Tea Blog

The business of tea is complex and global. While exploring it, I have come across many tea boards, councils, and associations. They say there is strength in numbers, so such organizations make a lot of sense, helping tea producers connect with tea drinkers.

Generally speaking, tea boards, councils and associations help retailers promote their products to tea consumers. They conduct classes, hold conventions, publish information (in print and online), and generally make information about tea readily available.

These are the “Three Musketeers” of the tea world, housed in the same location in New York City and working closely together:

• The Tea Association of the USA — serves members of the tea industry and holds annual conventions, attracting and developing future leaders/innovators in the tea trade.
• The Tea Council — promotes the consumption of tea in the U.S. in the face of a strong tradition of coffee drinking.
• The Specialty Tea Registry — provides tea information and assistance to retailers.

Some associations focus on educating tea consumers. Knowledge is not only power but the path to greater enjoyment:

• Wakai Tea Association, Portland, Oregon — A local chapter of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea, Kyoto, Japan. Teaches the Urasenke Tradition of Tea to anyone interested in Japanese tea and culture.
• The Chinese-American Tea Association — A non-profit organization promoting Chinese tea to Western Markets.
• The Tea Association of Canada — Provides “proactive leadership on behalf of all members in the areas of advocacy, generic promotion, education and information in order to ensure the long-term viability of the tea industry.”

Naturally, there are tea boards, councils, and associations in other countries, such as:

• The U.K. Tea Council — Promotes tea and its unique story for the benefit of those who produce, sell and enjoy tea the world over.
• The Russian Association of Tea and Coffee Producers — Established in 1998 as part of the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture and work with it under a special agreement. Works to get favorable government treatment for tea businesses.
• Tea Board of India — Provides financial assistance to producers, product promotion, research and development, and data and statistics collection, all extremely important to a major crop in the Indian economy.
• Tea Research Association India — Founded in 1911. Conducts research on tea cultivation and processing, transfers this technology to member estates through advisory network in The South Bank, North Bank, Upper Assam, Cachar, Tripura, Dooars, Darjeeling and Terai.
• Sri Lanka Tea Board — Set up in 1976. Top regulatory and administrative body of the Sri Lankan tea industry. Advises and assists tea buyers and brand owners. Defines, protects, and promotes the Ceylon Tea ‘brand’ and its consumption worldwide. Compiles and circulates market data, etc., about Sri Lanka tea.
• The Tea Board of Kenya — Licenses tea manufacturing factories. Researches tea through the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya. Registers growers, buyers, brokers, packers, management agents, and others dealing in tea. Promotes Kenya tea in local and international markets. Advises the government on tea industry policy matters.
• East African Tea Trade Association — Promotes tea trade in Africa. Facilitates a world class trading platform for African teas and provides sustainable service to members.
• International Tea Committee — An unbiased, non-profit organization, supported and recognized by many tea producing and consuming nations as the official source for tea statistics.
• The World Green Tea Association (Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) — Furthers the development of green tea production, culture, and understanding through the spread of green tea’s traditions and knowledge of its healthful and commercial properties. Works with tea producing and consuming regions to deepen appreciation for green tea across the globe.
• International Tea Promotion Association — China, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Iran, Bangladesh, and Malawi account for 75% of the world tea production. They promote tea by addressing the decline in tea prices, generic promotion, collaborative research, and the threat from artificial tea substitute products.

Phew! So many folks dedicated to what to some is a simple beverage. And there are more than is shown here. Let’s all give ‘em a toast of the teacup. Salute!

[Note: Links are not provided to these organizations since the intention is not to promote them but just to mention some that are out there. Many other such groups exist, and I encourage you to look them up.]

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