Tokyo — Janat Paris will present the tea recognized by Guinness World Records™ as the world’s most expensive tea at FOODEX Japan 2026, introducing the record-setting tea and its origin in Sri Lanka’s Sapphire Valley to the exhibition’s international audience of food and hospitality professionals.

Founded in Paris in 1872, Janat Paris has built its reputation on a vertically integrated model that connects tea cultivation and global distribution. The company works with a community of more than 9,000 women in Sri Lanka, supporting sustainable farming while ensuring the freshness and quality of its teas from plantation to cup.

The brand is also known for its “Lucky Tea” identity, symbolized by two wide-eyed black cats that have become recognizable mascots for tea lovers from France to Japan. Visitors to Janat stores often take part in the playful ritual of touching the cats for luck.

The record-setting tea was acquired in 2025 during an international tea auction held at Expo 2025 Osaka. Organized by the Sri Lanka Tea Board with the support of the Japan Tea Association, the auction brought together tea houses and collectors from around the world. Proceeds from the event supported women-led farming communities in Sri Lanka.

The tea originates from Sapphire Valley, a highland rainforest region in Sri Lanka known for its ecological preservation and minimal environmental disturbance. The plantation focuses on maintaining soil health, biodiversity, and harvesting practices designed to protect the natural character of the tea.

At FOODEX Japan 2026, Janat Paris will present the tea through what the brand calls the “Lucky Tea Experience.” The presentation traces the journey of the tea from plantation to cup and highlights how origin, cultivation, and careful harvesting contribute to the identity of the tea.

The concept also reflects a philosophy often described by the house as “traveling over a cup of tea,” celebrating imagination and the idea that tea can become a gateway to inner journeys.

By presenting the Guinness-recognized tea and its Sapphire Valley origin, Janat Paris aims to introduce hospitality professionals and tea distributors to the agricultural story behind one of the world’s most talked-about teas.

Janat Paris will showcase the “Lucky Tea Experience” at FOODEX Japan 2026, held March 10–13, where tastings and special presentations will take place throughout the event.

Already the No.1 exporter of Earl Grey tea bags to Japan, Janat Paris also hopes to further establish the idea of luck as a central symbol of the brand.