Tea Biz

Quality Holds as Regional Tea Prices Diverge | Tea markets closed ISO Week 32 with mixed headline prices but a consistent trading pattern: buyers remained active for immediate coverage and continued to reserve their strongest bids for clean, well-made teas.| In Colombo, prices averaged $3.58 per kilo, up 3 cents versus the reconstructed Week 31 benchmark. | In North India, prices averaged $2.37 per kilo, down 4 cents versus the last available official average for Week 31. In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.14 per kilo, up 2 cents versus Sale 29. In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.39 per kilo, down 2 cents versus the prior indicative Week 31 benchmark. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Taste the World of Tea in Seattle | The 16th edition of the Northwest Tea Fest returns to Seattle Center September 26–27 with a sold-out exhibitor hall and a deliberately broad view of the tea world. Visitors can taste teas from major origins, speak directly with the people who source and sell them, attend presentations and workshops, and explore teaware and tea culture under one roof.Festival Coordinator Andrew Goodman and Virginia Wright, president of the Puget Sound Tea Education Association, are in the SPOTLIGHT to explain what makes this year’s gathering distinctive, how first-time visitors can approach dozens of choices without feeling overwhelmed, and why longtime attendees treat the festival as both an educational experience and an annual reunion.The Northwest Tea Festival is presented by the nonprofit Puget Sound Tea Education Association. The association’s mission focuses on tea education, community, and broader public engagement with tea culture. Last year’s festival attracted approximately 4,000 tea enthusiasts to the Seattle Center.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Typhoon Deluges South China’s Tea Lands | Floods Halt Production at 30 Assam Tea Gardens | Argentina Moves Its GI-Protected Tea Origin to Market| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Typhoon Deluges South China’s Tea Lands | Floods Halt Production at 30 Assam Tea Gardens | Argentina Moves Its GI-Protected Tea Origin to MarketNEWSMAKERS | Festival Coordinator Andrew Goodman and Puget Sound Tea Education Association President Virginia WrightPLUS | A World of Tea Comes to Seattle | Festival organizers Andrew Goodman and Virginia Wright preview the 2026 Northwest Tea Festival, September 26–27 at Seattle Center, in Seattle, Wash. They explain how a sold-out exhibitor hall brings together teas from China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Africa, Korea and Vietnam; how curious newcomers can sample without feeling overwhelmed; and how presentations, workshops and Tea Bar sessions turn tasting into learning. Andrew also describes what admission includes and why the festival has become an annual reunion supported by a dedicated volunteer community. Buy tickets and explore the program at https://nwteafestival.org/ | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Colombo, prices averaged $3.55 per kilogram this week, up 10 cents versus the previous week, Sale 24. In North India, prices averaged $2.62 per kilogram, up 8 cents from the last available official average (Week 25). In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.33 per kilogram, up 1 cent versus the prior indicative benchmark, Sale 25. | In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.41 per kilogram, flat versus the prior indicative benchmark, Week 26. |Across the four markets, quality segmentation remains the dominant pricing mechanism. Exporters are resisting lower bids where currency stability and embedded costs support price floors, but buyers are not building speculative positions. Freight, insurance, packaging, and finance remain important, particularly for lower-value teas where logistics consume a larger share of the delivered price.The takeaway is that headline averages are firming without a broad demand breakout. Traders should watch quality, clearance, and export execution separately: the best teas are moving with competition, while weaker descriptions still need accurate pricing to clear. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When Tea Becomes More Than a Product: Building Ritual, Community, and Trust Without Losing AuthenticityTea is often described in terms of origin, cultivar, elevation, and craft—but another dimension is harder to quantify and increasingly central to how people engage with tea today: presence.Across the specialty market, we are seeing a shift. Not just toward better tea, but toward more intentional ways of experiencing it - spaces designed for slowing down, for attention, for connection. The language of ritual and mindfulness is everywhere. But that raises a critical question for the industry: what is real, and what is simply being repackaged?Today's guest operates directly inside that tension. | Bio: Flowing River is a poet, ceremonialist, and co-founder of Drishti House in Santa Barbara, Calif. It is a space built not around consumption, but around shared presence, where tea becomes a medium for conversation, reflection, and community.He is also the author of The Flowing River, a collection of 221 poems written over a decade-long personal journey that traces spiritual awakening, grief, love, service, identity, and ultimately, surrender. He has led more than 1,000 gatherings, from silent tea ceremonies to immersive retreats.In this conversation, we explore what it means to build a tea practice - not just a tea brand. Where the line between authenticity and performance sits. And what, if anything, from ceremonial tea culture can translate into a viable, modern business model? | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Assam Enters Commercial Matcha Production | Caffeine Labels Could Work in Tea’s Favor | Floods Threaten the World’s Largest Jasmine Harvest | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Assam Enters Commercial Matcha Production | Caffeine Labels Could Work in Tea’s Favor | Floods Threaten the World’s Largest Jasmine Harvest | Newsmaker - Luong “Flowing River” Shen, Co-founder of Drishti HousePLUS | When Tea Becomes More Than a Product: Building Ritual, Community, and Trust Without Losing AuthenticityTea is often described in terms of origin, cultivar, elevation, and craft—but another dimension is harder to quantify and increasingly central to how people engage with tea today: presence.Across the specialty market, we are seeing a shift. Not just toward better tea, but toward more intentional ways of experiencing it - spaces designed for slowing down, for attention, for connection. The language of ritual and mindfulness is everywhere. But that raises a critical question for the industry: what is real, and what is simply being repackaged?Today's guest operates directly inside that tension.Flowing River - also known as Luong Shen - is a poet, ceremonialist, and co-founder of Drishti House in Santa Barbara, Calif. It is a space built not around consumption, but around shared presence, where tea becomes a medium for conversation, reflection, and community.He is also the author of The Flowing River, a collection written over a decade-long personal journey that traces grief, identity, and ultimately, surrender.In this conversation, we explore what it means to build a tea practice - not just a tea brand. Where the line between authenticity and performance sits. And what, if anything, from ceremonial tea culture can translate into a viable, modern business model?| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed Week 25 with a firmer but still highly selective tone. Demand was present across the major auctions, but buyers remained disciplined, concentrating on clean, useful teas rather than bidding broadly across the catalog.| In Colombo, prices averaged $3.95/kg this week, ↓ -$0.05/kg vs the previous week, Sale 22. In North India, prices averaged $2.59/kg this week, ↑ +$0.06/kg vs last available official average, Week 23 ending 6 June. In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.22/kg this week, ↑ +$0.08/kg vs the previous week, Week 24. In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.41/kg this week, → 0.00/kg vs prior indicative benchmark. | The structural drivers remain consistent: quality differentiation, exporter resistance, stable-to-uneven currencies, and elevated logistics and cost pressure. The market is not distressed, but it is increasingly unforgiving. | The takeaway: this is a quality-led market. Buyers are active, but only where the tea, the price, and the execution justify the bid.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Vietnam has long been a volume player in tea—but that's changing.As demand shifts toward origin, clarity, and craft, a new generation is redefining what Vietnamese tea can be—and how it's valued. | Today's guest is Tri Nguyen, CEO of Tea Cusp.BIO: Tree Tri represents a new generation of Vietnamese tea makers—one rooted in heritage but intent on redefining how the world understands Vietnam as an origin. | A second-generation producer, he has spent decades in tea alongside his family, building vertically integrated operations that include organic farming and certified production systems.His mission is explicit: change global perceptions of Vietnamese tea while improving farmer livelihoods. Through Canadian-based CUSP, he is blending traditional Vietnamese tea culture with modern processing discipline and market awareness—positioning Vietnam not as a low-cost supplier, but as a producer of expressive, origin-driven teas.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heatwave Warning: El Niño and Tea’s Climate Stress Test | Nepal Tea Factories Reopen, But Export Risk Remains | Availability Is Not Deliverability | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heatwave Warning: El Niño and Tea’s Climate Stress Test | Nepal Tea Factories Reopen, But Export Risk Remains | Availability Is Not DeliverabilityNEWSMAKER – Tri Nguyen, CEO of Tea CuspPLUS | Vietnam: Changing Perceptions | Vietnam has long been a major force in the global tea trade, but rarely the center of the conversation. As demand grows for specialty tea, matcha, and origin-driven products, Vietnamese producers are investing in quality, processing, and identity. Today's guest is Tri Nguyen, CEO of Tea Cusp. His mission is simple but ambitious: change global perceptions of Vietnamese tea while improving opportunities for the farmers who produce it.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Quality Holds, Averages Ease | Tea markets closed ISO Week 21 with functional demand but a wider separation between quality teas and secondary descriptions. The market is not distressed, but it is more selective.Colombo saw fair demand, though the total sales average eased from the previous week. North India remained active, especially for improved teas and dusts, but Sale 21 averages moved lower from Sales 20. Mombasa stayed orderly against the latest available official benchmark, while Indonesia showed the clearest demand tone, with Van Rees reporting good demand for the week. | In Colombo, prices averaged $3.62/kg this week, ↓ -$0.20/kg vs the previous sale average, Sale 19 / 20 May 2026. In North India, prices averaged $2.47/kg this week, ↓ -$0.13/kg vs reconstructed prior auction benchmark, Sale 20. In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.18/kg this week, → 0.00/kg vs last available official average, EATTA Sale 17 CTC. In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.41/kg this week, → 0.00/kg vs prior indicative benchmark. | The structural drivers remain familiar: buyers are covering needs, not building speculative positions; exporters are defending prices where quality allows; and cost pressures from freight, energy, and FX remain a swing factor, especially for lower-value teas. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Can Anonymous Worker Feedback Become a Market Signal in Tea? | Glassmarks founder Guy Chambers believes the tea industry is approaching a structural turning point. For decades, ethical sourcing systems relied heavily on audits, certifications, and private compliance reports. But consumers increasingly want transparency, while producers who invest in better working conditions often receive little recognition or commercial advantage.Glassmarks attempts to address that gap by creating a continuous, anonymous worker feedback system focused on three indicators: Safety, Fairness, and Voice. Workers complete a one-minute survey in their own language. Results are aggregated into public-facing signals designed to help workers, managers, and buyers identify and improve workplace conditions in real time.In this Tea Biz Spotlight, Chambers discusses why he believes traditional audit systems are failing, why “the information layer” has disappeared from global supply chains, and how anonymous worker feedback could eventually become a competitive market signal within tea sourcing.Bio: Glassmarks founder and Executive Chairman Guy Chambers has spent more than three decades in the global beverage industry, including leadership roles in China’s ready-to-drink tea sector and as former CEO of Finlays. His current work focuses on building transparency, worker feedback systems, and continuous improvement models for supply chains. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Middle East Conflict Dramatically Lowers Sri Lanka Tea Exports | Assam Unrest Reveals Deeper Industry Strains | Turkish Tea Finds a Bigger Export Market | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Middle East Conflict Dramatically Lowers Sri Lanka Tea Exports | Assam Unrest Reveals Deeper Industry Strains | Turkish Tea Finds a Bigger Export Market - Guy Chambers, Founder, Executive Chairman, GlassmarksPLUS | The Power of Feedback | What if anonymous worker feedback became reliable and pervasive? Could feedback be powerful enough to reshape tea sourcing?For decades, ethical tea relied on audits and certifications. But what if the people closest to production — the workers themselves — became the source of continuous improvement? Guy Chambers, former CEO at Finlays and founder of Glassmarks, designed the not-for-profit platform around three simple ideas: Safety, Fairness, and Voice. Workers complete a one-minute anonymous survey. The results are aggregated and shared to encourage continuous improvement. The idea is simple. Could worker feedback become an information layer that tea has been missing? | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Sri Lanka, stronger competition persisted for cleaner, high-grown, well-manufactured teas, while secondary descriptions continued to encounter resistance. | In Colombo, prices averaged $3.24/kg this week, ↑ +$0.03/kg vs the previous week (Week 18), supported by continued supply tightness and stronger competition for select high-grown and well-manufactured leafy teas.In North India, prices averaged $1.93/kg this week, ↑ by $0.04/kg vs the last reported average (Week 18), reflecting steady buying support for stronger liquoring North Indian teas and improved demand from blenders and exporters.In Mombasa, prices averaged $2.23/kg, unchanged from the previous week (Sale 18 benchmark), supported by broadly stable buyer participation and orderly market clearance conditions.In Indonesia, prices averaged $2.43/kg this week, ↑ by $0.02/kg vs the prior benchmark, reflecting improved support for orthodox teas and tighter available supply.The broader market structure remains unchanged. Buyers continue to prioritize execution quality and blend reliability, while exporters remain disciplined because freight, financing, and energy costs continue to support pricing floors across the major origins. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Regenerative agriculture has become one of the tea industry’s most discussed concepts, but definitions often remain vague. Producers, traders, and brand owners generally agree that healthier soils and more resilient ecosystems matter. The harder question is what regenerative farming actually looks like in practice on a working tea farm.For Michael D. Ham, the answer begins with restraint. On Jeju Island in South Korea, Wild Orchard Tea grows tea without irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, or intensive intervention. The objective is not simply sustainability, but long-term biological resilience.In this SPOTLIGHT conversation, Ham discusses soil microbiology, biodiversity, root depth, and why the tea industry may need to rethink how it measures success beyond short-term yield. | BIO Michael D. Ham is the founder of Wild Orchard Tea, a regenerative organic tea company sourcing from Jeju Island, South Korea. He is an advocate for regenerative agriculture in tea and works closely with growers focused on soil health, biodiversity, and long-term ecological stewardship. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fertilizer Shock Threatens Tea Quality, Yields, and Costs | International Tea Day Events Expand Across Global Markets | India Pushes Ahead with Contested Tea Auction Mandate | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fertilizer Shock Threatens Tea Quality, Yields, and Costs | International Tea Day Events Expand Across Global Markets | India Pushes Ahead with Contested Tea Auction MandateNEWSMAKER – Michael D. Ham, CEO of Wild Orchard TeaPLUS | Regenerative Farming Begins by Doing LessRegenerative agriculture has become one of the tea industry’s most discussed concepts, but definitions often remain vague. Producers, traders, and brand owners generally agree that healthier soils and more resilient ecosystems matter. The harder question is what regenerative farming actually looks like in practice on a working tea farm.For Michael D. Ham, the answer begins with restraint. On Jeju Island in South Korea, Wild Orchard Tea grows tea without irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, or intensive intervention. The objective is not simply sustainability, but long-term biological resilience.In this SPOTLIGHT conversation, Ham discusses soil microbiology, biodiversity, root depth, and why the tea industry may need to rethink how it measures success beyond short-term yield. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed WEEK 17 with prices edging firmer across the major auction centers, but the underlying signal remains quality, not volume. | Across Colombo, North India, Mombasa, and Indonesia, buyers continued to participate, but with discipline. Competition focused on clean, well-manufactured teas needed for immediate blending and export commitments. Secondary grades remained more difficult to secure, requiring price adjustments or weaker bidding. | Pricing reflects that structure clearly. In Colombo, prices averaged $3.24 per kilo, up three cents week-on-week. North India averaged $1.92, up four cents on the last available official benchmark. Mombasa came in at $2.23, up two cents on the prior sale, while Indonesia averaged $2.44, also up three cents on an indicative basis.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On Earth Day, it’s easy to talk about sustainability in broad terms—but much harder to connect those ideas to what’s actually happening on the ground. | For tea producers, climate pressure is no longer abstract. It’s showing up in yield, cost, and long-term viability. | What we’re exploring today is a different approach—one that attempts to measure soil health, biodiversity, and resilience, and link those directly to economic outcomes.BIO: Annabel Kalmar is the founder of Tea Rebellion and a trustee of RegenTea, a UK-based foundation advancing regenerative agriculture in tea. She works with origin partners across Africa and Asia and is leading a multi-country pilot focused on farm-level data and soil health. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Middle East Instability Threatens Blending Hubs | A Refund Rush is Underway in US Trade | China’s US Ambassador Praises Tea Harmony | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Middle East Instability Threatens Blending Hubs | A Refund Rush is Underway in US Trade | China’s US Ambassador Praises Tea HarmonyNEWSMAKER – Tea Rebellion Founder Annabel Kalmer, and a RegenTea TrusteePLUS | Regenerative Tea Moves from Sustainability Claims to Farm-Level Economics | Tea Rebellion Founder Annabel Kalmar explains how RegenTea is testing whether soil health can translate into measurable return on investment for tea producers.It’s a shift from certification to economics—and one that could redefine how value is created at origin. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed ISO Week 15 with conditions still stable—but with a subtle shift in what is driving that stability.Across the major auction centers—Colombo, North India, Mombasa, and Indonesia—buyer activity remained steady, but highly selective. Demand continues to focus on teas needed for immediate blending and export commitments, with well-made teas attracting consistent competition. | At the same time, secondary teas continue to face a more difficult environment. Clearance often requires price adjustment, reinforcing the widening gap between premium and standard quality across the catalog.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Specialty tea has long defined quality through craftsmanship, origin, and terroir. These pillars have shaped how producers grow tea, how buyers evaluate it, and how consumers understand value in the cup. But a new layer is emerging—one that shifts attention beneath the surface. As environmental pressures intensify across global agriculture, regenerative farming is entering the tea conversation. Its focus on soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience introduces a deeper question: not just where tea is grown, but how the land itself is managed over time. In this episode, Bernadine Tay, President of the European SpecialityTea Association, explores whether regenerative agriculture will remain a sustainability sidebar—or reshape how quality itself is defined. “The adoption of regenerative tea farming may redefine tea quality, says Tay, but only if the industry gets it right.”BIO: Bernadine’s background spans sourcing, judging, training, and industry advocacy, with a focus on translating origin practices into credible market signals. At ESTA, she is helping guide the definition, evaluation, and communication of emerging frameworks—such as regenerative agriculture—ensuring that new narratives are grounded in verifiable practice rather than marketing abstraction. She is the founder of Quinteassential [www.quinteassential.co.uk], a UK-based tea design and consultancy company working with leading hospitality groups to develop tea programs, blends, and experiences that elevate tea to the level of fine food and beverage. With a background in Biomedical Science, Bernadine brings a structured, evidence-led approach to tea, bridging sensory expertise with scientific understanding of wellness and composition. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

War Costs Mount | China Opens Zero-Tariff Access—But Compliance Decides Who Benefits | US Tariff Refunds Begin April 20: What Tea Importers Need to Do Now | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

War Costs Mount | China Opens Zero-Tariff Access—But Compliance Decides Who Benefits | US Tariff Refunds Begin April 20: What Tea Importers Need to Do Now |NEWSMAKER – Bernadine Tay, President of the European Speciality Tea Association |PLUS | Specialty tea has long defined quality through craftsmanship, origin, and terroir. These pillars have shaped how producers grow tea, how buyers evaluate it, and how consumers understand value in the cup. But a new layer is emerging—one that shifts attention beneath the surface. As environmental pressures intensify across global agriculture, regenerative farming is entering the tea conversation. Its focus on soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience introduces a deeper question: not just where tea is grown, but how the land itself is managed over time. In this episode, Bernadine Tay, President of the European Speciality Tea Association, explores whether regenerative agriculture will remain a sustainability sidebar—or reshape how quality itself is defined. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed ISO Week 13 with prices still largely influenced by quality, buyer selectivity, and disciplined exporter behavior rather than any broad increase in demand. Reports from the current week suggest a generally stable but uneven market across all major auction centers, with strength mainly in well-produced teas and growing pressure on secondary descriptions.Colombo (Sri Lanka) Prices averaged $3.21/kg this week, ↓ -$0.02/kg from the previous week, reflecting fair demand but softer performance in parts of the premium and Ex-Estate catalogs amid increased offerings.North India (Kolkata / Siliguri / Guwahati) Prices averaged $1.88/kg, ↑ +$0.09/kg, supported by stronger demand and improved Tea Board benchmark averages.Mombasa (Kenya / East Africa) Prices averaged $2.21/kg, ↓ -$0.01/kg, reflecting steady but slightly easier conditions with unsold volumes in key grades.Indonesia Prices averaged $2.41/kg, ↑ +$0.01/kg, supported by improved demand and tighter offerings.Across the tea lands pricing was mixed. Clearance remains orderly but selective, with persistent unsold volumes in East Africa and uneven performance across Colombo catalogues.Visit www.teajourney.pub and select Tea Price Report for a detailed regional breakdown, six-month trade signals, and a near-term outlook for Q1 pricing dynamics. | (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/) | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

World Tea Expo was once the center of gravity for the specialty tea trade in North America—a place where retailers, importers, and producers aligned around a shared vision of quality, origin, and education.In 2026, that center has shifted.The show floor is busier. The audience is broader. Matcha and Japanese green tea suppliers were highly visible thanks to Government-backed export programs. The Tea Board-sponsored pavilions from past years, representing Sri Lanka, India, and Africa, were not. Lipton Tea made its first appearance at the show with foodservice offerings. Innovation is increasingly shaped by trends in café and beverage service.But beneath the energy is a structural question:When a trade show grows by changing its audience, does it also change its purpose?For some exhibitors, this is an expansion.For others, it is displacement.And for the industry, it may mark the beginning of a new phase—where tea no longer defines the room, but competes within it.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One Year After Tariffs: The Tea Industry’s Costly Lesson | ONTHEFLOOR at World Tea Expo l Regulatory Shock: EU Tightens MRL Enforcement| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One Year After Tariffs: The Tea Industry’s Costly Lesson | ONTHEFLOOR at World Tea Expo l Regulatory Shock: EU Tightens MRL EnforcementNEWSMAKER – Host Dan BoltonPLUS | World Tea Expo - A Show Transformed | This week, we’re on the floor at World Tea Expo in Las Vegas—where the show has quietly transformed.No longer a standalone tea event, it’s now embedded inside a broader bar and restaurant ecosystem. Traffic is up. Matcha is everywhere. But for specialty tea, the question is sharper than ever:Is this still our show—or has the market moved somewhere else? | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed ISO Week 11 with price discovery still driven more by quality and execution than by broad demand expansion. In Colombo, the latest broker-published weekly comparison available during the week showed sales averaged $3.68 per kilo for the 4 March sale, down from $3.85 per kilo for the prior 25 February sale. So Colombo softened on that measure, even as better-made teas continued to attract support. In India, the weekly benchmark picture was incomplete. Disruptions in market demand are apparent due to widespread conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Tea Board India published a North India average for the week ending 14 March, but the prior week was marked as not sold, so there is no clean week-over-week comparison. In East Africa, Mombasa remained active with fair general demand and selective absorption.Indonesia’s market remained selective and quality-sensitive.Across origins, the key signal remains the widening gap between dependable manufacture and ordinary teas. Better-made teas continue to clear with disciplined competition, while plainer descriptions require price adjustment. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Few specialty retailers have expanded as successfully—or as thoughtfully—as The Spice & Tea Exchange https://www.spiceandtea.com/. Founded during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis, the brand has grown from a single shop in St. Augustine, Florida, into a nationwide franchise with more than 90 locations. | At the heart of that growth is CEO and co-founder Amy Freeman, whose approach combines entrepreneurial discipline with a strong belief in hospitality, storytelling, and sensory retail. Instead of standardizing stores into uniform outlets, Freeman has created a model that promotes local experimentation, community engagement, and hands-on exploration of spices, loose-leaf teas, and culinary ingredients. The company offers over 600 exclusive products, curated by both in-house spice masters and spice masters at franchise locations.| In this Tea Biz Spotlight interview, Amy discusses expanding a franchise network while maintaining authenticity, lessons learned from the pandemic, and why immersive retail and education remain vital for the future of specialty loose-leaf tea.| BIO: Amy Freeman, CEO and Co-Founder of The Spice & Tea Exchange, leads with a philosophy rooted in servant leadership, community connection, and empowering franchisees to create locally relevant offerings while maintaining brand standards. Under her guidance, the company has expanded its loose-leaf tea portfolio to over 85 varieties and continues to innovate across culinary teas, regional blends, and immersive retail experiences. | This distinction reflects Amy’s deep expertise in franchise development, operations, and brand growth, as well as her unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards and best practices within the franchise community. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hormuz Shockwaves Reshape Global Tea Trade and Freight Risk | India-U.S. Trade Pact Could Reopen U.S. Market Access for Indian Tea | DMCC Reveals New Details on 600-Metre Uptown Dubai Megatall Tower | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hormuz Shockwaves Reshape Global Tea Trade and Freight Risk | India-U.S. Trade Pact Could Reopen U.S. Market Access for Indian Tea | DMCC Reveals New Details on 600-Metre Uptown Dubai Megatall TowerNEWSMAKER – Amy Freeman, CEO and Co-Founder Spice & Tea ExchangePLUS | Tea Discovery Drives Retail Growth | Few specialty retailers have expanded as successfully—or as thoughtfully—as The Spice & Tea Exchange. Founded during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis, the brand has grown from a single shop in St. Augustine, Florida, into a nationwide franchise with more than 90 locations. At the heart of that growth is CEO and co-founder Amy Freeman, whose approach combines entrepreneurial discipline with a strong belief in hospitality, storytelling, and sensory retail. Instead of standardizing stores into uniform outlets, Freeman has created a model that promotes local experimentation, community engagement, and hands-on exploration of spices, loose-leaf teas, and culinary ingredients. In our conversation this week, Amy discusses expanding a franchise network while maintaining authenticity, lessons learned from the pandemic, and why immersive retail and education remain vital for the future of specialty loose-leaf tea. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea auctions closed Week 9 broadly steady across Colombo, North India, Mombasa, and Indonesia, but dispersion inside catalogues continued to widen. Benchmark averages remain range-bound, yet price realization is increasingly determined on an invoice-by-invoice basis. Premium, well-made teas cleared competitively, particularly brighter liquoring high-grown and consistent liquidity grades, while secondary and mixed descriptions met selective demand or discounted outcomes.| Colombo: USD 4.17/kg (Week 9) | USD 4.18/kg (prior week) | North India: Prices averaged approximately USD 2.93/kg (Week 9) | USD 2.94/kg (prior week) | East Africa: Prices averaged USD 2.27/kg (Week 9) | USD 2.18/kg (prior week) | Indonesia: Prices averaged approximately USD 1.18/kg (Week 9) | USD 1.19/kg (prior week) | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Traceability is quickly becoming one of the defining challenges in the global tea trade.Consumers want to know where their tea comes from, how it was produced, and whether environmental and labor standards are being met. At the same time, governments are tightening regulations, brands are facing new compliance requirements, and importers are seeking better visibility into sourcing risks. | The Tea Biz State of the Industry 2026 report describes Sustainability Compliance as the transition from voluntary sustainability claims to verifiable supply-chain data. What used to be marketing is now infrastructure. Companies are being asked not simply to say where tea comes from, but to prove it. | BIO: Samuel Lambert is a supply-chain technology entrepreneur and co-founder of ZenGate Global, the builders behind the Palmyra Platform, a digital infrastructure designed to capture and verify agricultural supply-chain data. His work focuses on building traceability systems that integrate farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and brands into a single structured data environment.Lambert’s projects span multiple commodities—including coffee, cocoa, honey, and tea—and frequently involve mapping farms, verifying production data, and integrating satellite, geospatial, and blockchain technologies into existing trade systems. His work has focused heavily on emerging markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, where fragmented supply chains make reliable data capture difficult but increasingly essential.Lambert advocates a pragmatic approach to transparency—one that strengthens existing trade architecture while enabling new forms of decision intelligence built on structured supply-chain data. He is a graduate of the Australian National University with degrees in finance, economics and statistics. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Tea Trade | Kenya Faces a Sudden Market Shock as Gulf Shipping Routes Collapse | Billions in Duties May be Returned to Importers, Including Tea Buyers | China’s Tea Exports Surge in 2025 | Green Tea Dominance Continues as Shipments Reach 419,000 Metric Tons || Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Tea Trade | Kenya Faces a Sudden Market Shock as Gulf Shipping Routes Collapse | Billions in Duties May be Returned to Importers, Including Tea Buyers | China’s Tea Exports Surge in 2025 | Green Tea Dominance Continues as Shipments Reach 419,000 Metric Tons | NEWSMAKER – Samuel Lambert, co-founder of zenGate GlobalPLUS | Data Integrity at ScaleTraceability is quickly becoming one of the defining challenges in the global tea trade.Consumers want to know where their tea comes from, how it was produced, and whether environmental and labor standards are being met. At the same time, governments are tightening regulations, brands are facing new compliance requirements, and importers are seeking better visibility into sourcing risks. Today’s guest, Samuel Lambert, co-founder of ZenGate and architect of the Palmyra supply-chain platform, works at the intersection of blockchain, geospatial verification, and agricultural supply chains. In this Spotlight conversation, we explore how structured data—from farm mapping to chain-of-custody records—can transform traceability from a compliance burden into a far more powerful form of decision intelligence for global tea markets.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea Price Report | Episode 234 | Week 7 | Ending 13 February 2026 | Tea markets closed ISO Week 7 with a steadier tone as buyers continued to prioritize near-term cover and invoice certainty over forward risk, but showed slightly more willingness to compete when seasonal leaf and clean manufacture were evident.Across origins, demand remained decisively quality-led: well-made teas cleared consistently, average descriptions met selective enquiry, and plainer invoices faced widening resistance, reinforcing dispersion within catalogues rather than uniform strength.Buyer participation remained concentrated, with fewer hands setting the clearing level across several catalogues, leaving secondary lines to trade unevenly, especially where liquidity grades dominated offerings.Exporter discipline persisted, supported by currency dynamics and elevated input costs, which limited the willingness to accept discounts and kept price floors intact even where demand for off-grades softened.In Colombo, the early-season uplift in select high-grown and bright liquoring teas continued to anchor sentiment, while low-grown segments remained more invoice-specific and sensitive to buyer replacement alternatives.Prices averaged USD 3.14/kg (Week 7) | USD 3.15/kg (prior week)In North India, Assam liquidity grades continued to function as the price-setting mechanism, with buying largely contractual and execution-driven rather than speculative.Prices averaged USD 2.01/kg (Week 7) | USD 2.02/kg (prior week)In East Africa, competitive bidding concentrated around proven BP1/PF1 and clean dusts, while plainer lots saw wider bid-ask gaps, consistent with a market that is clearing volume but rewarding specification.Prices averaged USD 2.22/kg (Week 7) | USD 2.21/kg (prior week)Auction pricing in Indonesia remained secondary to contract and direct sales activity, with selective interest focused on specialty lots and improvement teas. Where spot buying did appear, it was disciplined and specification-led rather than broad-based.Prices averaged USD 1.19/kg (Week 7) | USD 1.18/kg (prior week)Overall, headline averages again masked the real signal: the spread between “must-own” teas and undifferentiated teas widened, and that dispersion is increasingly the durable feature of price discovery. | This week’s Tea Price Report is sponsored by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), owners of the Mombasa Tea Auction since 1956. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Seventy-eight percent of Kenya’s 720,000 tea smallholders cultivate half an acre or less. Tea anchors rural income, supports millions of jobs, and remains one of the country’s most important export sectors.Yet at the farmgate, quality is largely assessed after processing—when value has already been diluted. Most growers deliver green leaf with little real-time feedback, limited visibility into downgrading, and minimal transparency into how their harvest performs once it enters the factory. Today, we spotlight Sein Star Kilel, CEO and Co-Founder of FarmerPower.ai, a Nairobi-based ag-tech startup building AI-powered intake infrastructure designed to address that structural gap.FarmerPower.ai integrates computer vision, machine learning, and conveyor-based sorting hardware to classify green leaf at intake. Each batch is barcoded and linked to the farmer. The system evaluates measurable attributes—leaf count, moisture, size, and structural integrity—using a proprietary model that reports 93% classification accuracy. Primary and secondary leaf are separated before processing, preserving premium yield potential rather than averaging it away. The objective is economic as much as technical: reduce downgrading, increase premium yield ratios, align incentives at intake, and convert quality into measurable data.Raised in a tea-growing family, Kilel understands the cost of information asymmetry. FarmerPower.ai is currently in prototype development and early-stage fundraising, exploring a leasing model for hardware paired with recurring software and data services.If scalable, the platform positions itself not as a brand, but as infrastructure—shifting quality accountability upstream and reshaping how Kenyan tea is measured, priced, and monetized. |BIO: Sein Star Kilel was raised in a family of tea growers and brings firsthand insight into the structural information gaps that affect smallholder income—particularly the absence of real-time quality measurement at intake.She holds a postgraduate degree in AI and Machine Learning from Caltech and a master’s degree in Sustainability, Innovation, and Technology from Tomorrow University. Sayn is co-founder of FarmerPower.ai, an intake-level quality and traceability platform combining AI-driven leaf classification (93% reported accuracy), barcode-linked batch tracking, and hardware-based sorting to separate primary and secondary leaf before processing. The company is developing a factory-leasing model with recurring software services, positioning FarmerPower.ai as a scalable quality infrastructure for origin markets.The startup is currently in prototype deployment and fundraising stages.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

China Sets $216 Billion Tea Industry Chain Target for 2030 | India–Bangladesh Political Reset Signals Smoother Trade, Auctions and Transport for Tea | Dementia Risk Study Coverage Strengthens Tea’s Moderate-Consumption Demand Narrative| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

China Sets $216 Billion Tea Industry Chain Target for 2030 | India–Bangladesh Political Reset Signals Smoother Trade, Auctions and Transport for Tea | Dementia Risk Study Coverage Strengthens Tea’s Moderate-Consumption Demand NarrativeNEWSMAKER – Sein Star Kilel, CEO Co-Founder, FarmerPower.aiPLUS | FarmerPower.ai | Seventy-eight percent of the 720,000 Kenyan smallholders who rely on tea for their livelihoods cultivate tea on plots of a half-acre or less. The sector is crucial to the economy, providing jobs for millions and contributing significantly to the country's GDP. Yet most farmers operate in the dark, receiving little to no real-time feedback on leaf quality, pricing outcomes, or how their harvest performs at factory intake. Today, we speak with Sein Star Kilel, co-founder of FarmerPower.ai, a Nairobi-based startup developing computer vision and AI tools to improve green leaf quality at the point of intake. By combining barcode traceability, conveyor-based sorting hardware, and a proprietary AI model trained to classify primary versus secondary leaf, FarmerPower.ai aims to reduce downgrading, increase premium yield, and provide real-time feedback to farmers.If successful, the platform could reshape how quality is measured, rewarded, and monetized in Kenyan tea.| Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Week 5 tea markets closed on a steady-to-selective note as buyers continued to prioritize prompt coverage rather than extending forward positions. Overall, price discovery remained firmly quality-led, underscoring that invoice-level differentiation—not headline averages—continues to define current market outcomes. | In Colombo (Sri Lanka) | Demand was fair to good for featured leaf grades, with selective bidding for secondary descriptions. Exporter offerings remained disciplined, reinforcing quality-led clearance across high- and mid-grown catalogues.Prices averaged USD 3.15/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 3.17/kg (Week 4).In Kolkata / North India | Buying activity remained largely functional and contract-driven, with limited speculative participation. Assam CTC liquidity grades continued to anchor price discovery, while plainer teas saw softer realizations.Prices averaged USD 2.02/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 2.06/kg (Week 4).In Mombasa (East Africa) | Buyer participation remained broad, with competition intensifying for quality invoices. Large volumes cleared with wide intra-sale dispersion, reflecting selective bidding rather than generalized strength.Prices averaged USD 2.21/kg (Week 5) | UP FROM USD 2.17/kg (Week 4)Indonesia | Auction activity remained secondary to direct sales, with selective interest in specialty and improvement lots. Pricing reflected cautious, contract-led demand rather than spot-driven buying behavior.Prices averaged USD 1.18/kg (Week 5) | DOWN FROM USD 1.24/kg (Week 4). | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this SPOTLIGHT conversation, Fraser Kennedy shares the story behind Chalu, a Yunnan-based tea brand built on a simple yet demanding principle: let the tea speak.From cold-brewing single-origin teas to layering structure with local Yunnan oak, natural carbonation, and minimal intervention, Kennedy explains how Chalu was designed not as a flavored beverage but as a tea-forward alternative to wine—crafted for restaurants navigating the global shift toward low- and no-alcohol menus.Grounded in Yunnan’s geography, history, and the ancient Tea Road itself, this discussion connects innovation with restraint, showing how respect for origin, process, and flavor can create a new drinking occasion—without compromising what makes tea, tea. | BIO | Originally trained as a brewer, Fraser Kennedy brings a deep understanding of fermentation, structure, and mouthfeel to tea—applying brewing discipline to preserve, rather than mask, tea’s natural character. After relocating to Yunnan in the early 2010s, he immersed himself in the region’s tea landscapes and traditions, developing a mission to share Yunnan’s flavor with the world. Chalu—named for the ancient Tea Road—cold-brews single-origin teas sourced directly from producers, finishing them with minimal, locally rooted elements to create a structured,wine-adjacent tea experience suitable for Michelin-level tables. Kennedy’s work sits at the intersection of tea tradition and contemporary beverage innovation, reflecting a broader shift toward authenticity, provenance, and tea-first thinking in global RTD and hospitality markets. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

India–EU Trade Deal: Opportunity and Compliance Test for Tea | Container Reliability, Not Price, Is Now Tea’s Real Risk | Sustainability Shifts from Branding to Market Access in Tea | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

India–EU Trade Deal: Opportunity and Compliance Test for Tea | Container Reliability, Not Price, Is Now Tea’s Real Risk | Sustainability Shifts from Branding to Market Access in TeaNEWSMAKER – Fraser Kennedy, Founder of Chalu Sparkling TeaPLUS | Real Tea, Real Craft: Why Tea Is Ready for the Modern Table |This week on the Tea Biz Podcast, we’re joined by Fraser Kennedy, founder of Chalu, from Yunnan, China. Chalu is a producer redefining what “real tea” can look like in the fast-growing non-alcoholic and restaurant beverage space.As RTD tea expands globally—often diluted by flavorings, powders, and shortcuts—Chalu takes a different path: starting with single-origin Yunnan tea, cold-brewed to preserve aroma and structure, then finished with the restraint and precision more often associated with fine wine.In this conversation, we explore why tea—not botanicals, not sugar, not branding tricks—is emerging as the most credible base for premium non-alcoholic beverages, and why authenticity, provenance, and process matter more than ever as tea enters Michelin-level dining rooms and global distribution. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tea markets closed the third trading week of 2026 on a steady-to-firm note as buyers prioritized near-term coverage against structurally constrained supply. Auction price discovery remained quality-led across major origins, with Colombo supported by exporter demand for high-grown teas, Assam liquidity grades set the direction in North India, and Mombasa prices held within narrow bands despite buyer selectivity. Exporter resistance remained evident as currency and input costs reinforced price floors. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Over five days last October, James Suranga, executive director of the International Tea Committee, served on an expert panel of judges that evaluated hundreds of entries from across the tea lands, recognizing excellence in flavor, innovation, and sustainable practices.The 2025 edition of The Leafies, the international awards celebrating artisan tea excellence, concluded this week with an awards program in London, followed by public tastings at Fortnum & Mason.Launched in 2022 by the UK Tea Academy in partnership with Fortnum & Mason, The Leafies attracted hundreds of entries from tea makers across Asia, Africa, and Europe. All teas were blind-tasted by an expert judging panel, with awards recognizing flavor quality, craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainable practices.Winning teas earn The Leafies’ prestige mark—now a recognized signal of excellence—and several will be displayed at Fortnum & Mason’s Rare Tea Counter.More than trophies, The Leafies continue to connect education, terroir, and global tea craftsmanship on a single, credible platform.BIO: James Suranga is a senior global tea executive and head of the International Tea Committee, overseeing industry data, analysis, and policy engagement. A respected judge and speaker, he brings deep expertise in tea markets, production economics, and international trade dynamics. He holds a master's degree in marketing from Edith Cowan University. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy