18th Hunan Tea Expo concludes with $100 million in online, offline transactions

(ECNS) -- The 18th Hunan Tea Expo concluded in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, on Monday, generating 709 million yuan (about $100 million) in online and offline transactions during the four-day event, according to the organizing committee.

The total comprised 197 million yuan in on-site sales, 267 million yuan in online transactions and 245 million yuan in intended orders. More than 100 cooperation agreements covering procurement and distribution were reached during the expo, helping tea enterprises in the province expand their sales channels and connecting the traditional tea industry with new consumer markets and deep-processing sectors.

Visitors crowd the 18th Hunan Tea Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province. (Photo: Hunan Tea Industry Association)

New-style tea beverage supply chains were a highlight, with significant interest in placing orders in this emerging segment. More than a dozen bottled tea drinks made with Hunan tea varieties, including Anhua dark tea, Baojing golden tea, Guzhang black tea and Yueyang yellow tea, drew visitors' attention at the expo.

Chen Juan, board chairperson of Hunan Xiangye Qingcui Food and Beverage Co., Ltd., said the new-style tea beverage market has considerable potential. The company's "Xiangye" brand focuses on health-oriented products in convenient, portable bottles.

Hunan Gulou Xuefeng Yunwu Tea Co., Ltd. showcased a range of tea-based food products, including noodles made from green tea and jelly made from black tea. Xiao Donghong, board chairperson of the company, said the development of these products has supported the local tea industry and benefited more than 20,000 residents.

At the Zhangjiajie pavilion, novel products such as white tea ice cream and white tea pastries attracted younger visitors. Zhen Xia, general manager of Zhangjiajie Zhenhao Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., said the company is expanding beyond traditional tea houses into a diversified "tea plus" business model while maintaining its focus on Sangzhi white tea.

The expo brought together over 1,500 tea-related enterprises from within and outside the province and attracted more than 100,000 visitors. A series of events was held, including matchmaking activities for Hunan tea brands, a tea competition, youth study tours, tea therapy demonstrations and intangible cultural heritage performances. A total of 1 million yuan in consumption subsidies was also distributed to boost consumer spending.

(By Tang Yuxian)