FRANCE
Non-profit AVPA, an organization that hosts competitions throughout France, conducted its first Teas of the World competition in June. Winners will be announced in July.
The competition is open to any company with a traceable tea that is clearly identified, unflavored, whole-leaf, and unblended. Judging is based on gastronomic rather than standardized referencing. Teas are brewed both in a pot and gung fu style.
Lauren Pascault, AVPA contest leader for tea, explains that “events are the best way to draw attention (from the professionals, the media, the general public) for an industry in need of recognition and standardization.”
She said that cooking became a professional activity because the last centuries saw associations, competitions, and training bodies work to protect workers and set their qualifications.
“Coffee has gone the same way with the Specialty Coffee Association, which works worldwide to provide state-of-the-art training and competitions. Tea has not yet succeeded in organizing itself, and it will take many initiatives to do so globally: the AVPA “Teas of the World” contest is one of those,” she said.
Agence pour la Valorisation des Produits Agricoles (AVPA) first hosted contents for edible oils 15 years ago. A coffee competition was added in 2012 and bottled waters in 2016.
Learn more: www.avpa.fr/thes-en