Chatime Tea-rista Competition 2026 Crowns Winners for Taste and Storytelling

The Grand Final of the Chatime Tea-rista Competition 2026 recently took place at Living World Alam Sutera, Tangerang Selatan, celebrating the artistry of tea preparation. This annual event, now in its sixth year, gathered over 300 tea-rista candidates from 433 Chatime outlets across Indonesia under the theme "Celebrate Karya, Cerita, dan Cita Rasa Teh" (Celebrate Work, Stories, and Taste of Tea).

This year's competition introduced a new challenge: participants were judged not only on the taste and aesthetics of their tea creations but also on their storytelling abilities. Each presented beverage had to be accompanied by a unique narrative, adding a layer of depth to the experience. The event also coincided with the launch of Chatime's new Silken Series, featuring lighter, smoother, and more aromatic tea profiles.

Daniel Yahya, Operations General Manager of F&B ID, highlighted that "Crafting a drink is a skill, but delivering an experience is an art." He emphasized the importance of teamwork and presentation in this year's judging criteria. The competition featured expert judges, including F&B ID management and Tea Specialist Neysa Valeria.

Ultimately, a dynamic team formed by Tri Mulyati from Chatime Living Plaza Bintaro and Hendita Trimurti Larassati from Chatime SPBU Nginden Surabaya secured the championship title. Their signature creation, "Ruby Secret Garden," impressed the judges with its flavor and compelling story, fulfilling all assessment indicators. Runner-up positions were awarded to teams representing Bogor and Bengkulu, and Karawang and Makassar.