VIP guests watered coffee and tea plants to officially open the International Coffee and Tea Days.

Laos celebrates the 2026 International Tea and Coffee Day under the theme “Two Brews, one Culture”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, France, and the EU launched the 2026 International Tea & Coffee Day on 22–24 May at Parkson Mall under the theme “Two Brews, One Culture,” celebrating an annual event (est. 2018) that marks a global high point for Laos’ coffee and tea sectors.
Coffee and tea are not simply agricultural commodities for Laos. They are integral to rural communities and smallholder farmers across the country, while driving Laos’ growing international reputation on the world stage. ITCD 2026 served as the annual moment to take stock of that journey - and this year, there is a great deal to celebrate.
Reflecting on this momentum, Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr. Linkham Douangsavanh stated: “With the unique quality of Lao coffee and tea increasingly in demand globally, this festival served as a powerful platform for networking and expanding market access for local producers. On behalf of the Ministry, I extend my sincere thanks to France, the EU, and our development partners for their active technical and financial support in advancing our strategic development plans.”
Following Nyot Ou tea’s 2025 gold medal win in China, the inaugural Lao Tea Excellence Awards 2026 was held during ITCD 2026. This first-ever national competition gave producers the chance to compete across four categories: White, Green, Black, and Puerh tea. Samples were evaluated through a blind tasting by an independent jury of local experts and international tea masters from France and Germany. Winners received trophies and cash prizes totaling 72 million Lao Kip, with the award-winning products presented on May 24 and scheduled for showcase at the Paris Tea Festival this June.
Highlighting the long-term support behind these achievements, Ambassador of France to Laos, Bénédicte Deschamps noted: “This event’s success is the fruit of more than thirty years of collaboration, investment, and commitment involving producers, researchers, government institutions, development partners, and the private sector - including France and the European Union.”
The Lao coffee sector has also made significant milestones in 2026. The 6th Lao Green Coffee Competition, held in April, attracted 111 samples from 26 coffee producers and companies. Winners earned outstanding evaluation scores of above 85/100 points from a panel of 24 experts from nine countries, using international standards established by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and Coffee Quality Institute (CQI).
A key highlight was the Phoumakor Farmer-Nongluangcoffee group (Champasak), represented by Mr. Sakhon Thanousay, winning three awards across five categories plus a special coffee roaster prize valued at 27 million Lao Kip. These winning products were showcased at Asia’s premier specialty coffee trade show, World of Coffee in Bangkok (7–9 May 2026), and featured in the Southeast Asia Green Coffee Competition, giving Lao producers direct access to a major regional buying platform.
On Friday, 22 May through Sunday, 24 May, ITCD 2026 featured 40 exhibition booths showcasing established Lao coffee and tea brands. Visitors took part in various hands-on side-events, including workshops, traditional tea ceremonies, and panel discussions on climate resilience, market access, and agritourism.
Emphasising the connection between local production and global markets, European Union Ambassador to Laos,  Mark Gallagher, concluded: “The European Union is one of the world’s largest import markets for tea, and European consumers are increasingly seeking authentic, organic, and sustainably sourced products. Lao tea, with its rich identity and unique character, is well positioned to benefit from this growing demand. A cup of tea brings people together across languages and cultures. It creates space for dialogue. In uncertain times, these simple moments of connection matter more than ever.”

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update May 28, 2026)