Tea
In the world of tea, emerging generations have ushered in a renaissance of flavours and experiences on the constant quest for the new and exciting. From innovative blends to novel brewing techniques, the age-old tradition of tea has found new ways to captivate the modern consumer.
Bombs away!
November ‘23
Tea Bombs – a mixture of tea and botanicals, encased within a dissolvable sugar shell – have proved to be a huge hit on TikTok with users falling in love with the cutesy aesthetic. And, it’s easy to see why – tea bombs bring a sense of theater and occasion to the process of drinking tea. But could it work in a commercial setting?
Tea bombs are certainly an emerging trend, but it’s easy to see how they could be used to add value in a café setting. The mysterious orbs can catch a customer’s eye across the counter, and it's an opportunity for them to choose a bespoke blend of tea and botanicals. Customers will delight as the shell melts away to reveal the treasure within. This sense of theater would certainly elevate the current tea experience in a foodservice setting.
Logistically, tea bombs seem challenging. The shells are, by their very nature, extremely delicate and would require extremely careful storage and handling. But who said being innovative was easy!!
Blue is the new brown
November ‘23
Blue moon Thai tea, a traditional Thai tea which derives its distinctive colour from butterfly pea flowers.
Its flavour comes from a mixture of black tea and other botanicals, and it’s commonly served with boba.
That boba/bubble tea is on trend should come as no surprise, as it’s enjoyed fast growth in the Western world over the last few years. However, what makes this Thai tea interesting is its distinctive cerulean color which, to misquote Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, is the culmination of major industry operators working behind the scenes to achieve this.
Blue has typically been a difficult color to achieve using natural ingredients. In fact, of all U.S. food and drink launches containing artificial colours in the last five years, 54 percent of them used the “brilliant blue” colour (Mintel, 2022). But in late 2021, the FDA approved use of butterfly pea flower extract as a colour additive, opening up opportunities for innovation in the United States, and it’s driving the trend for blue beverages.
Pu-erh missus!
November ‘23
With its higher caffeine content compared to other teas, pu-erh tea is emerging as a coffee alternative. It aids digestion, cleanses toxins, and may improve heart health. Pu-erh tea's flavor ranges from woody with subtle mushroom undertones to sweet and floral, becoming more desirable as it ages.
Add a little sparkle to your brew
November ‘23
Responding to the demand for carbonation without the unhealthy additives, sparkling tea combines tea and carbonated water. These non-alcoholic beverages serve as the foundation for mocktails, with bartenders adding bitters, syrups, and edible flowers to create visually appealing and refreshing options.
Definitely one to watch grow in popularity in 2024!