Ceylon tea exports in 2017 are expected to (for the first time) reach an FOB value of $1.6 billion. Prices at the Colombo auctions have been buoyant despite a multitude of challenges—fertilizers, weedicides, climate, labour, wages. Producers are clamouring for more leaf and striving to manufacture to their factories’ capacity in order to cash in on this windfall, which comes, as it happens, after two particular lean years. ‘Ceylons’ are among the most expensive black teas in the world. They have a reputation for quality that far surpasses the broad mass of their competitors. We proudly proclaim our seven unique selling points: handpicked, artisanal, passion, provenance, ecological, ethical, ozone-friendly. We enthusiastically assert the diversity of the almost 30 grades orthodox tea offers, and the variety our agro-climatic regions confer on our tea. But rarely do we stop to think ‘What do our consumers really want?’ or, arguably more importantly, ‘What will our consumers want next?’

We have lined up a preeminent group of presenters to share their personal experiences in bringing their industries to the forefront of quality-assurance practices and communicating this to their consumers and customers. While the forum is designed primarily for decision makers within the different stakeholder groups associated in the Tea industry the potential value of the event is seen to be wider and hence we have opened it to a wider audience from within the sector. The event at the BMICH will host 400 and an additional 200 can join via a live web cast. Participation in either platform is by invitation only. If you wish to enroll for the event at the BMICH please contact the Promotions Division of the Tea Board or your stakeholder association within the Trade. To get invited for the live webcast please register through this webpage.