On March 8, North American Tea Championship (NATC)announced the result of the 2013 Fall Hot Tea Class, held February 27-28. Judges not only selected the 22 best teas offered for evaluation, they also issued the first-ever Judge's Choice Award.
Q Trade Teas and Herbs, had the most first place wins; Earl Grey Supreme in the Earl Grey category, Lady Jasmine in the Green Jasmine Open Leaf category, Jasmine Pearls in the Green Jasmine Pearl category, and Emerald Spring in the Jade Ti Kuan Yin category.
Other first place winners included:
Assam—Newby Teas Ltd., Rare Assam
Bai Hai (Oriental Beauty)--Naivetea, Formosa Oolong
Breakfast Blend—Walters Bay tea Estates, Maliboda BOP1
Chai—Yogic Chai, Original Masala Chai
Darjeeling—Florapharm Tea USA LP, Organic Darjeeling SFTGFOP1 “Sungma” autumnal flush
Traditional Ti Kaun Yin—Mountain Tea, Medium Roast Tie Guan Yin
Keemun—Rare Tea Cellar Inc, 2011 Oak Barrel Aged Keemun
Yunnan—Teas Etc, Golden Monkey Superior Organic
Black tea—TeaSource, Golden Dragon
Black Tea-CTC—Walters Bay Tea Estates, Nildalukanda PF1
Blended Black Tea with other Botanicals—Ajiri Tea Company, Ajiri Tea: Kenyan Black Tea with Lemon
Flavored Black Tea—International Tea Importers, Tropical Birthday Black
Aged/Baked Boolong Tea--Bigwoods & Associates, Inc. DBA Immaculate Leaf, Aged Oolong
Green Oolong Tea—Mountain Tea, Da Yu Ling
Dark Oolong—Silk Road Plum Blossom Fragrance
Blended Oolong—Newby Teas Ltd. Hi Chung
Flavored Oolong—Golden Moon Teas, Coconut Pouchong
Flavored Rooibos Blends—Sungardent Tea, Organic Lemon Rose Rooibos
The lone Judge's Choice Award for Exceptional Tea went to Mountain Tea for their Imperiap Pearl MSRP. Kim Jage, director of marketing and sales for NATC explained why the special award.
"Mountain Tea Company entered the NATC with a dark oolong that did not quite fit our specifications for that category," said Kim Jage, director of marketing and sales for the North American Tea Championship. "However, it was an exceptionally high-quality beautiful tea, worthy of distinction, so the impressed judges decided to create a new award."
Congratulations to all the winners. Readers can find the complete list including the second the third place winners on the NATC website.
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