Two companies in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai have recently won Gold Prizes for their two tea products at the World Green Tea Competition 2020, held in Shizuoka prefecture in Japan.

The two winning tea products are the Assam green tea, of 1×2 Ban Phayaprai Laoma tea factory, and the Oolong Khao Hang-Ngok tea, of Chart 101 Company.

Mr. Cherdchai Lasee, owner of 1×2 Ban Phayaprai Laoma tea factory, told Thai PBS that the tea samples entered for the competition are products normally consumed by the local people in Doi Phayaprai, a spacious 6,400 hectare mountainous area, which used to be where opium poppies were grown, but which is now covered by tea plantations. It is the largest tea planting area in Thailand.

He also said that the tea grown in Doi Phayaprai has its geographic identity associated with the unique aroma and flavour.

Out of more than 24,000 hectares of tea plantations in Thailand, more than 12,100 hectares are in Chiang Rai, earning several hundred million baht a year in foreign exchange for Thailand.

Hundreds of green, oolong and black teas were entered by tea producers from around the world for the competition this year. All entries included samples for evaluation and display.
Entry categories include loose leaf, tea bag, granule, beverage and others.

The categories for evaluation and scoring include packaging (concept, naming, packaging design and cost performance) and Quality of liquor (brewed aroma and brewed flavour).
The awards are Grand Gold Medal, Gold Medal, Packaged Award and Consolation Prize.