ITO EN, the innovators of ready-to-drink (RTD) green tea, was awarded first-prize for its newly launched Oi Ocha Dark, Oolong Shot and Jasmine Green Tea in the ‘Unflavored Green,’ ‘Unflavored Oolong’ and ‘Flavored Green’ categories at the 2009 World Tea Championship™ (WTC). The awards were announced during the 2009 World Tea Expo (May 2-4) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ITO EN’s Oi Ocha Dark, Oolong Shot and Jasmine Green Tea were entered in the ‘Iced Tea’ class and were recognized by the judging panel as the highest quality and best tasting ’Ready-to-Drink’ teas commercially available in the North America. These award-winning teas, along with their full line of RTD and loose leafs teas, are available online and at the ITO EN New York flagship store, voted “2009 Best Tea Emporium” for the 5th consecutive year by Zagat’s Gourmet Shopping & Entertainment Guide. These ready-to-drink teas will also be available at
supermarkets nationwide.
“All of us at ITO EN are greatly honored to receive such a wonderful accolade,” said Rona Tison, senior vice president of corporate relations for ITO EN (North America), INC. “Having recently launched these new products, this really validates our ability to continuously create a variety of teas that please the most discerning palates, while at the same time, delivering a product that supports a healthy lifestyle.”
1st Place WINNER: Unflavored Green Iced Tea class, Ready-to-Drink category
· Oi Ocha Dark Green Tea: for the serious green tea drinker, Oi Ocha Dark Green Tea offers a more robust flavor while retaining the authentic characteristics of Oi Ocha. Oi Ocha Dark is higher in natural catechin tea antioxidants, containing a minimum of 400mg per bottle with 130 percent RDA of Vitamin C per serving.
1st Place WINNER: Unflavored Oolong Iced Tea class, Ready-to-Drink category
· ITO EN Oolong Shot: also known as Wu-long and traditionally called blue tea, oolong is a dynamic balance between green tea and black tea. Full bodied with a smooth finish, research shows that an unidentified compound in oolong may promote weight loss. A Dr. Andrew Weil recommended product, the tea is gaining popularity in the U.S. among the health and weight conscious.
1st Place WINNER: Flavored Green Iced Tea class, Ready-to-Drink category
· Jasmine Green Tea (Traditional Line): authentically brewed and infused with jasmine flowers that have been picked in the evening when the flowers are most fragrant, Jasmine Green Tea is delicate, and has a nuanced flavor with an emphasis placed on jasmine’s aroma.
The 2009 World Tea Championship™ is an independent competition, judged by professional cuppers and major retail buyers of tea, to distinguish the highest quality and best tasting teas commercially available in North America. The WTC is made up of two classes: Hot Tea and Iced Tea. Each class consists of its own categories and judging panel. The Hot Tea class was evaluated April 30 and May 1, 2009. The Iced Tea class was evaluated May 2, 2009 during the World Tea Expo. All submissions were evaluated blind and through organoleptic analysis.
ITO EN products are available at natural and mainstream supermarkets and select specialty stores nationwide. For more information on the entire line of ITO EN products, please visit ITOEN.com.
About ITO EN (North America)
ITO EN (North America), a subsidiary of ITO EN, LTD., is the nation’s leading purveyor of green tea products and beverages. The company is an innovator in the beverage industry, marketing award winning Japanese tea lines in the U.S., including: TEAS’ TEA, the Traditional Japanese Tea, Natural Fruit, and ITO EN Shots. With a New York City flagship store (voted Best Tea Shop by the Zagat Survey of New York City Gourmet Market Places) and four-star authentic Japanese restaurants (KAI & Donguri), ITO EN is uniquely positioned as a pioneer in the tea industry. For more information, please visit www.ItoEn.com.
About The World Tea Expo
The World Tea Expo® is a robust marketplace that brings together hundreds of new products, the latest industry innovations and relevant, cutting-edge educational sessions, providing tea professionals with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, field industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea. The Fastest 50 awards are given by Tradeshow Week Magazine, a leading publication covering the trade and consumer event industry. The World Tea Expo, World Tea News™, World Tea Championship™, World Tea Ratings™, World Tea Buyers Guide™, World Tea Webinars™ and Best Tea Business™ awards are produced by SFG Group LLC, a Nevada-based company. The next World Tea Expo will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, May 2-4, 2009. For more information, visit www.worldteaexpo.com.
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