2012-10-03 14:35:07 - TasteTEA Zone at the International Coffee & Tea Festival 2012 to present new ways of preparing and serving tea

October 3, 2012
Organisers of the International Coffee & Tea Festival, which is the only dedicated trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Arab world, expect tea’s popularity to press on in the UAE, reaffirming the findings of a previous study by Emirates Industrial Bank (EIB), which also reveals that the strong demand for tea in the UAE, bolstered by the high growth in population, has contributed to almost a 50 per cent hike in the price of tea in recent years.

The UAE is also a major tea re-exporter, with nearly 17,000 tonnes of tea re-exported in 2010, worth around AED 200 million. On the other hand, the UAE imports most of its tea from India and

Sri Lanka, largely arising from the demand for high quality, refined black tea.

Drawing on this growing preference for tea in the UAE, the upcoming International Coffee & Tea Festival to be held in Dubai from 30th October to 2nd November 2012, will feature an exclusive TasteTEA Zone which will serve as an excellent platform for exhibitors to showcase their expertise and share new ways of preparing and serving the beverage with the public. The TasteTEA Zone will enable participating tea growers, producers, exporters, blenders and distributors to interact with an eager audience, while also networking with validated buyers.

Mr. Ryan Godinho, National Coordinator for UAE World Coffee Events, states: “It is a combination of factors that makes tea such a popular beverage in the UAE. If we consider demographic factors, the country’s population is mainly comprised of ethnicities that are primarily tea consumers. Given this scenario, it was imperative that the International Coffee & Tea Festival makes a strong statement on tea, which we are bringing forth through the TasteTEA Zone that will be a high-value addition to the overall exhibiting experience this year.”

Commenting on the various varieties of tea available today, Mr. Godinho mentions, “Although the traditional black tea is the overwhelming favourite in the UAE and the rest of the GCC, we are coming across more and more people gravitating towards green, white, flavoured and speciality teas.”

The numerous health benefits associated with tea also contribute to the high tea ratings and are seen as key factors driving the increasing consumption of the beverage. Several studies are proving that drinking tea, especially green tea, helps to lower the risk of heart disease, boost the immune system, protect against cancer, lower blood pressure and speed up metabolism.

Alongside calling attention to tea, the International Coffee and Tea Festival 2012, set to take place at the Meydan Grandstand & Convention Centre, Dubai, will also pay tribute to its unequivocal counterpart, coffee. The UAE Barista and the inaugural Latté Art Championships will be key features of the event highlighting the skills and creativity of the region’s best baristas in the preparation of popular coffee beverages, giving the public a foretaste of what they can expect from UAE’s best cafés.