Ferrarelle Società Benefit, one of the largest mineral water producers in Italy well-known for its unique naturally sparkling water properties, bottles “Boario”, “Vitasnella” and “Fonte Essenziale” mineral waters at its Boario plant. Vitasnella ‘Le Linfe’ combines the lightness of Acqua Vitasnella with the benefits of the natural ingredients, sugar-free and calorie-free.

Sidel supported Ferrarelle Società Benefit in installing its aseptic technology for its functional teas to ensure a high-end taste experience, product integrity and a long shelf-life, utilising its Predis dry preform decontamination solution – a safe, hygienic, cost-effective way of packaging a variety of sensitive beverages.

By installing Sidel’s Aseptic Combi Predis to produce Vitasnella ‘Le Linfe’ product range, the line is capable of handling two different formats, 0.5 litres and 1.25 litres, and achieves 18,000 bottles per hour.

“‘Le Linfe’ functional waters and tea ranges are extremely important for us and we wanted to avoid any potential risks,” said Nicola Tignonsini, operations director at Ferrarelle.

“As our only line producing sensitive beverages, it was crucial that we had an aseptic system that could ensure the highest level of product safety and integrity,” said Marcelo Astrini, plant director at Boario.

Find out more about Sidel’s Aseptic Combi Predis and how you can access this kind of support for your business on the Sidel website.

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The past few years have seen a steady rise in global demand in the functional and wellness tea market, and as consumers’ quest for health and vitality continues, market players expect this trend to kick into full gear.

The Covid-19 pandemic has become the biggest game-changer in the global market of functional drinks, according to analysts. “Following the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers face increased burnout due to a lack of separation between work and personal lives, leading to increased stress,” said Nathanael Lim, insights manager at Euromonitor International, a global market research firm. “At the same time, the pandemic has caused consumers to be more health conscious, looking after their own physical and mental wellbeing. This provides tea players an opportunity to launch functional ingredients in their tea products, appealing to consumer needs.”

According to the Whole Foods 2022 Trends predictions, functional drinks sales will continue to soar, doubling in the next decade. The analysts explained that consumers, especially those from Gen Z, are looking for healthier options than the traditional sodas their parents grew up on, and many are also interested in sober living.

Functional beverages include ingredients such as herbs, mushrooms, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and probiotics. Some elements, like vitamins, consistently enjoy strong popularity, while others only start unravelling their potential.

In 2022, the retail value sales of immune support tea globally account for USD $2.7 billion globally. This is set to grow by 4 percent year on year, reaching USD $3.2 billion in 2027, Lim said. In Europe, retail value sales of immune support tea account for $77 million and are set to grow by 4 percent year on year, reaching $93 million by 2027, he added.

According to Market Research Future, another global market research firm, the functional and wellness tea industry has achieved a valuation of $7.2 billion as of 2022. Their projections indicate that by 2032, the industry is expected to reach a value of $12 billion.

“The demand for natural and organic production is rising, driven by concerns over synthetic additives and chemicals. The focus on preventive healthcare is increasing, with consumers taking proactive measures to maintain their health,” Market Research Future stated.

Science as a beacon

The list of functional ingredients available on the market today is long and diverse, but as an average customer grows more knowledgeable, businesses need to keep an eye on the science to make sure their products are appreciated by customers.

“Consumers are being more careful with how they spend their money, leading them to actively seek high-value ingredients – for 60 percent, this means those ingredients that are science-backed,” said John Kelly, strategy director for beverages with Kerry, an Irish food ingredients firm. He shared that “where immune health is concerned, this rises to 78 percent, while ‘clinically proven’ is the most sought-after claim for more than 80 percent of consumers. This echoes Kerry’s own research, which has found that 79 percent of consumers research ingredients for themselves.”

It is increasingly important to be able to provide high-quality research supporting the efficacy of the ingredients in your products, Kelly continued. Consumers are becoming much more discerning about which ‘healthy’ ingredients are actually supported by science. “Our own research last year showed that 79 percent of consumers say they conduct their own research into ingredients. Formulators need to ensure functional ingredients match expectations because, in the digital era, information travels fast,” he said.

Functional tea manufacturers agree that the science behind the offered functional ingredients remains the key to winning customers’ hearts.

Image: Smith Tea

“People are looking to improve their own health and well-being through the ever-increasing choices available in an expanding market,” commented Anish R Patel, a spokesperson for the UK-based functional tea manufacturer NutraTea Ltd. “Our NutraTea blends are created using only ingredients that have known health benefits, and nothing else.

The 8.8 percent increase in herbal tea consumption up to last year demonstrates that the market is on the rise, showing how the public is becoming more health conscious. This is especially true of the relaxation and pregnancy sectors where we have seen an evidential increase in demand for our products, Patel said.

“What sets apart the ingredients in our ProActive Health portfolio is the quality and quantity of the science supporting them. For example, BC30 TM, our patented probiotic ingredient, is backed by over 25 published papers, with research showing that it can help support digestive health, immune health, and may support protein absorption. Similarly, Wellmune® is the only ingredient of its kind supported by over a dozen published, peer-reviewed clinical studies,” Kelly said.

Stress-relief & immune-boosting teas are top performers

Different market players focus on their own niches, but the general consensus is that functional tea helps mitigate stress and fortify the immune system.

Stress relief, sleep aid and immune boosting features are key trends in the functional tea market for the future, Lim pointed out.

“With the stresses of everyday life, consumers want an easy way to support their wellness goals, and the demand for wellness teas will continue to increase,” commented Niya Vatel, founder and CEO of Tea and I, who also underpins the importance of the science behind the offered products.

“Social media and technological integrations have played a pivotal role in propelling the industry forward, attracting a fresh wave of functional tea enthusiasts from a younger demographic. As a result, the market has experienced a significant boost. Influencer marketing has amplified the popularity of wellness teas beyond the detox and weight loss niche,” explained Vatel.

Covid-19 undoubtedly was the main factor driving the consumer demand in the functional beverage market. Although the pandemic is officially over, its aftermath is still present.

“The big ‘mega-trend’ is increasing consumer proactivity when it comes to health and an active interest in everyday beverages as the vehicle for benefits. This has undoubtedly been accelerated by Covid-19,” Kelly said.

One of the findings of Kerry’s most recent global consumer survey was the increased scale of the impact of the pandemic on the demand for everyday beverages with functional benefits. Teas benefit from this demand as teas have a traditional positioning as wellness beverages.

“Their benefits in areas like stress relief have been enjoyed by people for thousands of years and are supported by a wealth of science. This inherent ‘health halo’ makes tea a great fit for functional products because consumers are most likely to expect benefits in categories that are traditionally associated with health,” Kelly said.

The list of reasons why customers opt for functional drinks is long. One study by Kerry, for instance, discovered both men and women attribute beauty support as the top reason they consume beverages with high nutritional value and are willing to pay a premium even amid global inflation. Men and women are both drawn to gaining beauty support from fortified beverages.

Image: Kerry

Skin is the top concern, with 51 percent when it comes to purchasing beverages fortified with nutrients. Skin support was essential to 58 percent of women versus 44 percent of men globally, revealing a small gender gap regarding the interest in beauty support.

Immune support, adaptogenic teas, and functional herbal blends are currently the main segments in the functional tea market, according to tea and herbal supplier, Hälssen & Lyon. The German-based company stated that “consumers are seeking beverages that offer health benefits beyond hydration, making functional and wellness teas an appealing choice. As consumers look for ways to proactively manage their health, functional teas, which are attributed to various health benefits, such as immune system support or stress reduction, are in high demand. The ageing population also contributes to this but is more focused on maintaining health and vitality.”

Emerging segments

The functional tea market is also expected to evolve fast, especially as the science behind more ingredients becomes increasingly convincing.

Hälssen & Lyon, for instance, expects nootropic teas to be among the fastest-growing segments in the following years. Nootropics are substances believed to improve cognitive function and may be included in tea blends. Ingredients like ginkgo biloba, lion’s mane mushroom, and adaptogens may enhance mental clarity, focus, and memory.

In addition, the company anticipates strong demand for plant-based functional ingredients, and sustainability and regenerative agriculture will stay at the centre of public attention.

“Immune-boosting tea continues to remain relevant for consumers, especially with many unknown diseases expected in the future. With features such as vitamins and botanicals like ginger, this serves to strengthen consumer’s immune system and protect them from infections,” Lim said.

New technologies also let tea manufacturers explore new niches. Probiotics are a particularly exciting area, partly because of the growing awareness of their benefits but also because the emergence of spore-forming strains has created opportunities for tea manufacturers to create innovative new functional products, Kelly said.

Market Research Future reported that a collaboration between functional tea manufacturers, ingredient suppliers and retailers foster innovation and market expansion, noting these collaborations enable knowledge sharing, distribution network enhancement and the development of new product lines, ultimately benefiting both industry participants and consumers.

• Vladislav Vorotnikov is a Batumi, Georgia-based multimedia B2B freelance journalist writing about the tea and coffee industry since 2012.

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Throat Coat Tea is a herbal tea blend that supports throat health and relieves irritation and discomfort. Crafted by a team of herbalists, chemists, and ethnobotanists, this tea harnesses the benefits of the slippery elm tree, which has played an important role in Native American herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Inspired by its traditional use, Traditional Medicinals has sourced slippery elm domestically for almost 50 years from Appalachia, where families collect the bark sustainably by hand to protect the trees for future generations. Featuring organic licquorice root alongside the organic slippery elm bark, this tea is silky, sweet, and caffeine-free, says the company.

“Warm liquids can be soothing, and this blend from Traditional Medicinals is designed to support throat health. It smells sweet and like licquorice. It’s also slightly woody. It’s organic, and the brand is B-corp certified,” said Good Housekeeping’s team of experts.

The team at Good Housekeeping spent months reviewing 300 kitchen, coffee, and tea products to determine the best of the best. The in-house team of Kitchen Appliance Lab analysts, Test Kitchen pros, and registered dieticians teamed up with judges Kaleena Teoh, the co-founder, and director of education at Coffee Project New York, and tea sommelier Gabrielle Jammal—plus more than 1,000 consumer testers—to find the most innovative, high-performing products on the market right now.

“We are thrilled that Throat Coat has received this well-deserved recognition. The dedicated experts at Good Housekeeping have wholeheartedly endorsed it as a warm, invigorating, and efficacious tea,” said Kristel Corson, Chief Marketing Officer of Traditional Medicinals. “Throat Coat has seamlessly woven itself into the daily rituals of countless individuals, be it as a soothing start to their mornings, a comforting companion to their bedtime routines, or an essential travel companion. Singers, announcers, podcasters, teachers, and a diverse range of professionals all rely on the soothing benefits of Throat Coat.”

Throat Coat tea is made with organic and non-GMO ingredients, free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms for a healthier and more sustainable choice. It is individually wrapped and requires just boiling water to steep a restorative and delicious cup of tea. The herbs are thoroughly tested from field to cup to ensure ingredient identity, purity, and composition at our local renewable energy-powered facility in Sebastopol, California.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Tea already has a ‘health halo’ with 54% of UK consumers believing that green tea has a positive impact on their health (per GlobalData Plc, 2022). Functional teas take this one step further and combine tea with botanicals and fortifications to offer a specific benefit and create products that deliver a compelling health proposition for consumers.

Super teas arrived in the UK in 2015 when Tetley brought out the first ever range of EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) backed Super Green and Super Fruit teas. This paved the way for other brands and supermarket own brands to capitalise with new products being put on the supermarket shelf at a faster rate than in any other tea sector.

And it’s not just physical health — post Covid, consumers are increasingly seeking products that promise psychological or emotional benefits too. Claims relating to sleep or stress management attract the most activity, with one in ten new products using these claims according to Mintel’s Tea and other Hot Drinks Report, 2022.

How can brands capitalise?

The key to capitalising on this trend is for retailers and brand owners to understand the top claims and flavours that appeal to consumers. The traditional black tea market is still significant with over 85% share, but consumers are seeking variety when shopping this category and have a higher preference for healthy beverages than ever before. With a slightly higher price premium than other ‘tea’ products, not only do functional teas add choice to the fixture, but they also help to drive value into the category.

What’s next for functional tea?

In my view, this is just the start of the super tea trend. As consumer tastes evolve and demand for functional food and beverage heightens, there is huge opportunity for retailers to increase sales by looking beyond what is happening now and asking what will happen next. Tea – with its health halo – will be a mainstay, as will botanical infusions… but inspiration can be found in other categories and markets, where emerging ingredients such as mushroom tea, protein tea and adaptogens like ashwaganda are increasingly popular.

The key, as ever, is to join forces with an expert partner, who can help you stay ahead of the curve and tap into the extremely exciting opportunities within the functional beverage space.

• Rebecca Coath, category manager at Finlay Beverages, analyses the rise of functional teas in the UK and where the trend might be going next.

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The new flavour features high-quality ingredients that are familiar, making Bigelow Benefits Throat Defense a good-for-you addition for throat care needs, according to the company. The product is caffeine-free, non-GMO project verified, throat-calming with immune-support ingredients, including ginger, lemon and honey, combined with licorice root and marshmallow root, known for their ability to help provide soothing comfort.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a tremendous demand and expansion for products that support a healthy lifestyle,” says Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of third generation family-owned Bigelow Tea. “With new Bigelow Benefits Throat Defense Ginger Honey Lemon, we created, as a wellness solution for every day, a soothing cup of herbal tea that features the sweet flavour of honey, superfood ginger plus essential ingredient lemon, and other familiar everyday herbs and ingredients, a perfect addition to our masterfully blended range of Bigelow Benefits wellness teas. Healthy never tasted so good!”

Featuring all natural green, black and herbal teas with herbs, flowers and fruits, each ingredient in the Bigelow Benefits range of teas is selected to provide specific natural good-for-you benefits that help support each tea drinker’s well-being. Additionally, each package now has a refreshed look to highlight the beneficial ingredients in each blend.

Bigelow Tea introduced its first specialty tea in 1945 with the creation of its signature flavour, “Constant Comment.” Since that time, Bigelow Tea has continued to create functional teas that enhance consumers’ day-to-day lives.

The Bigelow Benefits newest flavor Throat Defense Ginger Honey Lemon Herbal Tea is available for purchase in stores and online on the Bigelow Tea company website and other select online retailers. The average suggested SRP is $3.49.

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“Music artists have been using Throat Coat tea for years as part of their voice care, including Dave Matthews,” said Traditional Medicinals chief marketing officer, Kristel Corson. “We found an opportunity to harness this fan base to expand the visibility for our top Throat Coat brand into new occasions. Our ‘Voices are for Using, Not Losing’ campaign celebrates expression and how our Throat Coat brand has championed voices for almost 50 years, with a soothing cup of tea or now lozenges that can be used while on-the-go.”

Traditional Medicinals’ campaign demonstrates how Throat Coat products can be used to support voices, such as at concerts or sports events. As a user of Throat Coat and with a penchant for environmental causes, Dave Matthews and Traditional Medicinals also found alignment advocating for the health of the planet.

Traditional Medicinals’ business is rooted in plants, and it’s a business imperative that the company care for the ecosystems where these plants live and thrive. Traditional Medicinals believes that everything is interconnected, which means supporting the ecosystems, farmers, and collectors who harvest and gather their herbs.

Traditional Maedicinals’ products are certified organic and use non-GMO ingredients and renewable energy, in order to uphold its so called three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social equity and economic viability.

Traditional Medicinals’ classic Throat Coat’s original formula launched almost 50 years ago, and since the company has been sourcing their slippery elm bark from Appalachia, where wildcrafters harvest the bark sustainably by hand to protect the trees for future generations.

As part of the REVERB Eco-Village activation, Traditional Medicinals will be donating up to $20,000 to nonprofit Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), which works towards building a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians.

“We’re looking forward to having Traditional Medicinals as our Eco-Village partner on this year’s Dave Matthews Band tour,” said REVERB’s director of projects Lara Seaver. “Their work to support agricultural sustainability practices and the communities where they source aligns perfectly with our mission. This year’s Eco-Village will also include opportunities for fans to learn about electric vehicles, participate in research about sustainable concert travel, register to vote, and connect with The Nature Conservancy.”

The Throat Coat family includes:

• Throat Coat Original: Sweet with a distinct liquorice taste. Organic Throat Coat tea supports mucous membrane health while creating a relaxed, healthy feeling in the throat and respiratory system.
• Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea: Using wild liquorice from Central Asia, this formula blends marshmallow root and liquorice with echinacea.
• Throat Coat Eucalyptus: This tea delivers throat-soothing support and respiratory wellness. Understanding that two of the most common seasonal challenges come paired together, it combines marshmallow root, slippery elm, and liquorice, with eucalyptus.
• Throat Coat Lozenges: These provide on-the-go support when you need to soothe a sore throat or relieve a cough. Available in Eucalyptus Mint, Lemon Echinacea, and Sweet Orange Fennel.

Throat Coat Tea and Lozenges are available at retailers nationwide and online at traditionalmedicinals.com.

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Grace Farms new collection includes: 

• Breathe: Turmeric Ginger + Cinnamon and Black Pepper — this caffeine-free blend features organic cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, liquorice, and bay leaf. 
• Settle: Peppermint Cacao + Fennel and Ginger — this blend, which contains trace amounts of caffeine, includes organic peppermint, cacao shells, fennel, ginger, and cumin. 
• Rest: Chamomile Vanilla + Ashwagandha and Reishi — this caffeine-free blend features organic chamomile, lemon balm, lemongrass, rose petals, lavender, ashwagandha root, valerian root, reishi mushrooms, and dried cherries. 
• Revive: Yerba Mate + Green Tea and Guayusa — containing caffeine, this blend includes organic yerba mate, green tea, ashwagandha root, guayusa, spearmint, gotu kola, and  liquorice. 

Each package contains 16 sachets (2.5g) and is non-GMO, oraganic and biodegradable and has a MSRP of USD $14. Grace Farms new wellness teas are available nationwide at: sharegracefarms.com and on Amazon.com.

Based in New Canaan, Connecticut, Grace Farms gives back 100% of its profits to ending forced labour worldwide. The non-profit organisation is the first-of-its-kind, 80-acre cultural and humanitarian centre located in Connecticut and is open to visitors. For more information, visit: sharegracefarms.com. 

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All tea leaves are green on the bush, except for rare purple and white leaf varieties. It is the tea-manufacturing process that divides the made teas into the two main families: the black teas, which are fully oxidised and the green teas that preserve their green colour through a heat shock, which halts further enzymatic development, be it with dry heat through panning/frying or by steaming.

These two different ways of processing are neatly divided out between the Asia-based tea-producing countries, where green tea is the ancestral cup, and the former colonial tea growing areas, where black teas are commercially produced for export to the European consumer markets. The cup profiles are contrasting and completely different, which can make it truly uncomfortable to switch from black tea to green tea, unless there are powerful incentives such as highly favourable health benefit announcements or the expectation of discovering highly attractive new flavours and tastes.

There are many traditional local varieties of green teas in China, the world’s biggest green tea exporter with over 300,000 metric tonnes in 2019; followed by Vietnam with green tea exports around 96,000mt, and Japan around 76,000mt. Japanese green teas are usually made with the steaming process, which makes the leaves needle shaped and the premium quality mainly goes to export. Most green teas are marketed as loose leaf and are rarely blended and the CTC process does not apply to them.

The catechin buzz

When green teas started to tip toe into the European markets, it was under the premises of tea and health research, carefully monitored by Unilever for the start, out of their Tea Research Center in Colworth, England, with its carefully tendered tea bushes, well shielded against Britain’s cold winters.

Green tea from Paris, France-based premium tea purveyor, Palais des Thes. Image: Barbara Dufrene

In these early times, mainstream green tea, mostly gunpowder from China, was introduced with messages that made it a remedy cup against aging, strokes and cardiovascular disease, promoting the antioxidant power of the green tea polyphenols, i.e., the various catechins. Doctors were contacted and informed about the benefits of green tea and many then advised their senior patients to drink green tea instead of coffee. This very rapidly rang alarm bells for the coffee companies and generated an important campaign of funding scientific academic research, with the purpose to underlining the health effects of both cups, by elaborating research on the physiological effects of the tea and coffee polyphenols. These compounds all belong to the same big family of natural plant chemicals, but they have many different names and structures etc.

With green tea on the verge of becoming a medicinal cup, as many swallowed the astringent drink for better health, but without any pleasure, new input was required. At that time the European labelling provisions were drafted and hence ISO methods were being developed to allow the measuring of the various cup’s catechin contents, to attract more consumer interest and foster consumption. However, the finalised EU health claim regulations did not include any such health benefit claims for tea, neither green nor black, considering that the science was not sufficiently sustained, which was a blow to mainstream green teas. A new strategy was the switch to flavoured green teas, blending them with attractive plants, such as mint and lemon, to appeal to new target groups, namely younger consumers who had no previous black tea experience and were keen to discover these easy to brew, flavourful, untraditional novelty cups.

Exotic premium terroir green teas

Following the promotion of green tea as a healthy beverage to attract European tea drinkers was the introduction of premium green teas. First came China’s famous Longjing tea, with its lovely flat pan-fried leaf and nutty buttery flavour notes. Originating from Zhejiang’s beautiful and famous West Lake area, the high yield cultivar Longjing number 43 had been fostered in the heart of China’s Tea Science and Research capital, Hangzhou, with its mythical origin story carefully spinning all over the Western tea drinking world.

Matcha tea at a tea salon in Paris. Image: Barbara Dufrene

The West Lake Longjing green tea became the first tea ever to be awarded an EU Protected Geographical Indication in 2011, followed by the same distinction given to the black teas from India’s 78 Darjeeling Tea Estates. This carefully groomed process has made green teas more conspicuous by giving them status, which attracted growing consumer interest for this elegant, tasty, expensive, and healthy premium origin cup.

It was also clear in the early years of the new millennium that consumers needed to be informed and educated, to better understand and fully appreciate the new green origin teas. Tea schools and tea training institutions sprang up, with the founding of the US Specialty Tea Institute for training the American tea professionals in 2002 and the Ecoledu Thédu Palais de Théin 1999 in Paris, France, for educating clients and consumers, as the pioneers and fore runners.

London-based Jing Tea Baojing Gold green tea. Image: Jing Tea

These developments have paved the way, not only for more premium green teas from China, but also for the premium green teas from the neighbouring producing countries, namely Japan and South Korea, with their different taste profiles, attractive stories and hefty prices. They are all riding on the wave of a recently emerged demand, issued by a target group of well educated, widely travelled and affluent tea lovers who are happy to invest in fine green teas and their brewing accessories for their own pleasure and joyful relaxation.

The new premium green teas 

China’s fine green teas are mostly rather robust and hence easy to brew, with freshly boiled water poured over the leaves, extracting the flavours through several infusions, with a great preference for the early spring picks. These cups offer a rich range of pleasant, sweet, buttery and chestnut/nutty fragrance notes, which are familiar to the Western palates. The leaf is always beautiful, after unfolding with re-hydration.

Various green teas and their resulting cups. Image: Barbara Dufrene

Following in the footsteps of China, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture has launched an intense promotion of Japanese premium teas, which also offer longstanding cultural traditions but have a completely different taste profile and more complex brewing requirements. Attracting a growing fringe of knowledgeable consumers who are keen to explore novelty cups, these generally small volume and expensive premium cups also build on the Zen attitude and the high theanine content of the shade grown harvests, which are made into matcha, gyokuro and some premium sencha.

South Korea has picked up the thread and has also started to promote fine green teas in Europe, originating mainly from the volcanic island of Jeju, south of the peninsula. Most of these highly fragrant cups are rare, precious and expensive, but sought after for moments of relaxing and delight, individually or shared with company who also care and fully appreciate such treasured leaves.

Increased availability and further potential

Good mainstream green teas are available on all supermarket shelves, either as genuine leaf or in tea bags, there is also a wide choice of flavoured green teas provided by multinational brands like Lipton, Tetley’s and Twining’s. The premium operators and the small retailers all carry green teas from prestigious origins in their portfolios. There is a growing focus on Japanese green teas, which are being heavily promoted in France, Germany, Italy and in the UK.

Image: Clipper Tea

Statistics from the International Tea Committee’s 2021 Annual Statistics Bulletin show however, that the import share of green tea varies widely, with 3.6 per cent in the UK, 7 per cent in Ireland and 10.4 per cent in Russia – the three big markets where black tea remains the king of the cups – 12 per cent in the Netherlands,14 per cent in Poland, 24 per cent in Germany, 26 per cent in Italy and 57 per cent in France. Adding up the total tea imports of these eight markets, the overall share of green tea imports amount to 12.6 per cent, compared to 8.5 per cent in 2007, which is a moderate growth for a 17-year period.

Supply is mainly sourced from China, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam, with small volumes of premium teas imported from Japan and Korea. China’s premium green teas are hardly available for export, all gobbled up by the affluent domestic consumers who have even recently paid USD $730 for a 500g pre-Qingming Westlake Longjing lot, as reported by the China Tea Marketing Association in Beijing.

There remains a huge potential for expanding green tea consumption further in Europe with the younger generations, who have no previous black tea-drinking experience and are keen on Eastern traditions such as the Zen-attitude and mindfulness, whilst the light colour and taste of the cup continues to attract health-oriented and more senior tea lovers. The pandemic has also increased the focus on stress reduction, healthy hydration and well-being, which is expected to increase the demand for green cups.

• Barbara Dufrêne is the former Secretary General of the European Tea Committee and editor of La Nouvelle du Thé. She may be reached at: b-dufrêne@orange.fr.

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Wellness teas have experienced an ongoing rise since the global Covid-19 pandemic began, and there’s no sign that the trend is ending anytime soon. Thus, it’s a clear opportunity for the tea industry and beverage developers alike, to capitalise on the growth.

In November 2020–amidst the early phase of tea’s newfound popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic–writer/reporter Rebecca Deczynski summed it up at Refinery 29: “Right now, tea culture is at its peak. You’ve likely found yourself scrolling past targeted ads for herbal elixirs or swiping through endless Instagram stories depicting still-steaming mugs. You’ve heard celebrity endorsements for choice brews, and you’ve read about ‘wellness tea’ in magazine roundups devoted to self-care. The stuff is more popular than ever…”

John Lenz, the vice president of sales and president of hospitality at Intelligent Blends in San Diego, California, reported that while coffee is still considered a relatively healthy beverage, tea boasts the most benefits over any other type of beverage. “Wellness teas were already on the rise before the pandemic, but as more people looked for solutions to boost immunity, they found tea,” said Lenz. “Living through a pandemic has made many people realise the importance of immunity-boosting food and beverages.”

High demand for functional beverages

Chicago-based ADM, a leader in nutrition and a partner to the world’s leading consumer brands, regularly looks at consumer trends through its proprietary “Outside Voice” consumer insights platform. The organisation’s recent 2021 research found that 31 per cent of consumers are purchasing more items tailored for their health, and 50 per cent report a preference for foods and beverages that naturally contain beneficial ingredients. ADM also noted that the desire to influence health and wellness through foods and beverages is creating new opportunities for nutrient-dense products with functional health benefits aimed at supporting immune systems, enhancing mood and sustaining energy.

Vince Macciocchi, senior vice president and president of ADM’s Nutrition business unit, and the company’s chief sales and marketing officer, explained, “The global health crisis has changed consumer preferences in new and unexpected ways. We are seeing a heightened demand for foods and beverages that support immune systems, enhance our mood and reduce our environmental impact, driven in part by emerging human tensions. This has provided a unique opportunity for brands to develop disruptive new products that will forever change the way we eat and drink.”

Maria Uspenski, founder and CEO of The Tea Spot – which offers numerous premium teas focused on wellness and functional benefits, shared, “Consumers are seeking natural ways to support wellness, whether it’s strengthening immunity, helping reduce stress, or bringing oneself ‘back into balance’ with a cup of tea. In fact, consumers are seeking all varieties of tea–including traditional teas, functional teas, botanicals, and herbal blends. We expect that premium tea and specialty wellness teas will continue to stay in the forefront of consumers’ minds.”

Clipper Teas launched a functional teas line in 2021 designed to improve moods. Image: Clipper Teas

Shabnam Weber, the president of The Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, a leading authority on all things tea in Canada, representing members from bush to cup, agreed. “The need to take care of one’s well-being, both physical and emotional, remains a strong driver for consumers,” she explained. “Today, 58 per cent of consumers are actively looking for healthy products when they shop, resulting in a 171 per cent increase of functional food and beverages introduced to market in the past ten years. This trend will continue, and it provides the tea community with an opportunity to boost its growth by focusing on tea as a healthy beverage.”

Indeed, consumers are eagerly seeking products that they believe support wellness. For example, Whole Foods Market global buyers and experts recently unveiled their top ten anticipated food trends for 2022, and functional beverages – including teas or beverages made with botanicals – are expected to rise in popularity in the next year.

“Last year, we saw tremendous pandemic-related shifts in grocery buying habits as the world adjusted to spending more time at home,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief marketing officer at Whole Foods Market. “As the food industry slowly adjusts to a new normal, we expect to see consumers prioritise food and drink products that deliver additional benefits – like functional sodas and tonics – and products that support their sense of well-being…”

Major brands launch wellness teas

Some of the national and multinational brands that have recently introduced wellness teas in the marketplace include Celestial Seasonings, Twinings, The Tea Spot, Buddha Teas, and other major players.

Boulder, Colorado-based Celestial Seasonings, the specialty tea brand and subsidiary of Hain Celestial Group, launched Tea Well, a line of organic wellness teas that couples daily health benefits with flavour. Tea Well blends include Mood Tonic, Sleep (the first tea with melatonin sold in the United States), Laxative and Gut Health (featuring a blend of prebiotics, probiotics and fibre).

“Beyond the mental health benefits of sipping a warm cup of tea, many consumers choose tea for its health benefits,” said Tim Collins, vice president and general manager at Celestial Seasonings. “We want to make sure we are delivering on this promise with products that go above and beyond in providing the benefits you’d find in your typical cup of tea.”

In addition to the Tea Well line, Celestial Seasonings’ ‘Taste the World of Celestial Seasonings’ ad campaign highlights the feel-good benefits of drinking tea. Video vignettes focus on Celestial Seasonings Green Tea for energy, Vitamin C tea for immune support, and Sleepy time tea to winddown. Through whimsical imagery and narration, the campaign is designed to introduce hot tea as a healthy and flavourful choice.

“This campaign captures the essence of how Celestial Seasonings brings balance and benefits everyday,” said Melinda Goldstein, chief marketing officer at Hain Celestial.

In May 2020, The Tea Spot launched its Flu Fighter wellness tea, a caffeine-free herbal blend that features functional ingredients, including astragalus, honeysuckle, organic liquorice root, orange peel, tangerine peel, dandelion root, mulberry leaf, red root, and organic ginger.

According to The Tea Spot, the ingredients in the Flu Fighter tea were chosen based on a medical report published in Military Medical Research (Volume 7, Article Number 4, February 2020), on the diagnosis and treatment of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), where a combination of herbs and roots were used to support flu-like symptoms.

The Tea Spot’s Uspenski said, “The pain and stress of the current pandemic has pushed The Tea Spot to think outside the box as to how we can help empower people to find and support better overall wellness.”

In October 2021,The Tea Spot reported that their line of women’s teas – called Goddess Women’s Teas – were a best-seller for the company that year, as more consumers discovered premium tea or sought tea for its wellness benefits. The tea line features three 100 per cent organic tea blends that showcase botanicals and herbs to support women’s health throughout different stages of life.

Buddha Teas saw sales of its immune-boosting and lung health teas rise during the pandemic. Image: Buddha Teas.

John Boyd, co-founder of Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Buddha Teas, also noticed that more customers discovered tea during the pandemic. “We saw a huge spike in our herbal teas that boost the immune system. Our pure Elderberry had an astronomical increase in sales, and we attribute that to the amount of elderberry in each tea bag–2,000mg. Everyone seemed to jump on the immunity boosting teas band wagon. Also, our lung health teas – such as Mullein and Eucalyptus – have gained tremendous momentum.”

Boyd shared that Americans have traditionally been coffee drinkers, however people are leaning towards drinking tea. “Society is becoming more health conscious and most people know that green teas are much healthier than coffee, and they still provide the same caffeine kick that people are looking for to start their day,” he said. “Not to mention the fact that some of our caffeinated teas contain an ingredient that totally takes the edge off that jittery feeling while still kicking you into overdrive. Specifically, I’m talking about matcha and L-theanine.”

Twinings, a leading wellbeing drinks brand, also focused on an ad campaign to attract consumers to the healthy tea lifestyle. Its ‘Drink in Life’ campaign showcases the company’s new Superblends collection, demonstrating how these new products help consumers “feel good, live well and enjoy life.”

Twinings’ Superblends line – at the heart of its “Drink in Life” campaign – features four new flavours that are fortified with vitamins and functional additives, and additional flavours are slated for 2022.

Twinings new Superblends wellness line is designed to help consumers ’feel good, live well and enjoy life.’ Image: Twinings North America

“Our ‘Drink in Life’ campaign is rooted in the idea that taking even the smallest step counts when it comes to reaching your wellness goals and contributing to your overall health,” said Mike Currie, vice president of marketing at Twinings North America, based in Clifton, New Jersey.

Currie noted that the wellness segment in tea has been growing for a while, but the pandemic has accelerated the interest in wellbeing and beverages that support this. “Consumers are putting their wellbeing at the forefront and paying close attention to the products that they’re consuming,” he said. “From an overall industry perspective, this directly correlates to the steady increase in wellness tea sales. These consumers are investing in authentic brands that value transparency and put wellbeing within reach with small steps, making them feel optimistic about their purchases.”

Herbal teas are also big in the wellness tea marketplace

When it comes to wellness teas, it’s important to note that herbals teas and herbal blends are among the teas on the rise, in addition to true teas from the Camellia sinensis plant.

On the whole, the herbal beverages market, which includes herbal tea, is experiencing considerable growth, according to a new report from analysts at Vantage Market Research. In fact, the herbal beverages market is expected to reach USD $2.45 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1 per cent between 2021 and 2028. Factors like the rising awareness of the advantages of herbal-based beverages – such as replenishing skin from the inside, enhancing health, supporting healthy joints and rejuvenating the body – are facilitating the growth of the market for herbal beverages, according to the research firm. The herbal tea segment, specifically, is anticipated to grow more than 4.6 per cent CAGR over the forecast period.

Northern California-based tea author, educator and tea festival organiser, Babette Donaldson, owner and publisher of T Ching and the founder of the International Tea Sippers Society, noted, “The sense of helplessness and frustration in this time of Covid-19 motivates many to look to ancient healing lore. Many do this to feel that there are ways to take control of one’s own well-being. In the past, some in the tea industry have focused on the ‘tea and health’ message to include only Camellia sinensis. But customers are looking for something more inclusive in their cups. Resources for herbalism are abundant and bridge many cultural divides.”

The next wave of wellness teas?

In a recent World Tea Conference + Expo white paper, Euromonitor International’s senior beverages consultant, Matthew Barry, based in Chicago, Illinois, pointed out that while not a cure, tea can serve as a valuable temporary oasis in a chaotic world. “An opportune area in the US market in the near future will be teas designed for relaxation and mindfulness,” said the senior beverages consultant. “While many beverage categories are eager to address this growing consumer need, tea starts with a considerable advantage. Tea – herbal tea in particular – is already strongly associated with calming effects. Chamomile, for example, has been used as a calming ingredient in tea since the time of the ancient Egyptians, so herbal tea could be said to have been active in the calming functional space for millennia. Consumers hardly need to know this history to be familiar with the idea that chamomile, mint, valerian or other herbs promote a sense of calm – and there is a new wave of teas targeting this space.”

Barry also noted, “Stress and anxiety levels continue to be at an all-time high. Tea can provide moments of quiet and calm amidst the turbulence. The American tea industry needs to prioritise products and blends that address mental health concerns. If done effectively, the mindfulness space will be the most dynamic in the US tea industry for years to come.”

• Aaron Kiel, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has worked in the tea, coffee and beverage industries for nearly two decades, and he’s the editor of World Tea News. He’s a journalist and writer at heart, but he also wears a public relations “hat” through his PR consultancy, ak PR Group. He can be reached at akiel@akprgroup.com.

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Founded in 2017, HotTea Mama is based in Oxford, England and Sydney, Australia and provides bespoke, naturally sourced teas that build off the long history of women using herbs, flowers and teas to ease symptoms of perimenopause and post menopause with its ‘Take a Pause’ line. In addition to menopausal symptoms, HotTea Mama has created teas to ease menstrual cramps, support fertility, for breastfeeding and for new mothers.

The teas, which are exclusively whole leaf, are blended with aromatic herbs to provide flavour and wellness benefits and are also vegan and gluten free. The tea bags are plastic-free and compostable. The teas are produced in the UK and are available via the HotTea Mama website and other major online retailers, as well as some select independent wellness, maternity retailers and prenatal, fertility and menopause educators. The company plans to open its first high-street retailer in May 2022, in the UK.

Co-founders, Bethan and Kate, noted the lack of products and support for ‘the challenges of womanhood’ and sought to address that by combining historical and modern research on the benefits of botanicals with Camellia sinensis to create its product lines. Their ethos reflects that of GenM and has led to HotTea Mama securing one of the last remaining places as one of the 48 GenM founding partners, representative of the 48 credible, clinical and medical symptoms of the menopause that can affect menopausal women, as well as trans and non-binary people in menopause.

GenM was co-founded by Heather Jackson and Sam Simister, two businesswomen who found the menopause hard to navigate and suddenly felt invisible to brands with whom they had built loyalty over the years. Together, they created GenM with a clear mission: to unite responsible brands and organisations to improve the menopause experience, normalise the conversation, and support under-served menopausal consumers and employees.

HotTea Mama joins over 40 other companies as a founding partner, alongside Boots, Holland & Barrett, Next and Marks & Spencer’s, with an objective of opening conversations up about the menopause, a topic that, much like many other aspects of women’s reproductive health, is still remarkably taboo, in order to better represent the menopause in product development, workplace policies, signposting and marketing campaigns.

Bethan said, “Our purpose is to support women’s wellness at various stages in their reproductive lives, one cup of tea at a time. So, when GenM approached us to join their mission and commit to improving the menopause experience, we jumped at the opportunity to become a voice for change in this space.

“The natural herbs in our menopause tea have been used for millennia to support some of the most common menopausal symptoms, and we’re always on the lookout for new, innovative solutions to add to our range. We also recognise the need to spread awareness and educate all sections of society on just how this life stage affects people. By doing this, we can change perceptions about the menopause and help millions of women and others to lead healthier, happier lives.”

Heather Jackson, co-founder of GenM, said, “We’re thrilled to have HotTea Mama on board with our mission. The menopause affects us all, so we must ensure that those experiencing this pivotal stage in life no longer feel overlooked at home, at work and in society. Brands and organisations have a clear role to play in driving real change for ‘the change’ and, through our work at GenM, we are able to walk them through this process.

“We’re working for a world where all women enter the menopause armed with the knowledge, understanding and support needed to make informed choices on how to manage ‘the change’ in way that best suits them. This transition can affect everything from the products you use to what you’d consider drinking and eating. It’s great to see brands like HotTea Mama stepping up to this challenge and committing to help make a real difference.”

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The line consists of seven unique SKUs that will complement Numi’s core line:

• Immune Boost – featuring echinacea, rosehips and dandelion to jumpstart the immune response and flush toxins from the body.*
• Immune Support – featuring elderberry, elderflower, thyme and Fair Trade Certified ginger to strengthen immune response and support and soothe the respiratory system.*
• De-Stress – featuring soothing spearmint, passionflower and kanna leaf to encourage calm and ease stress.*
• Throat Soother – featuring sage, marshmallow, licorice and Ceylon cinnamon for their anti-inflammatory and moistening properties.*
• Congest Away – featuring congestion-clearing ginger, peppermint and soothing Fair Trade Certified fennel.*
• Dandelion Detox – featuring dandelion root, nestle, milk thistle and burdock root to flush toxins and support liver function.*
• Sweet Slumber – featuring lavender and valerian root for their anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing qualities.*

“Numi’s Stay Healthy Line draws knowledge from herbalists and ancient traditions to create the most effective blends to support common health concerns,” said Reem Hassani, chief brand officer and co-founder of Numi Organic Tea. “In a time of such uncertainty, we were grateful to be able to turn to time-honored herbal remedies to strengthen and soothe the body and mind. In addition to containing pure ingredients, the botanicals featured in the Stay Healthy line are aromatherapeutic and delicious, so you can enjoy soothing flavours while taking care of your body.”

Each flavour delivers powerful benefits in line with current consumer trends: functional foods, immune boosters, adaptogens, sleep aids and respiratory support. All of the blends in Numi’s Stay Healthy Line are organic, ethically sourced, Climate Neutral, and use plant-based compostable wrappers, reflecting Numi’s commitment to making positive impact in the world.

Numi’s Stay Healthy Line will be available on numitea.com and amazon.com starting in March 2021, and nationally at natural and conventional grocers in fall 2021.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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The Specialty Food Association’s sofi Awards have been honouring the best in specialty food since 1972. The two winning teas are part of 148 winning products selected by a national panel of specialty food experts from nearly 2,000 entries across 39 categories. Every eligible entry is carefully assessed by food professionals including chefs, culinary experts, academics, food writers, and category buyers. Products are blind judged on taste, including flavour, appearance, texture and aroma, ingredient quality and innovation. This year, for the first time, sofi judging was held at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center following strict safety guidelines.

“We are deeply honoured and humbled to receive this coveted distinction for two of our great-tasting teas by the Specialty Food Association,” said Kristina Tucker, minister of Enlightenment and Commerce at The Republic of Tea. “SuperAdapt Burnout Blocker is a lusciously delicious herbal blend with organic ginger and cinnamon combined with the medicinal mushrooms, chaga and cordyceps. Daily Beauty steeps an enchanting violet colour with sweet notes of blueberries and lavender. This herbal blend quickly became a favourite since its introduction in 2019. We are thrilled that these innovative flavour profiles and high-quality teas are being recognised and celebrated.”

The SuperAdapt collection of teas feature adaptogens, a category of healing herbs to help handle stress. The SuperAdapt Burnout Blocker is caffeine-free. Its air-tight tin contains 36 round, unbleached paper tea bags and retails for $13.75.

Beautifying Botanicals Daily Beauty is a collagen-promoting blend of nourishing ingredients including the exotic blue butterfly pea flower, hibiscus, rose hips, bamboo, and schizandra berries. This caffeine-free herbal tea is a beauty ritual, hot or over ice, with blueberries and lavender. It retails for $13.75 per tin.

Both award-winning teas are available at www.RepublicofTea.com as well as natural and specialty retailers across the US.

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