World Tea Expo®, May 30–June 16, 2008 – Big Win for ITO EN
The World Tea Expo® is now over, but the results of the tea awards at the show say it all. ITO EN, Japan’s premier green tea company, is proud to announce that ITO EN tea won three awards in the ready-to-drink category at the World Tea Expo®:
Best Unflavored Green Tea: Oi Ocha
Best Flavored Green Tea: TEAS’ TEA Green Jasmine
Best Unflavored Oolong: TEAS’ TEA Golden Oolong
The three wins by ITO EN reaffirm the strength of the brand, which was the first to pioneer ready-to-drink green tea in Japan, modernizing the green tea market.
Professional tea tasters evaluated more than 200 teas in order to find the best in each category at the World Tea Expo®. “We are honored to be recognized, once again, by the World Tea Expo®,” says Rona Tison, senior vice president of corporate relations for ITO EN (North America), INC. “We are especially pleased by the Oi Ocha win, in the unflavored green tea category, because it further emphasizes a shift in the American palate toward a more authentic and robust green tea flavor. ITO EN is dedicated to providing the highest-quality tea selection and products from around the world and we’re delighted to be acknowledged by the World Tea Expo® for that commitment.”
Oi Ocha is the top selling green tea beverage in Japan, which ITO EN has recently introduced to the American market, and is authentically brewed from Japanese premium, loose-tea leaves.
Newest in the ITO EN TEAS’ TEA line – Pure Black Darjeeling
TEAS’ TEA is a line of all-natural, unsweetened beverages made with purified water, green tea leaves and vitamin C. At the World Tea Expo®, ITO EN also debuted the newest addition to their best-selling TEAS’ TEA line, Pure Black Darjeeling. The product, the first black tea in the TEAS’ TEA line, is made with nothing but purified water, Darjeeling tea leaves and vitamin C.
ITO EN products can be found at mass merchandise stores, grocery stores and specialty natural foods retailers, nationwide, including Whole Foods, Super Target, Bashas’ Supermarket and Wegman’s. The products can also be found at the ITO EN flagship tea store, in New York City on Madison and 69th, ranked “best tea emporium” in Zagat’s 2008 New York City Gourmet Shopping & Entertainment Guide.
About ITO EN (North America) INC.
Established in 1966, Japan-based ITO EN, LTD., was founded to market green tea, a traditional Japanese beverage. The company launched in the United States, in 2002, with the opening of their flagship store on Madison Avenue. Today, ITO EN is firmly positioned as the world’s leading supplier of green tea leaves and green tea beverages, developing a steady stream of new products that specifically address customer needs and lifestyles. Known as a trendsetter in Japan’s beverage industry, intensive research and development has allowed the company to cultivate better tea, and positioned them as the first company to create a patented method of bottling green tea in a manner that carefully preserves its distinct flavor and integrity. Additional information can be accessed through www.itoen.com.
View the selection of ITO EN, LTD. teas at ITO EN, LTD. BAOlink premium vendor listing.
See the BAOlink Market News – World Tea Expo® for more information about the Expo marketplace, products and events.
