“A Cup of Tea, Just the Wonder.” On August 4th, Alexis Kai, Vice Chairman of the European Speciality Tea Association and Founding Chairman of the Danish Tea Association, and Marco Bertona, Executive Chairman of the International Slow Tea Alliance and Chairman of the Italian Tea and Herbal Tea Association, shared this sentiment when they were invited to participate in the 2024 Seventh China Tea Import and Export Trade Conference and Douyun Maojian Tea Gathering.
Alexis Kai, Vice Chairman of the European Speciality Tea Association and Founding Chairman of the Danish Tea Association
The venue for this conference was chosen at the Douyun Maojian base by the Gaozhai Reservoir in Luoshike, Douyun City. The attendees traversed winding mountain roads through the rolling hills covered with thousands of acres of tea fields, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Guizhou. Alexis Kai remarked, “In 2017, due to a rushed schedule, I couldn't fully appreciate the beauty here. But this time, upon my return to Douyun, its beauty is breathtaking. Good mountains and good waters nurture good tea, and I think the high quality of Guizhou tea vividly illustrates this.”
Guizhou, known as the “Birthplace of World Tea,” is the only high-altitude, low-latitude, cloudy, and pollution-free tea region in China, providing ideal conditions for the development of the tea industry. In this land where mountains and hills account for 92.5% of the province's area, the people of Guizhou have cultivated 7 million mu (approximately 466,667 hectares) of tea gardens. Relying on the natural advantage of high mountains and clouds, they create a unique fresh and refreshing flavor for Guizhou tea. The commitment to quality, “preferring grass over glyphosate,” has repeatedly enhanced the reputation of “Clean Guizhou Tea,” giving Guizhou tea the confidence to go global.
Marco Bertona, Executive Chairman of the International Slow Tea Alliance and Chairman of the Italian Tea and Herbal Tea Association
“When I told them they were drinking Green Tea, they were surprised; it tasted nothing like what they had imagined,” Marco Bertona recalled about his previous experience introducing Guizhou tea to his friends. “Sweet, mild, and with a long-lasting aftertaste” was their first impression of Guizhou tea.
In Alexis Kai's view, this is one of the significant advantages of Guizhou tea for export to the world. “People who truly love food or beverages are very willing to pay for unique flavors or experiences,” she told reporters. In Denmark, the terrain is characterized by flatness, with a generally low elevation. Additionally, the difference in topography means that Europe primarily relies on mechanical tea harvesting, while manual harvesting is less common. Therefore, it is almost impossible to grow teas with the distinctive flavors of Guizhou tea.
Even if the wine is fragrant, it still fears being in a remote alley. Marco Bertona is often invited to various tea events in China, which gives him opportunities to visit many places. He mentioned that it's hard to imagine the extent of people's love for tea in China. Whether speaking with tea farmers, tea tasters, or tea company owners, once the topic turns to tea, they always have a lot to say. In Italy, the situation is quite different. Therefore, to better engage Guizhou tea in the international market, besides production volume and quality, finding the right promotional methods is crucial.
Speaking about suggestions for expanding Guizhou tea in overseas markets, Alexis Kai said that the key lies in storytelling. “You know that the internet or social media can connect the entire world. Utilize these platforms well, trace the roots, and share the beautiful images of tea gardens and Tea processing. Rather than constantly discussing prices or quantities, attracting visually, impressing through experience, retaining with quality, and spreading through branding is the long-term strategy for Guizhou tea to cross mountains and oceans.”
Using tea as a medium and gathering friends through tea. For Alexis Kai and Marco Bertona, attending this conference in Douyun was a rewarding and meaningful experience. Coming to Douyun, tasting the excellent teas of Guizhou, and having the opportunity to share this experience and knowledge about tea with their association members, including tea suppliers and dealers from around the world, “We hope we can build a bridge to promote tea cultural exchange and tea trade between both sides.”