Pouring hot water into a cup of tea.

International Tea Day fair puts Laos’ tea industry in the spotlight

Lao Tea Fair is enhancing the reputation of Lao tea as a high-quality product and establish a strong image of tea.
The Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in cooperation with its development partners last week held a tea fair in a celebration of International Tea Day in Laos.
The three-day event was part of the Mekong Tea Project and was organised by the Department of Agriculture to encourage friendly competition and recognition among the local tea community.
The tea fair gathered together farmers, producers, industry professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders from around the country.
The event served to emphasise the importance of tea in the daily lives of Lao people and the potential it has to reduce poverty and create economic opportunities. Lao teas can be a source of environmental sustainability, economic development, and a way to build resilient communities.
By celebrating the Lao tea industry, its specific links to environmental preservation can promote its potential to have a positive impact on people and the planet.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Phet Phomphiphack said “Despite favorable growing conditions and market proximity in China, to reach its full potential, the tea sector faces many challenges. In particular, farmers have limited knowledge and skills about tea processing, and they’re not encouraged to export tea. Through this event, we aim to bring together all tea value chain actors to promote Lao tea’s image and sales.”

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and guests attend a tea fair to mark International Tea Day last week.

“We hope that this fair will help promote the Lao tea culture and the quality of teas across the country. The specificities of Lao tea, often produced in forested ecosystems by small-scale farmers, are to be preserved and scaled-up. We are convinced that the development of the tea value chain has great potential to empower smallholder farmers, while also protecting the environment,” he added.
Tea producers and exporters from all over Laos gathered for the event. Producers and companies from Bokeo, Xayaboury, Phongsaly, Champassak and Huapan provinces displayed their products, representing the diversity and uniqueness of their tea terroirs.
Amongst these was the Meung Tea Producers Cooperative, based in Meung district, in Bokeo province.
With the support of the Mekong Tea Project, the Cooperative recently obtained Organic EU Certification, which will allow its members to produce certified tea aimed at reaching European markets.
The Department of Agriculture and the French Development Agency handed over the newly obtained certification during the opening ceremony.
The Ambassador of France to Laos Ms Siv-Leng Chhuor said “I am confident that tea promotion events like this one today will encounter the same success. I hope that International Tea Day will soon be registered as one of the main annual events in Laos’ domestic and international promotional agenda.”
More than 1,000 members of the public attended the three-day event and discovered different tea blends from various provinces. Visitors also enjoyed an artistic photo exhibition that depictsed tea cultivation systems across Laos.
Participants at the fair included representatives of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which is funding the Mekong Tea Project, the European Union Delegation to Laos, and other national and international organisations.
The Mekong Tea project aims to improve the incomes of smallholder tea farmers through better governance of the value chain and better access to markets through quality and certified products.
Funded by AFD and implemented by the Department of Agriculture, the project has two components, one at the national level for developing the value chain, and the other at the local level in support of two pilot projects.

By Times​ Reporters​
 (Latest Update May 23, 2023)