - 26 in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2011 World Tea Expo Best New Product Award Winners are:

Tea as an Ingredient Winner (Tie)

TEAS' TEA Low-Calories by ITO EN

At only 40 calories per serving with eight to nine grams of natural cane sugar, TEAS' TEA Low-Calorie is a 16.9 ounce ready-to-drink, premium tea beverage that's light and delicious.

Packaging Winner (Tie)

Tiesta Tea Tins by Planet Canit

Vibrant and contemporary, these tea tins have a latch mechanism and a gasket-lined cover that underscores freshness. Side windows peek at the tea and suggest a reorder.

Packaging Winner (Tie)

C+SWISS by Chill Drinks

After success in Europe, this delicious, original hemp iced-tea with black tea extract makes its way across the pond - in appropriate eco-friendly packaging.

Innovation Winner

Drip Tea by Sugimoto America, Inc.

This product allows tea drinkers to steep green tea with no fuss. Just pour hot water into the revolutionary filter, which is designed to extract the perfect flavor of green tea.

Open Class Winner (Tie)

Chaitea by Gourmetti Brands Inc.

A first for the tea marketplace, this drink combines green tea and aloe vera - two powerful and healthy ingredients in a high-quality premium beverage.

Open Class Winner (Tie)

Incredible Lid V2 for Hot Beverage by Idea House International, Inc.

Non-toxic, environmentally-friendly, the innovative design of this tea cup lid prevents it from popping off the top of the cup, avoiding spillage. The lid can be reused as well.

Publication Winner

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo, edited by Bruce Richardson, from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas / Benjamin Press

The 2011 edition of The Book of Tea, by Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzo (1862- 1913), also includes details on who and what shaped Okakura's thoughts on teaism.

Tea Ware Winner

One-Touch Teapot by TeaTime Trading

This uniquely-engineered teapot allows you to control the strength of your brew with the touch of a button. It's also made of borosilicate glass and has a BPA-free plastic infuser.

Accessory Winner

Easy-to-Go "Dodo" Mug by Dethlefsen & Balk

This stylish mug is double-walled and made of porcelain with a silicon lid for easy traveling. It's also packed in an eco-friendly gift box.

Tea as an Ingredient Winner (Tie)

Wise Man's Caravan Chai Tea Body Lotion by Indie Tea

This rich lotion is infused with Wise Man's Caravan tea, three butters and essential oils of cinnamon, orange, clove, frankincense and myrrh.

Baked Goods Winner

Tea Infused Scone and Shortbread Mixes by Kitchen T.L.C.

These scone mixes include: Buckin' Chocolate Chip Chai, Strawberry Hibiscus and Earl Grey Cranberry. Shortbread mixes include: Orange Rooibos, Western Chai and Lavender Tisane.

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World Tea East - Press Release

THE REAL ‘TEA PARTY’ BRINGS ITS PLATFORM TO PHILLY, SEPT. 9 – 10, FOR WORLD TEA EAST

World Tea Expo Organizers Serve Up More of Their Specialty Tea Agenda with the Launch of World Tea East, Featuring Best New Products, Tea Tastings and Educational Opportunities

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Aug. 22, 2011) --- The producers of the renowned World Tea Expo, the real “tea party,” are bringing their platform --- the best the specialty tea industry has to offer --- to Philadelphia for World Tea East, Sept. 9 – 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This new event features 100 innovative manufacturers and suppliers, best new tea products, expert-led educational sessions, focused tea tastings, pairing workshops and other special events for tea professionals, food and beverage manufacturers and decision makers in related industries.

The expo also presents the unique “Reflections in Tea” interactive art exhibit, which will benefit victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a major tea-growing and tea-consuming region. In addition, World Tea East debuts the Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented to distinguished tea leader John Harney, founder of Harney & Sons Fine Teas, for his significant contributions to the industry.

Kim Jage, executive vice president of World Tea Media, organizer of the event, said, “World Tea East is not only about specialty tea and the latest trends, it’s about providing professionals the tools needed to drive business and increase sales in tea and related products. There are untapped opportunities for retailers, tea and coffeehouse owners, hoteliers, restaurants, spas, grocers and innkeepers, to profit from this growing category. Attending East and the educational conference arms
professionals with the business development knowledge they need to succeed with tea.”

According to Jage, the objective of the exposition is to support and fuel the expanding demand for specialty tea and related products in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States, and to provide solid tea education for the category's ever-growing popularity.

Reflections in Tea
One noteworthy happening at World Tea East is an interactive art exhibit, called “Reflections in Tea.” Groundbreaking artist Michele Brody, in partnership with World Tea East, offer this one-of-a-kind, hands-on art exhibit, which will provide both hope and financial support to the tea-growing country of Japan. The art exhibit includes the temporary installation of a tea house constructed out of copper pipes with walls of tea-stained tea sacs. Delegates of World Tea East have the opportunity
to write a message of hope or prayer on the tea sacs, as a way to offer encouragement to the families and individuals who suffered during the disasters in Japan. Attendees can make a voluntary contribution for each stained tea bag that they transcribe, and proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. At the conclusion of the show, the tea bags will be transformed into a “Wishing Quilt,” which will be sent as a gift to the residents of the Fukushima Prefecture.

World Tea East Highlights

World Tea East also provides professionals with numerous opportunities to discover new
tea products, optimize merchandise, gain product knowledge and network with peers in an intimate setting. The conference is expected to bring in a high-level audience of buyers and decision makers.

Additional highlights include:

• New and leading-edge exhibitors of tea and related products – The exposition is set to deliver tea favorites like International Tea Importers, Teas Etc., Sungarden Teas and Rishi Tea, along with newcomers, including Best International Tea, British Delights, Custom Co-Pack, Revolution Tea, SerendipiTea, Teazzers, Tiesta Tea, Tracy Stern SalonTea and Woodford Wicks.


• Best new products – World Tea East also features the latest tea products, such as: the finum Traveler ZITA, Riensch & Held’s newest and most impressive tea ware for on-the-go; and AIYA America’s Matcha Zen Café Blend in single-serving packets for delicious Matcha smoothies and lattes at home, among many other exciting teas and wares.


• Expert-led educational sessions – Presentations include: Top Tea Retail Trends; How to Conduct a Successful Tea Tasting; Tea 201: Finding Profitability; Food Service Market Trends; Building Tea Community the Easy Way; Fair Trade Certification Alternatives for Tea & Herbs; Unusual Herbal Teas; Using Protocol and Etiquette to Increase Sales & Traffic; and the History of Tea in America, among other topics.


• Focused tea tastings – World Tea East tea-tasting sessions include type-specific teas, including the newest in Black, Unusual Herbal Teas, Blended/Flavored Teas, Oolongs, Puers and African Teas.


• Workshops – Unique workshops include “There’s a Flower in My Soup: All About Edible
  Flowers” and “Tea and Cocktails – Flavor Fusion.”


• World Origin Tasting Tour – This event stops at six different countries of origin, where attendees explore the country's tea culture, look at unique manufacturing processes and taste six to eight teas that are authentic to each origin, providing delegates a solid understanding of the flavors and profiles of each.


• North American Tea Championship Winners' Tasting Circle – This experience offers
  attendees the opportunity to sample winning teas, meet the suppliers and judge for themselves which teas are the best in each category.

Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award

World Tea Media is also planning to introduce its Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award at World Tea East. The Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made considerable contributions to the growth, innovation and education of the specialty tea industry throughout their lifetime. This year, John Harney, founder, Harney & Sons Fine Teas, is the recipient of the award. Widely respected by his peers and a role model for many, Harney has made a significant impact on the specialty tea industry through innovation, mentoring and service. Attendees may congratulate Harney, who will be honored during World Tea East’s Networking Reception, Friday, Sept. 9, from
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Philadelphia Marriott Ballroom.

World Tea Media is an integrated media company, dedicated to providing business solutions to the global tea industry. Events include the annual World Tea Expo (www.WorldTeaExpo) in Las Vegas, Nev., and World Tea East (www.WorldTeaEast.com), Sept. 9 -10, 2011, in Philadelphia, Penn. World Tea Media also produces the North American Tea Championship (www.TeaChampionship.com), which evaluates the top teas in North America, and World Tea News (www.WorldTeaNews.com), the premier news portal for the tea industry. Visit www.WorldTeaMedia.com.

World Tea East - Summary

Friday September 9

I arrived at the World Tea East registration desk at 7:00 am on the second floor of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This area of the convention center is the older part, and used to be the end of the rail road. There were no lines at the registration desk, and I quickly got my badge and schedule book. I took the book to Starbucks for a read through while I had breakfast.

I decided to attend the Focused Tasting: Black Tea by Beth Johnston of Teas Etc, so I stopped by the registration booth one more time and parted with $85.

I then hopped down to the tasting (8:00-9:30) - Review to come.

After the amazing tasting I stopped in the tea break room, sponsored by Teas Etc, to have a nice cup of oolong. I must say having the tea break room was a great way to relax before and after sessions.

After my cup of tea I headed to the exhibit hall at 10:00 as they opened. Many vendors were finishing their booths as I took a quick walk through before starting my visits to each booth.

There was a variety of vendors selling wholesale tea, packaging, tea making devices for resale and mass production. Most booths had prepared tea samples for you to enjoy while talking with them, or while checking out the displays of their product. I will cover many of the booths in detail in their own posts, however in summary I would like to express that as a tea reseller, tea shop, or food establishment you really should be here, or at least World Tea Expo to learn from the amazing people attending these events, sellers and attendees alike. The overall vibe of the conference was like a giant educational tasting party more than a sales pitch. There was no competition, bad mouthing, shoving, or aggressive sales pitches.

I made sure to stop by the North American Tea Championship Winners Tasting Circle - Green, Unflavored Herbal Teas. All of the teas I tried were amazing. You can see the winner's list here.

I meet up with LittleMewBrew of the The Purrfect Cup, and we took the opportunity for a late lunch at a local tea house, TBar.

After lunch we wandered back to the vendor area, and managed to catch the 4:00pm tasting at the Teas Etc booth. We had the opportunity to enjoy many steeps of a 60 year old Puerh and a 30 year Dong Ding Oolong provided by, and located at the Teas Etc booth, which was being steeped by Suzette of Adagio using Rishi tea ware. The CEO of World Tea Media event stopped in!

The only thing that had us all stop steeping the wonderful tea was the networking reception where James Norwood Pratt awarded John Harney the Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award.

After the reception LittleMewBrew, Katrina and I went to have dinner at the melting pot.

Saturday September 10

After a lovely breakfast from the dutch eating place at the reading terminal market LittleMewBrew and I arrive when the exhibit hall opened to make sure we had time to see the remainder of the booths we had not yet seen in the exhibit hall.

We made sure to stop by at the North American Tea Championship Winners Tasting Circle - Black, Blended & Flavored Teas. You can see the winners list here.


There was another fabulous tasting at the Teas Etc booth where Chris showed off the soon to be released fall teas for the group, and then it evolved into random sampling of multiple teas as the show wound down.

My tea adventure was not quite complete as I went back to TBar for a tweetup! I was very glad to have the opportunity to talk with more tea people, mostly from the area, before having to head on my way.

Read a bit Katrina wrote about World Tea East - The workshops.

You can also see what LittleMewBrew has to say here.

I was amazed by the amount of tea I could drink, and still sleep! I was sad the next day when not everyone was offering me cups of prepared quality teas. It was also sad to not be around people who just wanted to talk tea with everyone!

Again, if you are in the tea industry, or food industry and deal wit tea, you really should attend World Tea East or World Tea Expo for the vendors, the camaraderie, and the education. As much as I enjoyed the Northwest Tea Festival this was a larger, and more eye opening experience.

World Tea East

I will be at World Tea East in Philadelphia September 9-10, 2011!

What is World Tea East?

"Producers of the premier World Tea Expo are bringing the best of specialty tea to Philadelphia."

"World Tea East is a regionally-focused trade show for specialty tea and related products on the East Coast. World Tea East is a two-day show and conference providing professionals the opportunity to discover new products, optimize merchandise, gain product knowledge and network with peers in an intimate setting close to home."

There are many things you can see and do while at World Tea East (Schedule of Events).

On Thursday, September 8, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. one of the educational conferences will be the World Origin Tasting Tour. The tour will explore six (Sri Lanka, India, China, Japan, Kenya, Taiwan) country's tea cultures, unique manufacturing processes, and taste 6 - 8 teas authentic to that origin giving you a solid understanding of the flavors and profiles of each. There are a large number of talks on a variety of subjects, take a look at the list here.

In the exhibitor hall you can see and speak with 100 leading manufacturers and suppliers.

On Saturday night the first Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to John Harney of Harney & Sons Fine Teas.

See the new Interactive Art Exhibit Reflections in Tea offers prayers and relief to Japanese Disaster Victims.