Flavour and Good Health on the Menu at Hong Kong Fairs
28 July 2011 – A world of gourmet and health foods, as well as tea and Chinese medicine await trade and public visitors at three concurrent fairs being organised next month by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).The HKTDC Food Expo 2011, the Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the International Conference & Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) open 11 August, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Food Expo (11-15 August)
One of the highlights of the Food Expo’s 22nd edition is the new Gourmet Zone, featuring fine foods under four themes: Sweet Delight, LOHAS, European Delicacies and Fine Dining. More than 40 exhibitors will showcase high-quality gourmet products, with noted local chefs holding cooking demonstrations. Coffee DeAmour will present a café, gathering renowned baristas with coffee beans and machines for demonstrations and trials. Blind tasting sessions of Kopi Luwak will also be staged on 13-14 August.
The Night Bazaar will return, featuring nearly 60 exhibitors offering discounts of 50 per cent or more from 7-10pm, 11-14 August.
Running until 15 August, the fair will draw more than 800 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, featuring cooking demonstrations and workshops. Buyers visiting the Trade Hall will be able to savour a wide selection of products from around the world, while evaluating opportunities to expand their distribution networks.
Global Tastes
Twenty-seven group pavilions from seven countries and regions will participate in the Expo, with the Japan Pavilion being the biggest. More than 160 Japanese exhibitors are expected to take part in the Grand Hall this year, a 70 per cent increase from last year. Various Japanese Food promotion programmes and events will be presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, Japan External Trade Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Japan and Hong Kong Food Council.
Other pavilions include Brazil, Canada, the Chinese mainland, India, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines and Taiwan. The Trade Hall will open exclusively to trade visitors on the first two days, with the fair open to the public on the third day.
The Public Hall will allow companies to reach consumers and build brand awareness as well as gather on-the-spot feedback about their latest food offerings. One highlight will be the Premium Food Zone for branded products, which will feature more than 30 brands. Public visitors can enjoy cooking demonstrations of international dishes, industry seminars and lucky draws.
Friends of Tea
The Hong Kong International Tea Fair is brewing a third edition, enhancing the city’s role as a premier tea-trading hub. Organised by the HKTDC and the Chinese Tea Culture International Exchange Association, the fair runs 11-13 August – the first two days for traders only, with the final day open to the public.
The 2011 fair will welcome over 310 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions, including major tea-producing regions on the Chinese mainland, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and the United Kingdom. There will be 12 Group Pavilions, with the largest exhibitor at the fair being Tae Tea Group from Yunnan Province, Chinese mainland.
Apart from tea trading, the fair will feature two new zones. The Friends of Tea and Tea Ware zone will feature bakery products, confectionary and tea utensils, while the Branding and Design Services zone will provide brand building and design services. Among the exhibitors of this zone are renowned Hong Kong designers Kan Tai Keung, Alan Chan, Francis Lee and Angus Wong, who will also speak at a Symposium on Successful Tea Branding and Packaging.
At the Tea Industry Conference on global trends, international tea brands Twinings from the UK and Starbuck’s Tazo Tea from the US will share the stories behind their successful brands. Throughout the fair, there are seminars, tea-tasting sessions and other activities showcasing tea art and culture.
Tea Competitions
At the International KamCha Competition, regional winners from Hong Kong, Shenzen, Beijing, Shanghai, Toronto and Melbourne will compete for the championship for the unique Hong Kong-style milk tea. An International Tea Competition is also open for all exhibitors and awards will be presented at the Tea Reception to be held on the opening day.
Chinese Medicine
The ICMCM celebrates its first decade this year, with close to 130 exhibitors from eight countries and regions taking part. Jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernised Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), the event runs 11-15 August, with the first two days restricted to trade visitors. Doors will open to the public, 13-15 August.
The fair will be divided into specific zones, with an educational display organised by the University of Hong Kong. Highlights include a two-day ICMCM conference under the theme “Milestone in Chinese Medicine Development” and an International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine. A public forum will be held 13-14 August.
