Caffè Culture 2026

ESTA Speciality Tea Hub

Explore the craft, flavour and commercial potential of speciality tea. Meet leading suppliers, taste new products, join industry panel discussions, learn from tea specialists and put your skills to the test in two live competitions.

Register free Explore the Hub

Inside the Hub

Discover tea from every angle.

The Hub brings the speciality tea community together in one active space, with plenty to taste, watch, learn and discuss across both days of the show.

Tea Brew Bar

Taste teas from different companies and origins, brewed side by side.

Specialist exhibitors

Meet suppliers covering tea, chai, matcha, botanicals, teaware and more.

Live competitions

Watch or enter the Tea Tasting Competition and Matcha Latte Art Battle.

Panels & learning

Join two industry discussions, taste curated tea flights and pick up practical knowledge from tea specialists.

Taste side by side

Tea Brew Bar

Explore tea through guided hot and cold flights. Compare origins, processing styles and flavour profiles, then speak with specialists about the stories behind every cup.

Choose from two contrasting flights, each bringing together white, green, oolong and black teas with distinctive floral, fruity, mineral and honeyed notes.

Tea flight · Option 1

  • Ceylon Oodoowerre Silver Needle · White tea Hand-picked in Sri Lanka, with subtle floral fragrance, soft velvety character and a refined, tranquil finish.
  • Formosa Jade Oolong · Oolong tea Evenly rolled leaves with a bright yellow liquor, mild sweetness and delicate jasmine-like notes.
  • Nepal Jun Chiyabari 1st Flush · Black tea A complex spring tea with delicate citrus fragrance, sweet honey and a fresh finish.

Tea flight · Option 2

  • China Pai Mu Tan · White tea A Fujian white tea with a delicate pale-yellow cup and exceptionally fine, fragrant character.
  • Japan Kabusecha Organic · Green tea Shade-grown in southern Japan, with fresh floral aromas balanced by delicate umami notes.
  • China Da Hong Pao · Oolong tea A celebrated spring tea with floral character, fresh mineral notes and a golden-brown infusion.

At the Tea Brew Bar

Visitors meeting tea specialists at the Tea Brew Bar
Tea being prepared at the Tea Brew Bar
A speciality tea tasting at Caffè Culture
Tea service at the ESTA Tea Brew Bar
Visitors discovering speciality tea
Tea flight tasting at Caffè Culture
A tea specialist sharing product knowledge
Speciality tea on the ESTA stand
Tea tasting in the ESTA Speciality Tea Hub
Tea leaves and tasting equipment
Hot and cold tea flights being served
Visitors enjoying the Tea Brew Bar
Tea brewing demonstration at the Hub

Whisk, taste, discover

Matcha Bar

Discover matcha up close, from traditional preparation to the modern drinks customers are asking for. Meet specialist brands, taste different styles and see how preparation changes colour, texture and flavour.

It is a practical place to compare products, ask questions and gather fresh ideas for matcha lattes, iced serves and your wider drinks menu.

At the Matcha Bar

A visitor learning about matcha at the Matcha Bar
Matcha being prepared at Caffè Culture
Visitors discovering matcha products
A matcha tasting at the ESTA Speciality Tea Hub
Matcha drinks being served at the Hub
Matcha products on display
A matcha preparation demonstration
Visitors meeting matcha specialists
Prepared matcha at Caffè Culture
Matcha tools and ingredients
A speciality matcha tasting
Matcha service at the ESTA stand
The Matcha Bar at Caffè Culture

Talks & panel discussions

Hear from tea specialists across the show.

Tea-focused talks and panel discussions are taking place as part of the 2026 programme, covering the opportunities, trends and ideas shaping the category.

For full session details, timings and speakers, see the Caffè Insights programme.

View Caffè Insights →

ESTA tea competitions

Test your palate or show off your latte art.

Both competitions are open to entrants at Caffè Culture. Take part or watch the action unfold at the ESTA Speciality Tea Hub.

Tuesday 29 September · from 11am

Tea Tasting Competition

Use taste and smell to identify the different tea from each set of three, testing your sensory skills accurately and under pressure.

Rounds
11am · 11.30am · 12 noon · 12.30pm

Final
2pm

Sponsored by Reginald Ames Mount Everest Tea Company
Enter ↗ Rules ↗

Wednesday 30 September · 12 noon

Matcha Latte Art Battle

Prepare a matcha latte and demonstrate your whisking and free-pouring skills, with judges looking at both the finished design and the drink itself.

Start
12 noon

Sponsored by Matcha and Beyond Suki Tea Makers
Enter ↗ Rules ↗

Who you will meet

Meet the tea exhibitors

Explore brands covering classic and speciality tea, chai, matcha and botanicals, with twice as many tea exhibitors joining Caffè Culture for 2026.

The wider Caffè Culture exhibitor list includes equipment, ingredients, technology and services for coffee shops, cafés and hospitality businesses.

View the full exhibitor list →

Visitor registration

Explore the ESTA Speciality Tea Hub at Caffè Culture 2026

Access to the Tea Hub, its exhibitors, tastings, panel discussions and live competition programme is included with your free trade visitor pass.

Register free ↗