Judging iced tea

Victor Jara, center, who works for Sungarden Tea in Alhambra, inspects a cup of iced tea during the North American Tea Championship. He and the other judges evaluated the teas on color, clarity, taste and body.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Iced teas are labeled with a code for judging at the North American Tea Championship.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

George Jage, director of World Tea Media, which produces the North American Tea Championship, lines up teas for judging on their bottling and packaging.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Judges Tony Tellin, left, Victor Jara and Scott Svihula work their way through 122 cups of iced tea at the North American Tea Championship.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Breanne Davis fills cups of iced tea to be judged at the North American Tea Championship in Montebello.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times reporter Tiffany Hsu inspects and judges several cups of tea at the North American Tea Championship. Most of what she knows about the beverage -- which she admits is not much -- she learned from her father.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Victor Jara and Tony Tellin judge the bottling and packaging of iced teas at the North American Tea Championship.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)