Laos marks International Coffee and Tea Day 2026: Two Brews, One Journey - from local farmers to global consumers

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE), in partnership with France and the EU Delegation to Laos, officially launched the second edition of International Tea & Coffee Day 2026 (ICTD 2026) at Parkson Mall.
Taking place from 2 to 4 October under the theme “Two Brews, One Journey: From Lao Farmers to Global Consumers.” this annual event - first launched in 2018 - arrives at a high point for Laos’ coffee and tea sectors - with back-to-back milestones that have elevated Lao coffee and tea onto the global stage.
True to the spirit of Two Brews, One Journey, behind every cup of Lao coffee and every glass of Lao tea is an extraordinary passage. It begins in the highland villages of Phongsaly in the north and reaches the cool slopes of the Bolaven Plateau in the south, where families tend, harvest and process much of the crop by hand. From there, that journey extends thousands of kilometres to connect with passionate consumers in Laos andEurope.
Bringing together more than 40 exhibition booths, the event transformed Vientiane into a bustling hub where producers from across the country showcased their finest coffee and tea to the public. Featuring contests, public tastings, workshops, panel discussions and targeted B2B networking sessions, ICTD 2026 served as a vital bridge, connecting local farming communities face-to-face with roasters, buyers and consumers.
This momentum builds upon a strong legacy. The first edition, held from 22 to 24 May 2026, set a high bar by attracting nearly 7,500 visitors, around 15 percent more than the previous year, and introducing the first-ever Lao National Tea Excellence Awards for white, green, black and Pu-erh teas. Bringing this journey full circle internationally, the Lao tea team proudly showcased these award-winning harvests at the Paris Tea Festival in France last June.
The journey of talent is equally global: the Lao Young Barista Championship 2025, held during the ICTD celebration in Luang Prabang, crowned a winner who went on to compete in South Korea. Building on this dynamic, and complemented by the exceptional coffees showcased at the sixth Lao Green Coffee Competition earlier this year - the Lao Young Barista Championship 2026 will take place next week in Luang Prabang, with the crowned national champion earning the opportunity to represent Lao quality at the upcoming global competition in Malaysia. Furthermore, Lao premium coffee continues to enjoy tremendous popularity and strong market demand, frequently selling out as consumers increasingly embrace its quality.
International acclaim for both sectors further proves that our local crops belong on the world stage. Building on this growing recognition, highlighted by Nyot Ou Teasecuring a gold medal at the Yiwu Tea Competition in China in 2025, and two major awards at the Hong Kong Tea Competition 2026. Lao tea has cemented its global presence with European buyers, supported by stronger cooperatives, and organic certification.
Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, highlighted that the “Development of the coffee and tea sector has been given priority in the National Socio-Economic Development Plan as it is mainly responsible for implementing the National Agenda on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication as well as supporting local economic development in line with the Socio-Economic Development Plan of the Agriculture and Environment Sector for 2030”
French Ambassador to Laos, Bénédicte Deschamps, emphasised that: “Laos will officially become a member of the International Coffee Organisation in 2027. We very much welcome this important step and France will be proud to support the development of a new Lao Coffee Development Strategy, aligned with the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan.”
“We promote the sustainable and inclusive development of coffee, tea and forest value chains by strengthening cooperatives, private sector, technical knowledge and processing, improving traceability, product quality and market access, and ensuring social protection for workers, particularly women, young people and ethnic communities,” said Ambassador of the European Union to Laos, Mark Gallagher.
Beyond the exhibition halls and trade contracts, the true heartbeat of this journey remains the people. Over the past year, initiatives like the Green CUP project have equipped more than 2,000 farmers and producers, over 700 of them women, with the specialised skills needed to turn a careful harvest into a world-class cup.
As this year’s celebration drew to a close, one powerful message resonated: Lao coffee and tea have truly arrived on the global stage. From local roots to international cups, ICTD 2026 reflected the remarkable progress of Two Brews, One Journey, proving what is possible when farmers, producers, associations, and global partners unite around a shared vision a sustainable future.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update October 5, 2026)