Officials and development partners water coffee seedlings to mark the opening of the International Coffee and Tea Day 2025 event in Luang Prabang last week.

Lao coffee and tea gain global spotlight
 
Lao coffee and tea, the country’s fastest-growing agricultural exports, took centre stage in Luang Prabang last week.
More than 6,400 people attended the International Coffee and Tea Day 2025 celebration, highlighting Laos’ ambition to be recognised as a global origin of high-quality, sustainable products.
Held from October 3-5, the event was the first time that International Coffee Day (October 1) and International Tea Day (May 21) were celebrated together in Laos, under the theme “Coffee and Tea for Better Lives: Embracing Collaboration for a Sustainable Future”.
Coffee and tea are critical to the livelihoods of thousands of Lao families. More than 25,000 households cultivate these crops, sustaining incomes for about 310,000 families nationwide.
In 2024, Laos exported over 50,000 tonnes of coffee, valued at more than US$100 million, and 100 tonnes of dried tea worth US$2 million, according to a press release from the Green Cup Project.
The festival turned Luang Prabang into a lively showcase of over 40 booths featuring premium Lao coffee, tea and agro-products, alongside business networking and sustainability initiatives.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, told participants that Lao coffee had earned international acclaim.
“Lao coffee consistently ranks among specialty coffees judged by international experts, while Lao tea has also won recognition, such as the gold medal awarded to Nyot Ou tea in China this year,” he said.
Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang province, Ms Siliphone Suphonthong, said hosting the festival was an honour for the province.
“This event strengthens tourism and promotes our producers, encouraging them to improve quality and sustainability,” she said.
France and the European Union, through the Green Cup Project, reaffirmed their support for developing sustainable and inclusive value chains.
EU representative Ms Doerthe Wacker noted that European consumers increasingly demand coffee and tea that are organic, sustainable, and linked to better livelihoods, presenting a major opportunity for Laos.
The festival also featured the Lao Young Barista Championship, where Mr Tavan Sengdala won first prize and will represent Laos at the World Barista Championship in the Republic of Korea next month.
The three-day celebration ended with a collective commitment from government, development partners, and the private sector to build stronger, fairer coffee and tea industries and to secure a brighter future for Lao farmers in global markets.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 9, 2025)