You may see tea sellers advertising their specialty tea labels, but it is not always clear exactly what they mean by specialty. It doesn’t help that not everyone appears to use the term in the same way. The quality of specialty teas is generally considered to be higher than that of some of the generic brands found in most supermarkets, but a precise definition can still be difficult to formulate.
Who defines specialty tea?
The definition of specialty tea depends on where you are in the world. Some countries and regions are very specific in what they will consider specialty tea, which may not overlap with their neighbors. For example, the USA has different standards than China, which have different standards than Japan. Additionally, individual producers and retailers may have their definitions based on their marketing strategies and customer expectations. Specialty tea may always be used to describe high-quality tea, but not everyone means the same thing when they say high-quality.
Origin of specialty tea
It should be easy to trace the origins of a specialty tea. There will be a specific grower or estate, in a particular region, which if you wanted you could visit and see the tea plants still in the soil. You should then be able to follow the progress of the tea through picking, processing, packaging, and distribution, all with clearly labeled dates, locations, and methodology. Some specialty tea may have other labels to indicate the quality or an ethical origin, such as organic or Fair Trade, though this is not required.
Quality of specialty tea
Teabags tend to use the poorer quality, dustier leaves that are ground into smaller pieces, sometimes known as fannings. You don’t generally find specialty tea in teabags. Specialty tea is more likely to be loose-leaf, cut into larger pieces that can better disperse its flavor when steeped. Specialty tea should have a better taste, aroma, and texture than generic teas.
Where to buy specialty teas?
In line with being a rare and higher quality type of tea, specialty tea is best sourced through a specialist wholesaler such as Blue Ocean. Alternatively, you may source the ingredients and combine them to create your specialist tea for your customers. Indeed, some people specifically define specialty tea as any tea that can only be bought from specialist retailers rather than supermarkets and grocery stores, regardless of quality.
Specialty tea is also often more expensive to buy, reflecting the higher quality and more careful manufacturing process. Increasing popularity in recent years has led to specialty tea becoming available in a wider range of retailers, though it remains more of a niche interest.
Wrapping Up
Even though different producers and retailers may use varying definitions for specialty tea, the label does still come with a lot of weight. It is something consumers look for as a sign that they are purchasing high-quality and flavorsome tea. That means that trying to understand and utilize the concept of specialty teas can be a valuable way to increase interest in your product. The important thing is applying the highest standards at all stages of the production process.