Coke banks on tea to enhance Sprite brand in China
The Coca Cola Company, the world's leading beverage manufacturer, has introduced a tea-flavored version of its Sprite brand to try to tap into the huge Chinese soft drinks market. The drink, called Spritea, contains a carbonated blend of local green tea flavors. The product has undergone a massive consumer testing to define the right amount of sweetness and percentage of bubbles. Ready-to-drink tea consumption in China has increased over 30 percent annually in recent years, with tea and sparkling beverages representing over 20 percent of the entire Chinese beverage sector.