The Leafies Turn Five: Judging Week at the UK Tea Academy

The London-based UK Tea Academy is holding judging week for The Leafies International Tea Awards in mid-October, as the competition reaches its fifth year. A panel of international tea professionals will blind-taste hundreds of entries from gardens and producers across the globe. Tea submissions have now closed.

This year brings a new category, the Women in Tea Award, which honours women leading and shaping the industry and carries no nomination fee. Nominations for the Special Awards remain open until 11 October 2026.

Winners will be revealed at an awards celebration on 22 January 2027 at Fortnum & Mason in London. For tea drinkers, competitions like this are a handy guide to which regions and estates are rising on quality.

Source: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal