Specialty tea news
Limited time Teavana Winterberry Green Tea returns
Back for its third season, Teavana Winterberry Green Tea is full of fruity flavors, including strawberries, apples and sliced citrus, the company announced in a Feb. 6 press release. It’s sprinkled with floral notes of marigold petal, rose hip and hibiscus that soften and sweeten the tea. It is available at more than 350 Teavana specialty retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and online at teavana.com. Winterberry Green Tea is a blend of two core Teavana teas: Strawberry Grapefruit Xue Long Green Tea and Strawberry Lemonade Herbal Tea.RTD tea news
Convenience chain launches private label RTD tea line
Denver-based New Age Beverages Corp. has made its first private label foray with an unnamed convenience store chain that has more than 3,000 outlets. The five-flavor store-brand line leverages New Age Beverages’ and XingTea’s proprietary flavoring and tea creation experts to develop the portfolio, the company reported in its Jan. 25 announcement. The company also managed brand and graphics development. “The collaboration between New Age and the retailer partner represents an important step forward in New Age’s relationships with its key customers,” Tom LeBon, president of the North American Division of New Age Beverages and initiative co-lead, said via press release. “As part of the initiative, New Age’s XingTea brand will also be commercialized throughout the retailer creating a higher blending margin vs. other convenience retailers continuing to sell prepriced lower-quality teas.” XingTea and Búcha merged in June 2016 to create New Age Beverages. In October 2016, it added Marley Beverage to its portfolio.Tejava adds plastic option
Crystal Geyser Water’s packaged tea brand Tejava now comes in a 16.9-ounce, BPA-free plastic bottle, adding a third option to its traditional glass liter and 12-ounce four-pack. “One thing we know about Tejava customers, is that they are passionate about its bold, yet smooth taste,” Judy Yee, executive vice president of marketing and innovation for the company, said via press release. “They enjoy drinking it at home or at work in glass bottles, but they also want to take it on-the-go. With this more portable, convenient option, Tejava can go everywhere our customers go—in the car, at school, sporting events or concerts. The new plastic bottles are also perfect for places that don't allow glass bottles, such as pools and beaches.”Bagged tea news
The Republic of Tea relaunches superfruit line
Balancing Chinese green tea with real, organic fruit, The Republic of Tea’s superfruit geen tea line is now certified USDA Organic and includes the new organic Pitaya SuperFruit Green Tea. Known for its antioxidants, the cactus fruit, pitaya, is prolific in Central America and Asia. Additional SKUs in the superfruit line include: organic Pomegranate SuperFruit Green Tea, organic Goji Berry SuperFruit Green Tea, organic Decaf Pomegranate SuperFruit Green Tea, organic Açaí SuperFruit Green Tea and organic Blueberry SuperFruit Green Tea. Other 2017 launches include:- Ginger Peach Chocolate Truffle Black Tea with a blend of sweet cocoa, roasted maté and smooth rooibos.
- Organic Nettle Superherb Tea with a touch of mint and vanilla.
- Black Currant Rosemary Iced Tea featuring an organic base of tart-sweet hibiscus blossoms.
- Black Raspberry Green Tea including blueberries.
- A Thanks Mom Two-tin Gift set with You’re the Berry Best Tea and Thanks You’re a Peach teas.
Bigelow unveils seven herbal blends
The new Bigelow Benefits line of seven blends touts “good-for-you ingredients.” “While all tea is inherently healthy and functional, with today's growing awareness for mindful eating and the need to live as healthy a lifestyle as we can, we created these beautiful and flavorful products to support our bodies naturally, in gentle ways with ingredients you know and trust,” Cindi Bigelow, third-generation president and CEO, said in a Feb. 9 press release. Available in boxes of 18 individually-wrapped tea bags, the Bigelow Benefits line includes:- Good Mood (Chocolate & Almond Herbal Tea).
- Calm Stomach (Ginger & Peach Herbal Tea).
- Refresh (Turmeric Chili Matcha Green Tea).
- Radiate Beauty (Blueberry & Aloe Herbal Tea).
- Balance (Cinnamon & Blackberry Herbal Tea).
- Sleep (Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea).
- Stay Well (Lemon & Echinacea Herbal Tea).
Rakura grows organic line
Nepali tea brand Rakura has added eight organic teas to its product range. The additions are part of what the company is calling Rakura 2.0, which included receiving ISO 22000 food safety management and ISO 9001 quality management certification earlier this year. “Rakura Tea 2.0 is definitely of international standard. We have taken care of food safety, naturalness, taste and other aspects,” Ravi Rathi, executive director of the company, told the Kathmandu Post. The new items include:- Himalayan Organic Green Tea + Citrus Fruits.
- Himalayan Organic Green Tea + Chamomile, Himalayan Organic Green Tea + Peppermint.
- Himalayan Organic Black tea + Peach.
- Himalayan Organic Earl Grey Tea.
- Himalayan Organic Light Green Tea.
- Himalayan English Breakfast Tea.
- Himalayan Organic Green Tea.