Building a Better Iced Tea
iced tea is hot.
Convenient, thirst-quenching iced teas can easily compete with other RTD beverage options because consumers think of them as wholesome alternatives—with antioxidant polyphenols, catechins, calming L-theanine and natural caffeine built right in.
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT
Convenient RTD tea products in novel flavors and single-serve formats appeal to contemporary and Millennial shoppers' in particular, who crave novelty.*
Explore the Possibilities
Beverage marketers know that RTD iced teas speak to shoppers who want it all:
- clean labels with “real” ingredients, not “chemicals”
- on-the-go ease
- tea’s great taste (it’s the second-most-consumed beverage after water!)
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Deciding which consumer you want to court
will steer your formulation choices!
Who is your target consumer and price point?
Foodie
- Willing to pay for “premium” anything—RTD tea included
- Love “artisanal”, aspirational teas ethically made with carefully grown leaves
Budget-minded
- Want affordable alternatives to soft drinks
- Oversee frugal family shopping lists
Sell your
Tea
Whole Foods-type markets
Big-box outlets
Convenience stores
Pick Your
Packaging
14-oz. recycled-glass
59-oz. carafes
Gallon & half-gallon jugs
Ingredients
to Avoid
high-fructose corn syrup
brominated vegetable oil
artificial colors and flavors
Tea base options (choose wisely)
Beverage manufacturers must explore their options to choose the best tea base for their desired end product and overall results.
instant tea powder
A consistent base for low-priced, low-margin products that cannot be labeled as “real brewed tea.”
- messy and laborious to dissolve
- requires breathing protection, goggles and frequent cleanup
- calls for special storage conditions due to potential high bacterial load
- cloudy appearance with sediment and undesirable particulates
batch brewing/kettle brewing
Allows for authentic “brewed tea” label, but challenging to scale as business grows.
- steam that drifts off tank carries away volatile flavors and aromas
- logistical and cost issues associated with storage and disposal of spent leaf
- good short-term clarity and robust flavor, clouds after a time
- authentically brewed liquid teas
BREWED TEA EXTRACT
The highest-quality brewed tea currently available on a commercial scale for a finished beverage with greater clarity and stability—and a fresher, more balanced and robust brewed flavor.
- closed, continuous brewing system captures all flavors, volatiles, and key characterizing top notes
- advantages of batch-brewed tea without its costs and drawbacks
- proprietary, all-natural processing methods separate the brew into multiple components and remove undesirable solids
- core elements can be adjusted and recombined to customer specifications for flavor, color and other properties
BREWED BENEFITS
• Clarity
• Taste
• Ease of use
• Stability
