Boseong Tea Master Cup: Korea's Top Tea Beverages Compete

The Largest Tea Beverage Development Competition in Korea

A Platform for the Growth of the K-Tea Industry

Boseong County in South Jeolla Province announced that it will host the 4th Boseong Tea Master Cup (BMTC) on May 3, 2026, to enhance the brand value of Boseong tea and promote the consumption of tea culture.

The Boseong Tea Master Cup is the largest tea beverage development competition in Korea, where participants develop creative tea-based beverages using Boseong tea. The event brings together tea experts, baristas, students majoring in beverage studies, and café operators from across the country to showcase current trends in tea beverages.

_Poster for the 4th Boseong Tea Masters Cup. Provided by Boseong County_

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted until April 12, 2026. The preliminary rounds will be held in Seoul (April 17–18) and Busan (April 19). The semifinals are scheduled for May 2 in Boseong, and the final round will take place on May 3 on the main stage of the 49th Boseong Tea Festival.

This year, in order to ensure fairness and equity among participants, a 'Competition Tea' system has been introduced. Contestants are required to develop café-style tea beverages using teas produced in the tea plantations of Boseong County.

The designated teas for the 2026 Boseong Tea Master Cup include seven products from six tea plantations: Yesung Organic's green tea (leaf/teabag), Wondang Jedawon’s matcha (powder), Baekyeon Gol Fermented Tea’s black tea (leaf), Seondawon’s hojicha (leaf), Cheongwoo Dawon’s hojicha (powder), and Yeongcheon Dawon’s yellow tea (leaf).

Each participant must use at least one of these designated teas in developing their beverage.

The winner will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award and a trophy. Through this competition, Boseong County aims to expand participation from tea experts, café operators, and university students nationwide, and expects to promote the Boseong Tea Festival in advance through the preliminary rounds held in Seoul and Busan.

Notably, beverages submitted in previous competitions were commercialized as signature drinks in collaboration with beverage franchises, resulting in tangible industrial outcomes. This has further expanded the potential uses of Boseong tea in the tea beverage market.

An official from the county said, "The Boseong Tea Master Cup is establishing itself as a leading platform in the domestic tea beverage market, bringing together tea experts and creative ideas. As global interest in tea culture, including matcha, continues to grow, we hope that the development of new beverages based on Boseong tea will serve as a catalyst for expanding the Korean tea and K-Tea industry into the global market."

Meanwhile, the 49th Boseong Tea Festival will be held throughout Boseong County from May 1 to May 5, 2026, offering a variety of cultural and tourism programs, including Boseong Citizen’s Day, the Boseong Green Tea Marathon, Children’s Day events, the Illimsan Azalea Cultural Event, and the Seopyeonje Boseong Sori Festival.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.