Farmer Bros. Co., a national coffee roaster, wholesaler and distributor of coffee, tea and culinary products, announced toay that it has earned top honors in the commercial iced tea category at The Global Tea Championship (GTC) 2017 Iced Tea Competition held on May 11-12 in Montebello, California.

This championship is produced by World Tea Media (a division of Penton) and is an independent and professionally judged tea competition. Entries are evaluated blind and rated based on the analysis of dry leaf, liquor color, aroma, flavor, mouth-feel and overall harmony. This is the first year the competition was open to global submissions, with a more rigorous judging method and award requirements set much higher than in past competitions.

“We are thrilled with the recognition,” says Gerard Bastiaanse, senior vice president of marketing. “Offering high quality iced teas gives our customers a distinct advantage in the market. Earning awards at this level demonstrates our Company’s leadership and expertise in this category.”

Farmer Brothers took home honors in the packaged single service tea competition for:

Farmer Brothers Black Sweetened Tea—Liquid Concentrate (Silver Medal)

Farmer Brothers Black Unsweetened Tea—Liquid Concentrate (Silver Medal)

Farmer Brothers Classic Black Tea (Bronze Medal)

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. “Consumers continue to choose iced tea as a preferred drink,” says Bastiaanse. “Individuals are purchasing iced tea across all day parts; so great tasting tea is critical. Our participation and strong placement in GTC assures our customers that they are serving a high-quality tea.”