Northern Lao tea producers with the Green CUP team and the Deputy Ambassador of the Lao Embassy in Paris.

Northern Lao tea producers bring the flavors of Laos to the Paris Tea Festival

A delegation of Northern Lao tea producers successfully showcased the country’s exceptional teas at the prestigious Paris Tea Festival from June 13–14, 2026 in Paris, France. Representatives from Bokeo, Phongsaly, and Xiengkhouang provinces introduced international audiences to the rich heritage, distinctive flavors, and sustainable traditions of Lao tea.
Co-funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union Delegation to Laos, the Green CUP project is led by the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Working closely with producer organisations, cooperatives, government agencies, and the private sector, it aims to elevate tea quality, expand market access, and promote sustainable practices to increase economic opportunities for local farming communities.
To further encourage the delegation, the Deputy Ambassador of the Lao Embassy in Paris joined the event and provided his full support to the tea producer team throughout the festival.
The Paris Tea Festival 2026 was a major milestone for Lao tea. It brought together producers, importers, buyers, tea experts, retailers and tea enthusiasts from around the world. Through their participation in the event, the producers had a chance to connect with international buyers, explored new market opportunities, strengthened their competitiveness, and promoted Lao tea as a unique and sustainable specialty tea origin.
Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Mr Bounchanh Kombounyasith, stated “Lao tea has a remarkable story to tell. Our tea-growing communities produce unique tea rooted in tradition, biodiversity and sustainable practices. Participation in the Paris Tea Festival is an important opportunity to share this story with the world, strengthen international partnerships and create new opportunities for producers and rural communities across Laos.”
Nested among the mountains and ancient forests of Northern Laos, tea has been cultivated for generations as both a livelihood and a cultural tradition. The participating producers represent some of the country’s most distinctive tea-growing landscapes, where traditional knowledge, unique terroirs, and sustainable production methods combine to create teas of exceptional character and quality.
The France Ambassador Benedicte DESCHAMPS stated that “The success of Lao tea producers at the Paris Tea Festival demonstrates the exceptional potential of Lao specialty products and the talent of the communities who cultivate them. It is inspiring to see producers from Northern Laos sharing their heritage, expertise and commitment to sustainability with an international audience. France, through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is delighted to support initiatives like this one that foster economic opportunities, encourage sustainable development and deepen the ties between our two countries.”
This mission advanced Green CUP’s vision to strengthen the tea sector, improve local livelihoods, and position Laos as a specialty origin by helping producers to bypass traditional trading channels to build direct global partnerships.
EU Ambassador Mark Gallagher highlighted “We are proud to support Lao tea producer groups and tea cooperatives in showcasing their outstanding teas. Their participation highlights the exceptional quality and growing international recognition of Lao tea. This achievement demonstrates how strong partnerships can help Lao producers access new markets, create new opportunities while promoting forest conservation,agroforestry and biodiversity”
In addition to participating in the festival, the delegation met with tea sector stakeholders, specialty tea companies, and fair-trade organisations to explore future partnerships and market opportunities. These exchanges are expected to strengthen the international profile of Lao tea and contribute to the development of long-term commercial relationships.
About the Green CUP Project: The Enhanced Green Economy Through a Quality, Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Value Chain (Green CUP) Project is one of the Team Europe interventions co-funded by the French Agency for Development  (AFD) and the European Union Delegation to the Lao PDR under the #TeamEurope initiative, supporting more than 3,000 households across the Lao PDR to build inclusive, climate-resilient coffee and tea value chains. The tea component is implemented by GRET, HELVETAS and the Comité de Coopération avec le Laos (CCL), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.
--EU Global Gateway: This is the new strategy of the EU that was initiated in 2021. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet. It helps to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update June 18, 2026)