World Tea Media shares six tea trends for 2012
World Tea Media, organizers of the World Tea Expo and the North American Tea Championship, have revealed six market trends that will shape 2012. They include the rise of quality tea and tea retail outlets, as well as the growing popularity of green tea, matcha lattes and specialized tea accessories. According to World Tea Media, increasingly knowledgeable consumers are looking to buy better quality tea, which, in turn, has led to more retail outlets popping up across the US. In terms of varieties, green tea is set to continue expanding its customer base due to its perceived health benefits, as is cold-brewed green tea. Packaged Facts, a market research firm, predicts that the US tea market will continue to grow beyond 2012 and will expand by 8.7% in 2014 to reach $8.3 billion in sales that year.