China’s economy has long been powered by manufacturing and exports. Yet, beneath this industrial success lies a significant legacy tied to tea—a product that has connected China’s historical roots to its modern global ambitions. For investors and business leaders, tea represents not just a cultural symbol but a valuable commodity with growing potential for international markets.
In late 2024, Marc Kealey, President of Kealey and Associates Inc. (K&A) in Toronto, and legal consultant Tera Li Parizeau from Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP in Toronto, visited Fujian Province, the heart of China’s tea industry. Their mission: to explore opportunities for collaboration and facilitate the expansion of Chinese tea exports to North and South American markets.
In Wuyishan, Kealey and Li Parizeau met with key executives from six major Chinese tea enterprises, each contributing to the multibillion-dollar tea industry. Discussions focused on identifying pathways for global export, with an emphasis on positioning Chinese tea for markets in Canada and Mexico. Insights gained during these talks drew comparisons between tea and North America’s wine industry, highlighting strategies to grow international demand.
An important milestone of the visit was a dinner hosted by Wuyishan’s deputy mayor. Conversations delved into practical plans to export premium Wuyi teas to North America while enhancing Wuyishan’s profile as a global cultural and historical hub. Marc Kealey proposed a visionary partnership to twin Wuyishan with Niagara Falls, Kealey’s hometown, connecting two iconic tourism destinations and creating new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic growth.
The group visited Xiamei Village, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site known for its historical role as a Qing dynasty tea trade hub. They observed a tea art ceremony demonstrating how traditional practices are being modernized.
At Fujian Eight Horses Tea Company Ltd., a leading Chinese tea producer, they toured an automated, energy-efficient facility. The company’s scale and strong brand recognition, often compared to Tim Hortons in Canada, highlight its potential for international franchise expansion—an attractive opportunity for investors.
ABOVE: China Delegation celebrates the Lantern Festival with the people of Zhangzhou. LEFT TO RIGHT: Jeff Niu, Joslyn Ma, Tera Li Parizeau, Mr. Chan (Nanjing county Mayor), Jasmine Wang, Marc Kealey, Antonio Joe Kealey, Cathy Zhao, David Potvin, and David Qi (Zhangzhou Municipal Official).
The final stop, Xiamen, is home to the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District, a hub supporting China’s One Belt One Road initiative. Here, Kealey and Parizeau collaborated with trade lawyers to address tariff challenges and explore strategies for navigating trilateral trade relations among Canada, China, and Mexico. A key outcome from these discussions was the development of plans to host a global arbitration symposium in Xiamen, with future events in Canada and Mexico. This initiative aims to streamline legal frameworks and ease complexities in international trade, particularly for North American markets.
The mission also fostered a promising partnership with Fujian Media Group to produce “Next Step Global,” a business reality TV series aimed at showcasing economic exchanges and enhancing the visibility of Chinese products in North America. The team’s engagement with senior leaders from China’s tea industry laid the groundwork for exporting premium teas while strengthening cultural and business ties between the two regions.
Fujian’s tea industry presents a compelling business case, blending centuries of heritage with modern innovation. The global tea market was valued at over $55 billion USD in 2020, with projections to exceed $68 billion USD by 2027, driven by growing health-conscious consumer trends. Canada, where tea consumption is on the rise with over 9 billion cups consumed annually, represents an untapped growth market for premium and specialty teas. Fujian’s openness to international collaboration, coupled with its innovative production methods and strong leadership, positions the region as a strategic partner for investors eager to capitalize on this expanding sector.
By connecting Fujian’s expertise in tea production with North American markets, opportunities abound for fostering economic ties between China and Canada. As trade initiatives like these continue to evolve, tea’s role as a global commodity and a driver of cultural and economic exchange will only grow stronger.
Header image: Cherry blossom tea garden on the top of Yongfu Mountain, Longyan City, Fujian Province, China. (Liu Mingzhu, iStock)
