Tea markets closed the third trading week of 2026 on a steady-to-firm note as buyers prioritized near-term coverage against structurally constrained supply. Auction price discovery remained quality-led across major origins, with Colombo supported by exporter demand for high-grown teas, Assam liquidity grades set the direction in North India, and Mombasa prices held within narrow bands despite buyer selectivity. Exporter resistance remained evident as currency and input costs reinforced price floors. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Over five days last October, James Suranga, executive director of the International Tea Committee, served on an expert panel of judges that evaluated hundreds of entries from across the tea lands, recognizing excellence in flavor, innovation, and sustainable practices.

The 2025 edition of The Leafies, the international awards celebrating artisan tea excellence, concluded this week with an awards program in London, followed by public tastings at Fortnum & Mason.

Launched in 2022 by the UK Tea Academy in partnership with Fortnum & Mason, The Leafies attracted hundreds of entries from tea makers across Asia, Africa, and Europe. All teas were blind-tasted by an expert judging panel, with awards recognizing flavor quality, craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainable practices.

Winning teas earn The Leafies’ prestige mark—now a recognized signal of excellence—and several will be displayed at Fortnum & Mason’s Rare Tea Counter.

More than trophies, The Leafies continue to connect education, terroir, and global tea craftsmanship on a single, credible platform.

BIO: James Suranga is a senior global tea executive and head of the International Tea Committee, overseeing industry data, analysis, and policy engagement. A respected judge and speaker, he brings deep expertise in tea markets, production economics, and international trade dynamics. He holds a master's degree in marketing from Edith Cowan University. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Red Sea Routing Volatility Returns: Why Tea Logistics Is Still Not Normal | East Africa Opens 2026 Strong as Bids Reward Premiumization | Taiwan’s 500 7-Eleven Tea Bars Scale Up

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Red Sea Routing Volatility Returns: Why Tea Logistics Is Still Not Normal | East Africa Opens 2026 Strong as Bids Reward Premiumization | Taiwan’s 500 7-Eleven Tea Bars Scale Up

NEWSMAKER – James Suranga, Executive Director, International Tea Committee

PLUS | The 2025 Leafies Awards | The 2025 Leafies Awards—an international showcase for artisan teas—drew the tea world’s attention to London this week. Judges awarded 21 Gold, 52 Highly Commended, and 9 Special Awards, recognizing excellence not only in flavor but also in innovation, craftsmanship, and alignment with sustainable practices.

Following the awards, winning teas were presented to the public at Fortnum & Mason, underscoring the growing connection between craftsmanship at origin and premium retail at destination. | Joining us today is James Suranga, Head of the International Tea Committee. James participated in tastings and judging of 411 teas entered by producers and tea makers from around the world. He discusses which teas stood out, how standards are evolving, and what this year’s results signal for producers and specialty tea markets worldwide. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Episode 231 | Week 2 | Ending 9 January 2026 | This is Dan Bolton with Tea Trade Takeaways for the week ending 9 January 2026

Tea markets closed Week 2 on a steady-to-firm footing as post-holiday buying intersected with structurally constrained supply. Price discovery continued to reward well-made teas, while average descriptions cleared selectively. Exporter resistance remained evident where costs and currency dynamics reinforced price floors early in Q1.

Colombo (Sri Lanka) | High-grown teas continued to attract steady interest, supported by exporter demand for January shipment. Medium and lower elevations showed uneven clearance, reflecting quality dispersion. Kolkata / North India | Assam liquidity grades remained the primary price-setting mechanism. Buying was functional, with a limited appetite for forward coverage.| Mombasa (East Africa) | BP1 and PF grades held narrow ranges on balanced demand. Buyer selectivity increased toward the end of the week. | Indonesia | Auction activity remained secondary to direct sales, with most volumes moving through contractual channels. Specialty orthodox demand was selective. | Next Week's Forecast | Trading next week is expected to remain selective, with outcomes driven by catalogue quality and buyer attendance. That’s the Tea Biz Tea Price Report. For expanded coverage, visit www.teajourney.pub and select the Tea Biz Tea Price Report (https://teajourney.pub/tea-price-report/). | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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This year’s State of the Tea Industry forecast is different by design. Instead of publishing a finished report and inviting reaction afterward, we’re opening the process itself. The 2026 forecast is intentionally collaborative—published in draft and shaped by informed public commentary from across the tea ecosystem. If you work in production, trade, branding, retail, logistics, or policy, your perspective has value. By contributing publicly, you’re not just reacting to trends—you’re helping refine them, challenge assumptions, and improve the final analysis. In today’s featured Spotlight, I’ll explain how this collaborative approach works—and how thoughtful participation can elevate both the forecast and the voices behind it. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Tariffs, Courts, and Geopolitics: Why India-Linked Tea Risk Is Rising Again | China’s New-Style Tea Brands Expand in the U.S., Led by CHAGEE | Unilever Sells Indonesia's Favorite SariWangi Tea | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Tariffs, Courts, and Geopolitics: Why India-Linked Tea Risk Is Rising Again | China’s New-Style Tea Brands Expand in the U.S., Led by CHAGEE | Unilever Sells Indonesia's Favorite SariWangi Tea

HOST – Dan Bolton, Founder, Tea Biz Blog | Podcast

PLUS | A Call for Collaboration | The Tea Biz State of the Tea Industry 2026 forecast is now live—and this year, it’s open by design. Instead of publishing a finished report and soliciting feedback later, we’re inviting informed public commentary as the analysis is still taking shape.

If you work anywhere in the tea ecosystem—production, trade, branding, retail, logistics, or policy—your perspective matters. Thoughtful comments help challenge assumptions, sharpen interpretation, and improve the final forecast.

Stay tuned. In today’s Spotlight, I’ll explain how this collaborative approach works—and how your voice can help shape what comes next. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Episode 230 | Week 52 | Ending December 31, 2025

Tea markets closed the final trading days of 2025 on a steady-to-firm note, with thin holiday volumes masking structurally supportive fundamentals. Across origins, disciplined seller offerings, year-end inventory positioning, and persistently elevated input costs reinforced price floors. Buyers remained selective by grade and origin, but resistance to sharp declines was evident, particularly for cleaner, well-made teas aligned with established blending programs.

Colombo closed the year firmly, with limited year-end offerings of bright high-grown teas continuing to attract interest from Middle Eastern packers covering January shipment requirements.

South India CTC markets held steady through the year-end period as domestic blenders focused on near-term coverage and deferred discretionary buying until early Q1.

Mombasa remained stable, with BP1 and PF grades clearing within narrow bands as reduced catalogues and cautious buyer participation limited volatility.

Indonesia traded steadily, with most export volumes moving via direct sales contracts rather than open auction channels. | Now the outlook:

Market tone exits 2025 on a firmer footing than it entered the year. Early Q1 restocking interest is expected to emerge gradually as buyers reassess inventory positions, though sensitivity to price and quality dispersion is likely to remain pronounced. Absent a material demand shock, downside risk appears limited by cost structures and disciplined supply management.| This week’s Tea Price Report is sponsored by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), owners of the Mombasa Tea Auction since 1956. | Podlink signup: https://pod.link/1549975153

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Tea has long been associated with health, calm, and comfort—but how much of that reputation is backed by science, and how much by lifestyle? In this SPOTLIGHT conversation, Michael Cramer explains how consumer perceptions of tea and wellness have evolved since the pandemic, why ritual matters as much as ingredients, and how personalization is shaping the future of tea. From loose-leaf adoption to herbals, mindfulness, and blending, this discussion reframes tea not as medicine but as a lifelong companion to healthier living. BIO | Michael Cramer is Founder and CEO of Adagio Teas, one of the most influential specialty tea retailers in the United States. He launched Adagio in 1999 with the goal of making high-quality loose-leaf tea more accessible while preserving the cultural, sensory, and ritual dimensions of tea drinking. Under his leadership, Adagio pioneered direct-to-consumer sourcing, online education, and customer-driven tea blending—allowing consumers to create and share their own formulations long before personalization became a retail buzzword.

Cramer has been a consistent voice cautioning against overstated health claims, instead positioning tea as a lifestyle practice rooted in pleasure, habit, and social connection. His perspective reflects a deep understanding of consumer behavior, product design, and the long arc of tea culture across markets. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and an MBA from INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires). His analytical background continues to inform Adagio’s data-driven and customer-centric approach to tea.

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