As global interest in Chinese tea culture continues to grow, tea is becoming more than a beverage—it is a shared language that connects people, traditions, and civilizations.
On July 18, the International Tea Sommelier Competition and the 3rd Chinese Tea Craftsmen Exchange (Chongqing) brought together tea scholars, master tea makers, educators, and cultural practitioners from across China and overseas to celebrate craftsmanship, promote dialogue, and explore new pathways for the international development of Chinese tea culture.
As one of the event's co-organizers, the International Academy of Chinese Tea (IACT) played a leading role throughout the two-day program, highlighting its commitment to global tea education, cross-cultural collaboration, and the international sharing of Chinese tea traditions.
For thousands of years, tea has connected communities, inspired cultural exchange, and fostered mutual understanding.
Today, as Chinese tea gains increasing recognition around the world, the conversation is evolving beyond tea products toward education, cultural heritage, and meaningful international engagement.
Introducing Chinese tea to global audiences requires more than exporting tea leaves. It calls for educational programs, professional training, cultural interpretation, and opportunities for people from different backgrounds to learn from one another.
This vision has guided the International Academy of Chinese Tea since its founding.
With the mission of "Tasting Timeless Leaves, Decoding Eastern Wisdom," IACT is building an international platform that combines tea education, intercultural communication, professional certification, and global partnerships to help more people discover the richness of Chinese tea culture.
During the conference, IACT presented its growing portfolio of international initiatives, including professional tea education, bilingual training programs, international tea sommelier certification, overseas workshops, study tours, and cross-cultural learning experiences.
Rather than simply teaching tea knowledge, the Academy focuses on developing professionals who can confidently communicate Chinese tea culture across languages and cultures. From the map of students who participated in the online video courses, we can tell that Chinese tea's crucial leading role.
Its educational approach integrates traditional tea knowledge with modern international communication, creating learning experiences that are accessible to tea enthusiasts, educators, hospitality professionals, and cultural ambassadors worldwide.
As global demand for authentic Chinese tea education continues to rise, IACT is working to build a bridge between China's tea heritage and the international community.
One of the highlights of the event was the launch of Zhong Mei's latest publication, Tea for Harmony.
Designed for both Chinese and international audiences, the publication reflects the Academy's ongoing commitment to producing educational resources that make Chinese tea culture more accessible to the world.
More bilingual publications and learning materials are planned in the coming years as part of IACT's global education strategy.
