Aloha mai! 2025 has been an incredible year for our little ʻohana at Buddha’s Cup. We’ve grown coffee and tea at high elevation on the slopes of Hualālai since 2004, and this season our hard work has turned into what many guests are already calling the Buddha's Cup 2025 award story.
Our Black Tea brought home an AVPA Gourmet medal, and our White Tea with Mint received a Gourmet Argent (silver) medal.
Alongside these tea honors, our Imagine 100% Kona Coffee claimed First Place in the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival’s Heritage Division cupping competition. These recognitions make our hearts swell with pride and gratitude, because they recognize the care our family pours into each tree, each leaf, and each bean.
We want to share the full story, what these awards mean, how they reflect our core values, and why they matter for everyone who loves a rich cup of Kona coffee or a soothing Hawaiian tea.
Key Takeaways
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Two major wins in 2025: Buddha’s Cup received an AVPA “Teas of the World” award, and the Imagine 100% Kona Coffee won first place in the 2025 Heritage Division!
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AVPA contest highlights: The “Teas of the World” contest recognises teas and herbal infusions for their gastronomic value beyond simple tea bags and is judged in Paris each December.
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Kona cupping excellence: Our Imagine 100% Kona Coffee, hand-selected, single-origin, and shade-grown, earned the top score in the Heritage Division, beating dozens of other farms.
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Biodynamic roots: Established in 2004, Buddha’s Cup manages five biodynamic estates in Holualoa, nurturing high mountain Arabica Typica coffee and tea with sustainable practices.
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Why it matters: Our Buddha's Cup 2025 award story underscores our commitment to quality, transparency, innovation, and aloha, assuring coffee and tea lovers that each sip comes from a place of excellence and stewardship.
About Buddha’s Cup
Our story began in 2004 in Holualoa, where our family planted its first coffee trees on Kona’s volcanic slopes with one simple dream: grow 100% Kona coffee worth sharing with the world.
Today, we steward five biodynamic, single-origin estates, caring for coffee and specialty teas as one living system by working with natural cycles, protecting biodiversity, and avoiding chemicals.
We focus on high mountain Arabica Typica, shade-grown under macadamia and native ʻōhiʻa. Cherries are picked at peak ripeness and sun-dried for a clean, sweet cup with chocolate and nut notes.
2025 Award #1: AVPA “Teas of the World.”
Our first 2025 award story starts with tea. Two of our teas earned medals in AVPA’s “Teas of the World” contest in Paris, so here’s a quick look at the competition behind that honor.
What Is the AVPA “Teas of the World” Contest?
AVPA stands for Agence pour la Valorisation des Produits Agricoles; the Agency for the Valorisation of Agricultural Products. This Paris‑based nonprofit organises several international contests to highlight foods grown and processed at origin.
Their “Teas of the World” contest celebrates teas and herbal infusions for their gastronomic value, encouraging consumers to appreciate teas as culinary experiences rather than commodity sachets.
Beyond classic origins like China, India, and Sri Lanka, the contest welcomes entries from emerging terroirs in Africa, Latin America, and even Europe.
The competition is divided into two main parts: monovarietal teas (from Camellia sinensis) and herbal teas, blends, and flavored infusions. A panel of expert tasters evaluates each infusion for aroma, flavor, balance, and overall harmony.
Buddha’s Cup’s Achievement in the Competition
Meet your official AVPA Teas of the World winners! This year, our tea team stepped onto the international stage again and came back with honors.
We are proud to share that two of our Buddha's Sanctuary teas were recognized at the 2025 “Teas of the World” competition. Our Buddhas Sanctuary Black Tea earned a Gourmet medal, and our Buddhas Sanctuary White Tea with Mint received a Gourmet Argent (silver) medal.
An AVPA award means a French sensory jury recognised our tea as a true gastronomic product, proving that our careful gardening, gentle processing, and Hawaiʻi’s volcanic terroir all show up in the cup.
For a farm best known for coffee, this tea victory shines a light on our versatility and our belief that the spirit of aloha runs through everything we grow.
Why This Award Matters
The AVPA contest is prestigious because it gives producers from non-traditional regions a platform to shine. The market for tea and herbal infusions is growing each year as awareness of their health benefits rises.
An AVPA medal signals to tea lovers worldwide that a product offers authentic flavour, healthful properties, and exceptional craftsmanship.
For our family, this medal:
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Builds global trust. Recognition from an independent French agency assures customers that our teas meet high sensory standards.
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Validates innovation. We experiment with UVB light infusion and biodynamic harvesting to accentuate flavors; a medal confirms that these methods deliver results.
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Expands our reach. Some people visit us for coffee and are surprised to discover award‑winning tea. This award invites tea enthusiasts to explore our Hawaiian infusions alongside their favorite brews.
We dedicate our wins to everyone who nurtures our tea gardens, from those who pick the leaves by hand to those who blend herbs with intention. Mahalo nui for your dedication!
2025 Award #2: Kona Coffee Cupping Competition
Our second celebration came with a Kona coffee award in 2025 that feels especially close to home. At the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition, Imagine 100% Kona Coffee stepped onto the cupping table with the best of the Kona belt and rose to the top.
What Is the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition?
Every November, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival hosts the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition, a highlight of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural calendar. Farmers across the 22‑mile Kona coffee belt submit their best beans to a panel of Q Grader judges, who evaluate aroma, flavour, body, balance, and aftertaste.
According to the Big Island Guide, there are over 650 independent coffee farms in the region, with about 50–60 farms entering the cupping competition each year. It’s a chance for farmers to showcase their craft and for the community to celebrate the diversity of Kona coffee.
In 2025, the competition attracted 96 entries from farms across North and South Kona. Coffees were judged on the Specialty Coffee Association’s 100‑point scale in a double‑blind format, ensuring fairness. There are several divisions:
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Heritage Division: Washed Typica coffees grown in the Kona belt and processed without commercial yeasts or inoculants.
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Certified Division: Same requirements as the Heritage Division, but for larger certified lots.
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Creative Division: Open to any Kona varietal using any processing method.
Buddha’s Cup’s Performance & Glory
We are beyond excited to share that Imagine 100% Kona Coffee, one of our estate labels, won First Place in the 2025 Heritage Division! The official media release notes that Imagine scored 85.08 points and is “hand-selected, single‑origin and shade‑grown Arabica Typica under macadamia nut trees”. In other words, it’s the purest expression of our high‑mountain terroir.
Imagine is an invitation to taste coffee the way nature intended. Each cherry is carefully selected by our pickers, pulped without additives, and slowly dried in the Hawaiian sun.
The resulting cup offers notes of cocoa, almond, and tropical fruit with a silky body and sweet finish. Winning against 95 other entries is humbling. We applaud every farmer who entered; the Kona coffee community thrives because we all push each other to elevate quality.
For our team, this award is a testament to years of experimenting with biodynamic practices, selective harvesting, and UVB fermentation.
Significance of the Win
This cupping victory resonates far beyond the trophy:
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Reaffirming excellence. Among Hawaiian Kona coffee awards, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival cupping results carry serious weight, and this Kona coffee award in 2025 shows that our dedication continues to pay off.
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Consumer assurance. For coffee lovers who might hesitate at the price of 100% Kona, this win demonstrates that our beans deliver top‑tier flavour and value. The rigorous judging process offers a seal of quality.
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Community pride. The Kona coffee belt is small yet mighty. By winning with Imagine, we represent our neighbours and help keep Kona on the world stage.
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Inspiration for innovation. Success encourages us to keep experimenting with processing techniques, all while honouring tradition.
How the Awards Reflect Buddha’s Cup’s Core Values
Our wins highlight the core pillars of our farm: innovation, quality, and stewardship. By embracing biodynamic farming and UVB light infusion, we aim to respect natural cycles and enhance flavour.
An AVPA medal recognises producers who commit to sustainable practices and high standards, so this award validates our approach.
Similarly, the cupping competition emphasises honest, transparent processing; washed coffee with no commercial yeast. Our top score shows that careful, natural methods can rival and surpass those using additives.
We believe that when we honour the land, the land honours us with outstanding flavour.
More Than Just Coffee: A Holistic Vision
We see our farms as ecosystems where coffee, tea, and native plants thrive together.
Biodynamic farming teaches us that soil health, plant diversity, and animal life are inseparable.
That philosophy shapes everything from our specialty teas to our 100% Kona coffee.
By excelling in two very different contests, we send a message: we are a holistic, forward‑thinking agricultural brand. Our goal is to cultivate experiences that connect you to Hawaiʻi’s land and culture.
What This Means for Customers
At the heart of our farm is ʻohana, the Hawaiian idea of family that includes everyone we grow, roast, and share with, not just our relatives.
The Buddha's Cup 2025 award story is exciting for us, but it only truly matters when you can taste it in your cup. For you as a customer, these honors are a promise that every coffee and tea you bring home comes from a place that lives, breathes, and shares quality with aloha.
For Coffee Lovers
When you sip our Imagine 100% Kona or any of our other single‑origin coffees, you know you’re tasting a cup that earned the highest score in a blind cupping among dozens of farms. That means:
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Purity: Our beans are fully traceable to a single estate and a single harvest. There are no fillers, blends, or ingredients of unknown origin.
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Consistency: A top cupping score shows that our quality holds up under scrutiny. You can expect the same excellence at home.
We invite you to explore our Coffee Collection and join the Coffee Club at Buddha’s Cup to taste our award‑winning beans delivered fresh to your door. If you’re visiting the Big Island, join us for a farm tour and tasting to experience the tree‑to‑cup journey first‑hand.
For Tea Enthusiasts
Not everyone knows that Kona produces remarkable teas as well as coffee. Our AVPA medals attest to the care with which our teas are crafted. Here’s what tea lovers can look forward to:
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Diverse flavours: Our teas showcase the range of botanicals grown in our biodynamic gardens.
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Health benefits: Teas and herbal infusions are recognised for their wellness properties, with antioxidants and calming compounds that complement the flavour.
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Global prestige: An AVPA award signals that our tea stands among the world’s best.
To explore our award‑winning infusions, check out our Tea Collection and consider joining the Tea Club for monthly deliveries.
Our Journey Continues
We feel deeply honoured to have our coffee and tea recognised on both local and international stages in 2025.
The AVPA medals celebrate our creativity in crafting Hawaiian teas, while First Place in the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition cements our standing as stewards of the Kona coffee legacy.
These achievements affirm our belief that sustainable farming, meticulous processing, and aloha can produce world‑class beverages.
As we look forward, we remain committed to innovation and to sharing our harvests with you. We invite you to taste the difference, visit our farms, and join our journey. Mahalo nui loa for your support; you are part of our story.
FAQs
What makes the AVPA “Teas of the World” contest unique?
The contest, organised by France’s AVPA, recognises teas and herbal infusions for their gastronomic qualities beyond typical tea bags. It welcomes entries from established origins and emerging regions alike, and divides samples into monovarietal and herbal categories.
Which Buddha’s Cup tea won the 2025 AVPA award?
At the 2025 AVPA “Teas of the World” competition, Manny’s Brew Black Tea earned a Gourmet medal, and Buddhas Sanctuary White Tea with Mint received a Gourmet Argent (silver) medal, celebrating the depth and care behind our biodynamic Hawaiian tea program. Crafted on our farms, these teas reflect the rich, smooth cups we’re proud to share with you.
How is coffee judged in the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition?
Entries are evaluated by Q Grader-certified judges using the Specialty Coffee Association’s 100‑point scale. Coffees are judged for fragrance, aroma, flavour, body, acidity, and overall balance in a double‑blind format.
What is the difference between the Heritage, Certified, and Creative divisions?
The Heritage Division is limited to washed Typica coffees grown in the Kona belt and processed without commercial yeasts or inoculants.
The Certified Division applies the same rules but requires larger certified lots. The Creative Division allows any Kona varietal and processing method, encouraging experimentation.
How can I experience Buddha’s Cup award-winning products?
You can taste our award‑winning coffee and tea by ordering online, joining our Coffee or Tea Clubs for monthly shipments, or visiting our farm for a tour and tasting. Start by exploring our Coffee Collection and Tea Collection.
