New Zealand's Zealong Tea Brews Global Acclaim

New Zealand’s only commercial tea plantation based in the Waikato, Zealong Tea Estate, has steeped itself into global recognition, literally, after being listed among the world’s best tea houses in “150 Tea Houses You Need to Visit Before You Die” by Lannoo Publishing.

The honour places the Waikato-grown brand alongside international icons, highlighting not just its tea, but the region’s quiet rise as a destination for culinary tourism and premium agrifood experiences.

Announced by new Waikato Mayor Aksel Bech, Zealong’s inclusion reinforces the district’s shift from heartland to global hub of boutique excellence, where enterprise meets terroir. The estate’s story, from modest paddocks to royal tea tables, captures both Waikato’s entrepreneurial grit and New Zealand’s growing global footprint in functional and luxury food experiences.

Zealong Tea Estate, CEO Gigi Crawford calls the recognition “surreal”, noting Zealong’s tea now sits on shelves worldwide, a success brewed from local soil, vision, and years of quiet perfectionism. For visitors to the Gordonton Zealong estate, the experience is more than a tea stop; it’s a symbol of what regional food tourism can look like when done with heart and precision.

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