Competition tea is chosen through contests that evaluate the flavor of different teas against each other, aiming to identify the finest tea leaves. The purpose of such competitions is to enhance tea garden management and tea production techniques through the competitive assessment of flavor. Drinking competition tea means appreciating both the terroir and the craftsmanship involved in its creation, with a bit of luck also playing a role.
In Taiwan, competition tea is a topic of great interest. After participating in competitions, not only does the tea achieve an astonishing price, but its flavor is also regarded as exceptional. Among these, the Lugu Farmers` Association Tea Competition stands out for its long history and large scale. The rankings, including Special Prize, First Place, Second Place, and so on, down to the “eliminated” grades, are well-known names in the world of competition tea. Unopened antique competition teas can even reach the auction market. The Special Prize represents the best among thousands, characterized not only by its clean taste but also by its unique aroma, described as an indescribable scent that might resemble the ripe, sweet fragrance of golden osmanthus flowers. The specifics of the evaluation process and details are often shared with enthusiasts through podcasts featuring competition tea judges.
Looking at competition tea from the consumer`s perspective, notable tea competitions are held outside Taiwan as well, including in Japan and France. The AVPA France Tea Contest and The World Green Tea Contest in Japan, despite their names suggesting a focus on green tea, accept various types of teas like oolong and black tea. These competitions are unique in that they also evaluate packaging design concepts and cost-performance ratio from a consumer standpoint. In 2021, You Shan Tea Visit won 10 awards from 11 entries at one of these competitions, the highest number of top prizes won by a single participant to date, which led to a rule change in 2022 limiting the maximum number of awards a single entrant can win to four.
The motivation for You Shan Tea Visit`s participation in these competitions stems from an experience at an exhibition where their tea was not selected for presentation in a VIP room due to a lack of awards. This spurred them to enter international competitions, hoping to validate the quality of their tea in markets not traditionally associated with oolong tea consumption. The detailed feedback provided by these international contests serves as motivation for improvement, emphasizing that a tea constantly desired is indeed good tea.
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