Home » Tea Association » Types of Membership

The Tea Association of the USA, Inc.

Members Area Become A Member

Tea Association

General Membership Information

Trade Member:

Firms who are engaged in the business of purchasing, selling, distributing, or processing of tea in or for the United States market

Associate Member:

Firms who provide a product or service to the tea industry, such as paper suppliers, equipment manufacturers, shipping lines, and all companies located outside of the United States.

Who Should Become a Member?

  • Regionally or Nationally Branded Tea Packing Companies
  • Importers Supplying to Regionally or Nationally Branded Tea Packing Companies
  • Domestic or International Suppliers to the Tea Industry
  • Large-scale Entrepreneurs who are looking to become well-established in the industry
  • Foreign Companies looking to increase their U.S. presence
  • Global Tea Boards and Associations
The primary goal of the Tea Association is to represent the best interest of the members on all matters of potential concern. The Tea Association also disseminates information and assists members in answering questions about the industry and in working out any problems that they may encounter. Membership affords the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest tea trends and keep up-to-date on important governmental matters.

THE TEA ASSOCIATION ASSISTS ITS MEMBERS BY:

  • Setting guidelines for the industry to help companies compete efficiently. The parameters that are prescribed by the Tea Association become the standard for the industry and are often used as a basis by governmental authorities regulating the industry.
  • Representing the tea industry against harmful allegations that would be difficult or impossible to be handled by an individual company. In doing so, the Association investigates all claims and responds accordingly. It is also the responsibility of the Association to proactively address the general public on tea related issues.
  • Communicating information to its member organizations that could help these organizations to conduct their business.
  • Providing business seminars and social events that provide networking opportunities with other leaders in the industry, suppliers and potential customers. The Association facilitates the development of important business relationships, which could enhance your knowledge of the industry and ensure that you are ready to take advantage of emerging trends and sales opportunities.
  • Offering discounted registration to various industry events as well as discounts for exhibitors at the World Tea Expo.
  • Working with technical, marketing, and legal consultants, which enable the Tea Association to address any issue. Other independent experts are also consulted as required to assist in the development of your tea business.
  • Establishing and maintaining ties with tea producing countries as well as mediating issues between consumers and producers.
  • Regularly publishing information of interest to its members, i.e., monthly tea importation statistics, current statistics on retail consumption, a report of the foodservice segment, a quarterly newsletter titled TeaBits, as well as numerous other customized surveys and reports. Member companies are also given the opportunity for individual exposure by publishing announcements and articles in TeaBits.
  • Working through a Board of Directors and the following active committees, each of which have specific expertise in some aspect of the tea industry:


    • Arbitration Consumer Packaging
    Convention Directors Nominating
    Events Executive
    Tea Importation Finance
    Foodservice Foreign Affairs
    Legislation & Regulatory Membership
    Officers Nominating Pesticide Standards
    Raw Material Packaging STI Advisory Board
    Tea Brewing / Tasting Tea Importation
    Technical Transportation & Systems