It may be one of the most popular drinks in the world, but it has taken a while for some people to realize that tea goes beyond English Breakfast. As consumers have turned towards specialty teas, restaurants have followed, presenting a new market if you are a specialty tea company. It is important to stay on top of these new trends in specialty tea.
What does a specialty tea company sell?
The precise definition of specialty tea varies depending on where you are in the world and who you ask. It’s a term that refers to high-quality tea manufactured from the best leaves and processed in a way that protects both the taste and the nutritional value of the tea. It can be contrasted to cheap, mass-produced tea. Specialty tea can include spices and other flavorings. Sometimes herbal teas will be considered specialty teas.
● Matcha
Matcha is a type of green tea in which the leaves are ground into a particularly fine powder. This occurs after the tea plants have been grown in the shade for several weeks. Shaded growth increases the levels of theanine and other amino acids in the tea, leading to claims of increased health benefits that may help to explain its popularity. Matcha is generally served suspended in a liquid such as water or milk, though it can also be used to flavor food.
● Kombucha
Kombucha can be made from green or black tea. The important thing is it is fermented, giving it a strong, effervescent flavor. There are many health claims about kombucha, not all of which are supported by evidence, but it has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years.
● Turmeric tea
When you combine the increased interest in specialty teas with a new focus on turmeric and its potential benefits, it is no wonder that turmeric tea is likely to appear in restaurants. Turmeric is claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties and be good for digestion. It may help heart health and cognitive function. It also has a distinctive, bright yellow color.
● Cold brews
One rapidly growing area of the tea market, not just in restaurants but across all retailers, is the increased popularity of cold brews. Some of these can be purchased ready-made in a bottle, others may be created on-site in a restaurant. This does not just mean the traditional American iced tea, but also drinks such as oolong that we might normally expect to be hot.
● Accompaniments
Restaurant use of specialty tea does not just mean they need supplies of the tea itself. They also require all the popular accompaniments. Most will have the standard milk, sugar, lemon, and honey. In the present world, however, they are more likely to accommodate special dietary needs by offering soy or almond milk and artificial sweeteners as replacements.
As specialty teas become more popular, every specialty tea company should be aware of emerging trends, which may occur not only in tea consumed in homes or cafés, but also in tea consumed in restaurants. This allows them to supply the most sought after types of tea to the widest possible market.