TEA MASTERS CUP INTERNATIONAL

9-10 June 2016

Korea, Seoul

JUNE 2016:SOUTH KOREA, SEOUL, HOSTED THE SECOND TEA MASTERS CUP INTERNATIONAL.

A unique international competition among tea professionals, the Tea Masters Cup™ (TMC),was held at the beginning of June in South Korea, at Tea World Festival, one of the largest and most successful beverage exhibitions of this region.

A large international group of tea experts from different countries (Australia, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Georgia,Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya, Latvia,New Zealand, Poland, Vietnam, Russia, the Republic of Korea,Singapore,Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and USA) visited SeoulonJune 9-10 to take part in the final round of the Tea Masters Cup International 2016.

Tea Masters competed for the title of world champions in the three categories: Tea Preparation (where masters have to demonstrate the skill of tea preparation by brewing and presenting several beverages), Tea Paring (presenting tea in combination with a light food/snack) and Tea Tasting (tea degustation by identifying beverage samples of single varieties of teas).

Thousands of Tea World Festival guests who attended the competition in person and many fans all over the world who watched live internet broadcasts witnessed impressive displays of the art of tea preparation

During two days of competition tea masters showed to judges and spectaculars their performances and impressed everyone with ingenuity, careful preparation and high professionalism.

But there is only one champion in every category and judges had to determine the best tea masters. And after two days of intensive competition there were defined winners of each category.

Tea Preparation category:

1. Soohyun Park (Republic of Korea) with Korean tea brewed in traditional and modern styles.
2. VivianaPetrovska (Latvia)with the Korean green tea and Chinese red Jin Jun Mei.
3. Tatiana Deinega (Russia)with Taiwanese Don Ding Oolong (Frozen pick Oolong).

Tea Pairing category:

1. Murat Kornaev (Poland) with red Taiwanese Ruby Tea, Polish plum brandy and a snack of cheese and gastro-meatballs.
2. UstinyaKosterkina (Russia) with Pu-erhNutcha and cookies in the form of nuts with cream of condensed milk.
3. AliaksandrBrazhnikau (Belarus) with Shu-Pu-erh and tiramisu.

Tea Tasting:

1. KuntiHorsta (Latvia)
2. Alex Yurong Pan (Australia)
3. Lukasz Toflinski (Poland)

Besides of first places there were given best results of every criterion.

Tea Preparation category:

Best in technique of brewing (tea provided by organizing committee) – Ji-young Moon (Korea)

Best in presentation (tea provided by organizing committee) – Tran ThiMongKieu (Vietnam)

Best in aroma (tea provided by organizing committee) – Ji-young Moon (Korea) and JaromirHorak (Czech Republic)

Best in taste (tea provided by organizing committee) – VictoriyaBarysavets (Belarus)

Best in aftertaste (tea provided by organizing committee) – Ji-young Moon (Korea) and JaromirHorak (Czech Republic)

Best result  (tea provided by organizing committee) – Ji-young Moon (Korea)

Best in technique of brewing (master tea) – Tran ThiMongKieu (Vietnam)

Best in presentation (master tea) – VivianaPetrovska (Latvia)

Best in aroma (master tea) – Anna Vartanova (Georgia)

Best in taste (master tea) — Anna Vartanova (Georgia)

Best in aftertaste (master tea) – Anna Vartanova (Georgia)

Best result  (master tea) – Anna Vartanova (Georgia)

Best in charisma – Tatiana Deinega (Russia)

Tea Pairing category:

Best in neatness – UstinyaKosterkina (Russia)

Best visual appeal – AndreyIvanov (Latvia)

Best taste – Murat Kornaev (Poland)

Best presentation – Murat Kornaev (Poland)

Best in reproducibility – AliaksandrBrazhnikau (Belarus)

Best in modifiability – SerhiiStepchuk (Ukraine)

The judges panel included:

Denis Shumakov (Russia), head judge and Chairman of Advisory Board of TMC International.

Technical Judge Alexander Wagner (Russia). Head of the Tea Culture Club “Cha-I”, the creator of community Chaism.pro

Hyung Jang (Korea).Chair of Asia Cultural Exchange Foundation. He is teaching a course of Tea Studies at the University. Abbot of Daewonsa — a 1000 year old Buddhist monastery in Boseong.

Sergey Khorolskiy (Taiwan), Turquoise Tea Co. Ltd. CEO, member of Taiwan Tea Manufactures‘ Association. 13 years of experience in tea trade and service. The author of Tea Siphon concept, tea-gastronomic show specialist.

DorcasBungei (Kenya), tea family member, plantation owner, First secretary of the Embassy of Kenya in Korea, She has been working closely with Tea Board of Kenya (TD) and Kenya Tea Development Agency(KTDA) to promote Kenyan tea in diplomatic level.

SharynJohnston(Australia), Founder of Australian Tea Masters, developer of the only government accredited Tea Sommelier Course, the first set of tea standards for Australia. Judge for Golden Leaf and other tea competition in China, Vietnam and Korea. Member of the Chinese Tea Experts committee.

Venerable Huesung (Korea), Chair of Korea Tea Board, Buddhist Nun with 40 years of Tea experience. Traditional Tea Ceremony Teacher, author of many tea books in Korea, Manager of Korea Buddhist Tea Federation, chair of Tea Meditation Tea Association.

Jungsoon Kim (Korea), President of Tea World Festival, the largest and oldest tea expo in Korea. 34 years of Tea experience.

Kiho Shin (Korea), Head researcher of Tea at Jeonnam Agricultural Research Center in Boseong

Jong Cheol Kim (Korea),Head researcher of Tea at Hadong Green Tea Research Institute,

The MCs of the competition were AlionaVelichko (Belarus) and William Lee (Korea).

During competition there were also conducted tea ceremonies and tea presentations. Tea Specialists Yuri Podusov (Latvia) and Alexander Wagner (Russia) made the Presentation of tea brewing in a free style and demonstrated special technique of tea preparation called Wolverine.

Sergey Khorolskiy (Taiwan) gave a Fresh Flavoring Presentation devoted to modern methods and approaches to tea aromatization; traditional delicate flavoring, gastronomically-based tea flavoring, fresh on-spot flavoring and its presentation opportunities.

After intensive days of competition the whole group of masters and guests drove to see Korean tea plantations. They were also able to see Korean tea ceremonies and take part in them, make their own tea and see Tea Museum. They had a unique possibility to live in a Buddhists

monastery and learn Korean tea culture and way of life.

The competition was held by TMC International (Hong Kong) in cooperation with a leading importer and distributor of tea in Korea – ShindaWooloo Group under support of General Sponsors – the largest tea company of Turkey, one of the leaders of the world tea market- Caykur and mainteaindustryorganisationinKorea – Korea Tea Board, Governmental Sponsors – Seoul Metropolitan Government, Hadong County, Boseong County , Partners – Bunn, World Tea Festival and Media Partners —Coffee&Tea International, Fresh Cup Magazine, Tea Times House, EventsWow, Tea Journey, Tea Guardian.com.

According to Mr. Ramaz Chanturiya, the Chairman of the Tea Masters Cup, “Second Tea Masters Cup International 2016 was held at a very high level and in fact confirmed the importance of the existence of this unique international project! Last year 5 countries took part in the final round of the championship and this year we have already seen representatives of 11 countries. And in the future cycle I expect to see this figure doubleв.The success of this project is natural – the representatives of different countries and cultures of tea have the opportunity once a year to show their best achievements, exchange experience with colleagues, to expand their professional horizons.In addition, each presentation of a master is a contribution to the whole tea culture, a new signal to creativity for thousands masters in different countries.And actually it is not so important who is the winner, although it is essential and a champion has a special responsibility!But we must never forget that the main beneficiary of the whole process is His Majesty – Tea.

In the words of Mr. ImdatSutluoglu, General Director, Caykur, “I’m proud that first Tea Masters Cup International was held last year in Turkey and now it was pleasure for me to support the second Tea Masters Cup International in Korea.

I know that Tea Masters Cup International gave every tea master opportunities to show the world tea culture and it is a significant event for the world of tea as a whole.

Caykur as one of the world tea market leaders always pays great attention to the development of tea culture and support new initiatives, which are useful for tea market. Therefore, we were willing to help once again to hold this world championship among tea masters and will follow with interest the development of this project in the future.”

Mr. William Lee, Executive Director of Korea Tea Board says, «I believe 2016 Tea Masters Cup in Korea has opened the door to many young tea professionals around the world, since Korea has not been known as tea country to the international tea committee in despite of its millennium history of tea. In merge with its high traditional culture from noble family and the Buddhist monastic life have offered Tea Masters around the world an opportunity to take a glimpse rich tea culture of Korea. When tea masters went back to their home country, I wish they have taken not only the unforgettable memories during the journey but also rich tea culture of Korea in their hearts. Korea Tea Board welcomes all tea masters to come back to Korea with their friends again. Tea Masters Cup is such a great platform to put all tea lovers around the world together in the same place where they can share their own heritages which I strongly witnessed during this trip. Despite of cultural, religious, and language barriers, everybody shared the moments together over a cup of tea!”

The start of the next competition cycle (2016-2017)will be launched in July 2016.

Tea Masters of the world, unite!

Let’s create a better future for the world tea market  together!

CONTACTS:

Tea Masters Cup, Ltd (Hong Kong)

E-mail:

in**@te***********.com

www.teamasterscup.com

Contact person: Yana Aftandilova

Author: Deepak Hasija

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