Boseong County Presents the Potential of Korean-Style Blended Tea

Four Major Competitions Successfully Conclude at the World Tea Expo

Boseong County, South Jeolla Province (Governor Kim Cheolwoo), announced on October 28 that it had successfully concluded four major tea competitions during the 13th Boseong World Tea Expo, which was held over three days at Yeolseonru Park and surrounding areas, ending on October 26.

In line with Boseong's reputation as the "Green Tea Capital," this year's expo featured four competitions that drew the attention of tea enthusiasts, experts, and youth from across the country: the 13th Boseong World Tea Quality Competition, the 11th Korea Tea Blending Competition, the Tea Art Festival, and the Student Tea Etiquette Competition.

Judging at the Korea Tea Blending Competition. Provided by Boseong County.

The 13th Boseong World Tea Quality Competition evaluated the quality of the 2025 new teas in six categories-green tea, black tea, yellow tea, white tea, blue tea (oolong), and dark tea (fermented)-and selected the best products in each category.

In the green tea category, Ahn Myungsun of Cheongwoo Tea Garden won the gold prize. In the black tea and blue tea categories, Jung Kyungwan of Mongjungsan Tea Garden took the top honors. Lee Soongeum of Yunhae Tea Garden won in the white tea category, Yoon Youngsook of Yeongcheon Tea Garden in the yellow tea category, and Jak Sewol of Uncha Jibang in the dark tea category each received the gold prize.

The panel of judges commented, "This year, both processing techniques and flavors have improved overall, further enhancing the competitive quality of Boseong tea."

At the 11th Korea Tea Blending Competition, which featured creative blends based on Boseong tea, Choi Seoyoon and Jang Mi won the gold prize, while Jang Sunjae of Jukrim Tea Garden received the bronze prize. Participants created new flavors by adding modern aromas and ingredients to traditional teas, presenting the potential of Korean-style blended teas.

The Tea Art Festival showcased the artistry and etiquette of tea culture through a four-person tea gathering featuring at least two types of tea beverages and two types of tea snacks. After the competition, a "tea party" was held for visitors to join in, adding to the festive atmosphere.

This year, the Tea Road Number Eighteen team (Choi Eunhwan and Kim Sunjeong) won the gold prize. The teams "Dawn Dew and the Excitement of Teacups" (Oh Jihee) and "A Beautiful Day in October" (Kim Sujin and Kim Gapsun) won silver prizes, while "Where the Scent of Tea Lingers" (Do Eunju and Jang Jungnyeyul) and "The Series of Roses: Autumn Feast" (Kim Misook and Kwon Kihwa) received bronze prizes.

At the Student Tea Etiquette Competition, in which youth participated, students demonstrated traditional tea ceremonies and etiquette. By presenting refined tea settings and greetings, they highlighted the importance of passing down traditional tea culture and etiquette education.

A county official stated, "These competitions showcased not only the quality and artistry of Boseong tea, but also the broad public base that enjoys tea culture. Moving forward, Boseong County will continue to expand platforms for tea enthusiasts to connect and grow, solidifying its role as the center of Korea's tea industry."