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Monday, October 13, 2025
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Young Barista Crowned at First International Coffee, Tea Day in Luang Prabang, to Compete in South Korea

This Week

From 3 to 5 October, Luang Prabang hosted the International Coffee and Tea Day (ICTD) 2025, the first-ever joint celebration of International Coffee Day and International Tea Day in Laos. 

The event also featured over 40 exhibition booths and the Lao Young Barista Championship, where Tavanh Sengdala won first place and will represent Laos at the World Barista Championship in Korea this November.

This year’s event was under the theme “Coffee and Tea for Better Lives: Embracing Collaboration for a Sustainable Future”.

Coffee and tea are among Laos’s most important agricultural exports, providing jobs and income for more than 310,000 families. Over 25,000 households cultivate coffee and tea on small-scale farms, producing over 50,000 tons of coffee and 100 tons of dried tea in 2024, generating more than USD 102 million in export revenue.

Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment, praised the growing global recognition of Lao products: 

“Lao coffee is praised for its high quality and distinctive taste, while Lao tea, especially from Nyot Ou, continues to earn global acclaim.”

The event drew over 6,400 participants, including farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, and development partners, turning Luang Prabang into a hub of culture, trade, and sustainability.

Siliphone Suphonthong, Vice Governor of Luang Prabang Province, said: “It is an honor for Luang Prabang to host this important event, which brings together partners from across the country. Coffee and tea are deeply rooted in our culture and vital to local livelihoods.”

“Today is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building a green and inclusive economy to ensure the Lao coffee and tea sectors grow sustainably,” said François-Xavier Duporge, Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD).

Doerthe Wacker, Minister Counsellor of the EU in Laos, added: “European consumers increasingly demand products that are sustainable and fair. Through the Green CUP Project, we are helping Lao farmers build value chains that empower women and protect forests.”

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