Arizona partners with Nestlé for tea-infused water
Arizona Beverages has teamed up with Nestlé Waters North America Inc. to create a line of tea-infused waters. Arizona Tea Waters is an organic low-calorie, tea-infused beverage line made using spring water, green tea, sugar cane and fruit extracts. The drinks will start off using Nestlé's Poland Spring water and will later be made from company's other regional water sources. The 20-ounce (600ml) amber PET plastic bottles with an oxygen barrier retail for $1.49.
Peet's Coffee & Tea launches RTD line
Peet's Coffee & Tea introduced a new line of ready-to-drink iced teas made from whole tea leaves. The new range includes five lightly sweetened beverages with natural flavors such as peach, mint or honey, and an unflavored version. The teas are initially available at 25 Peet's retail outlets in California, as well as select gourmet food stores in the region. According to the company, cold tea is the primary way in which people consume tea in the U.S. and the bottled tea market has grown steadily at about 15 percent in recent years.
Wold Tea Expo East to be held in Boston
Organizers of the World Tea Expo are to hold an extra exhibition focused on tea on the east coast, reflecting increased interest and growth prospects of this $7 billion industry. The event will take place on 22-26 of October at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, alongside Natural Products Expo East. It will feature an educational conference on tea purchasing, online sales channel and tea's health benefits, as well as a three-day boot camp covering many important aspects of the tea business.
Indian tea prices predicted to soar next year
Prices of Indian tea are expected to rise by as much as 30% next year, according to a senior industry official. Aditya Khaitan, managing director of McLeod Russel, one of India's biggest tea exporters, said severe droughts and crop shortages from major producers will drive up prices in the upcoming year. In 2009, he foresees the output of 965 million kg - a drop of 20 million kg compared to 2008. He also predicts the country's exports to fall by 10 million kg to 190 million kg in the same period, against 200 million kg in 2009.
The specific nature of Chinese market - Lydia Liu
A conversation about Specialty Tea market in the UK, its similarities to the wine industry and the modern conception of tea business with Jane Pettigrew, writer and consultant based in London, UK.
China has historically been a large producer and consumer of tea. How would you describe the state of the tea industry at the moment and has it yet felt the effects of the global economic slowdown?
China is indeed a large tea producer and consumer of tea. Chinese teas are famous in China and overseas. There are many Chinese people like to spend money on high quality traditional Chinese teas such as Ti Kuan Yin, Mao Feng, Long Jing, Jasmime tea and Pu Erh tea. Higher grade and early spring teas can be sold at a very expensive level which is double or treble that of a foreign price. Most Chinese people enjoy the pleasant taste of teas with beautiful tea sets. People also like to use nicely packaged teas as presents during festivals. So tea is very important for Chinese daily life. As a result, the production is large to meet the huge demand of tea drinkers that has been around for so many years.
At the moment due to the economic slowdown, Chinese market is quiet. There are less people that go out to eat and consume. So the tea market is difficult to maintian. Many people have scaled back on the quality of tea they drink. Some have abandoned tea entirely and drink water instead. On the other hand, lots of people in China have lost jobs and new graduates cannot find work as well, which makes the situation worse. So generally speaking, Chinese tea has been effected by the present economic slowdown.
The Chinese market is hard to penetrate for foreign tea companies. What differences exist in local preferences of tea compared to the Western world and what are some of the major trends in the market right now?
1.Chinese people prefer traditional Chinese teas such as Ti Kuan Yin, early spring Long Jing and green tea, jasmine tea etc. All these teas are natural teas without any added flavor. Some good Ti Kuan Yin can be brewed for more than ten rounds. These teas are popular everywhere in China. Western people also like certain high quality traditional Chinese teas such as Ti Kuan Yin and Long Lung, but they pay more attention to the appearance while Chinese like the endosarc.
2.Chinese people do not like white tea. As they think it is too light. Western people like white tea with beautiful appearance such as Flowery Pekoe and Pai Mu Tan.
3. Chinese ... read more
