2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Consumption of tea in the US as a healthy beverage has increased six-times over the last decade and reached $12 billion in 2016. During the same time, the number of tea (Camellia sinensis) growers in the continental US has also increased and the US Tea Association predicts that the tea market will continue to develop in this country over the next decade. There is a great potential for US tea growers to profit on domestically-grown and processed tea, but knowledge of how US production and marketing schemes are related to world industry and cultural dynamics will be essential for success. A Scientific Exchange trip to China was made in October 2016 by a group of horticulturists from the LSU AgCenter, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the University of Georgia, and a tea grower from the Great Mississippi Tea Company. Tea research institutes and universities with tea science departments in the southeastern region of China were visited with opportunities to learn about the history and current state of the tea industry there along with research findings and current challenges. In addition, tea production areas and the tea market in Shanghai were toured with an opportunity to meet with tea marketing leaders to discuss marketing strategies. There were also opportunities to experience many different facets of tea culture in China including a tea ceremony and tastings. The rise of both domestic and export specialty tea production and marketing (vs. commodity tea) in China, the emphasis seen on plant selection and improvement, the changes discussed in world tea production dynamics, and the importance of a tea culture to the Chinese people were all seen as important considerations that could have an enormous impact on tea production, marketing, and consumption in the US.