Waikato Zealong tea a top tipple

Gigi Crawford of Zealong Tea Estate and mayor Allan Sanson of Waikato District Council, with the three trophies won by Zealong Tea Estate at the 2017 Global Tea Championship Fall in Colorado, US.

Zealong Tea Estate's black and oolong tea bags received gold first-place honours in their respective categories and the green tea bags achieved second in its category at the 2017 Global Tea Championship Fall in Colorado, United States.

The three striking glass trophies, each individually inscribed with the estate's name and the award category, arrived by special delivery from United States this week.

"This is a significant award for Zealong as it once again proves that New Zealand tea can hold its own amid fierce competition and on any global platform," said Zealong general manager Gigi Crawford.

Zealong's winning teas are entitled to display the Global Tea Championship seal and they will be showcased in the October 2017 issue of the Global Tea Buyers' Guide, a digital publication distributed to the international tea community.

The competition was organised by Penton's World Tea Media and blind judged by professional tea tasters who determined the finest quality and best-tasting teas commercially available worldwide.

Zealong's honours at the Global Tea Championship are the latest in a string of global accolades, including a Great Taste Award in the UK and organic beverage awards in Hong Kong and London.

Zealong is home to New Zealand's first and only commercially grown, organic tea located 10km from Hamilton.

This Waikato icon represents a NZ$20 million investment and is a key player in the New Zealand clean and green arena, the only tea brand entitled to display the NZ Grown logo on its packaging.

Zealong's tea-centred experiences are a firm favourite with tourists and locals.

The estate is rated No 2 for Things to Do in Hamilton, and No 9 for Hamilton restaurants.