International visitors sample teas at the expo. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 7th China International Tea Expo concluded on May 25 in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou, attracting nearly 200,000 attendees — a record high for the event.

Spanning 60,000 square meters and featuring 2,500 booths, the five-day event brought together nearly 1,000 traditional and emerging tea brands from around the world. A total of 6,736 professional buyers from 25 countries and regions participated, leading to onsite tea deals totaling 258 metric tons and worth 288.7 million yuan ($40.2 million), with additional intended deals reaching 5.87 billion yuan.

This year's expo introduced a zone on creative tea food and drinks, featuring cross-industry products like tea snacks, bubble tea, tea coffee, and tea ice cream — drawing strong interest from younger consumers. Digital applications and intelligent tea-sorting machines showcased the industry's shift toward efficiency and smart production.

The event also highlighted tea ware aesthetics, blending tradition with innovation through exhibits of iconic pieces like Jingdezhen porcelain and Yixing teapots. Craftsmen used traditional techniques to create modern designs, turning tea ware into symbols of contemporary beauty.

With participants coming from over 40 countries and regions, including key players from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the expo strengthened global collaboration in tea culture, trade, and innovation — setting a new benchmark for the global tea industry.