An international oolong tea competition will kick off next month in Hong Kong to foster the sustainable development of Chinese tea industries and promote traditional Gongfu tea culture.

Scheduled on Nov 9, the Chiu Chow Fenghuang Dancong Tea International Competition will select the finest tea from dozens of prestigious tea brands.

The event is co-organized by Hong Kong • Art magazine, Chinese Tea Culture International Exchange Association, and Chaozhou Gongfu Tea Culture Institute, with support from several local chambers of commerce, hometown associations, and organizations from various sectors.

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Fenghuang Dancong Tea, also known as Phoenix Mountain Oolong, is a type of oolong tea specifically cultivated in the Fenghuang mountain region of the Chaoshan area in Guangdong province. The variety of tea is renowned worldwide for its distinctive refreshing taste and floral aroma, and is customarily brewed in the Gongfu tea style – a traditional Chinese tea ceremony – among many who live in the Chaoshan area.

“The competition will promote not only Fenghuang Dancong Tea and the Gongfu tea culture, but also lead a deeper examination of Chinese tea culture,” Wong Shu-yui, chairman of the competition’s organizing committee, said at a press conference on Thursday.

The event is a valuable platform, encouraging and facilitating exchanges among business fellows from the tea industries, experts, and tea lovers, added Wong, who is also the honorary president of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce.

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The contest has received an overwhelming response from tea brands across various places, with more than 50 finalists set to participate in the final round in November, according to the organizer.

The selection process will consist of two judging sessions conducted by professional tea inspectors and guest tasters. Tea will be evaluated comprehensively, considering factors such as the appearance of the leaves, the color and fragrance of the brew, as well as its taste and texture.

Xie Hongzhou, chairman of the jury and director of Guangdong-based Chaozhou Gongfu Tea Culture Institute, said the contest can serve as a window for young tea brands to widen their horizons and development paths.

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It is also a good opportunity to showcase Chinese tea culture to the world as Hong Kong is a significant East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, he said.

“As a vital part of the daily life of the Chaoshan people, Gongfu tea culture not only belongs to the Chaoshan area, but is also an important aspect of Chinese culture that deserves to be shared with the world,” Xie added.

China's traditional tea-making has been inscribed into the intangible cultural heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2022.