TABLES have been set and kettles are on the boil as Chiang Rai raises a cup to becoming a capital for the world’s coffee and tea entrepreneurs.
The northern Thai city hosted the Global Coffee and Tea Association Forum 2025: Shaping the Future Together, July 17-20, with a total of 211 delegates attending.
The delegation consisted of 165 Thais, while 46 overseas participants arrived from 11 countries and regions including Australia, Cambodia, mainland China, Colombia, Denmark, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam.
Opening with a convention at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort, international experts tackled issues ranging from product innovation and sustainability, blending and flavouring to wellness-oriented consumption.
The event featured presentations, seminars, exhibitions and site visits to local plantations, processing facilities, and tasting experiences Opportunities to drive growth across Chiang Rai’s tea and coffee sectors are said to be brewing while the city has also strengthened its role as a MICE destination.
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Following the convention, the Chiang Rai Brewtopia Green Season exhibition was held at Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park from July 18 to 20. Some 40 coffee and tea entrepreneurs provided overseas delegates with direct access to uniquely blended teas and coffees produced by ethnic hill tribes, emerging local talents, and artisanal creators.
The Tea and Coffee Institute of Mae Fah Luang University, Singha Park Chiang Rai, and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) supported the event.
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“MICE is serving as a powerful driver for the local economy,” said Puripan Bunnag, Acting President of TCEB . “The success of the ‘Global Coffee and Tea Association Forum 2025… supported Chiang Rai’s goal of emerging as a centre for national and international tea and coffee-festival events.”
A TCEB spokesperson said the workshops, business talks, and product showcases at the exhibition highlighted Chiang Rai’s growing influence and innovation within the industry.
Chiang Rai entered ICCA’s global city rankings for the first time last year after hosting two ICCA-qualified conferences. The city also hosted the Spring Meeting of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in February 2025 and will be welcoming the PATA Destination Marketing Forum in November.
Main image… A woman wearing traditional hill tribe costume picks tea leaves at a plantation in Chiang Rai province, Thailand
