New ready-to-drink, sparkling teas and creative kombucha flavors appeared at Natural Products Expo West. These products exemplify the versatility of tea and how it can be enjoyed in many forms and formats. Ready-to-drink tea appeals to the active consumer, sparkling tea is a healthy soda substitute, and the popularity of kombucha, which supports gut health, continues to grow.
Ready-to-Drink
(Photo by Elizabeth Dobos)Los Angeles-based Zevia debuted its first non-carbonated organic, zero calorie ready-to-drink tea line. It contains eight tasty flavors: Black Tea, Black Tea with Lemon, Black Tea with Raspberry, Black Tea with Peach, Green Tea, Hibiscus with Passionfruit, and Caffeine-Free Black Tea with Lemon.The caffeinated teas have 45 milligrams of caffeine. CEO Paddy Spence said the caffeine-free teas present a great way to introduce children to tea. (Photo by Elizabeth Dobos)The collection can be found at natural foods stores and at Kroger outlets.Marina del Rey, California-based Tea Riot has been in business for two years and offers plant-based sugar-free ready-to-drink teas. The company focuses on the power of tea and botanicals and blends tea with organic cold pressed fruits and vegetables.Its newest flavor, which debuted at the end of last summer, is Lemon Yerba Mate. It joined Hibiscus Glow, Matcha Rise, Cider Kick, and Turmeric Shine.The products, which have been available exclusively on the West Coast, will soon be distributed nationally.
Kombucha
(Photo by Elizabeth Dobos)Portland, Oregon-based Brew Dr. Kombucha launched its Power Flower flavor, which is a blend of hibiscus, orange, lemon, thyme and green tea. The team at Brew Dr. was inspired by Townshend’s Tea Company’s refreshing hibiscus blends that they would brew and enjoy on hot summer days. Brew Dr.’s brewers decided to experiment with crafting a hibiscus kombucha and after several trial blends, they settled on orange and sencha green tea as the perfect flavors complementary to hibiscus.April 15 Power Flower will become available to the public nationwide in Whole Foods, New Seasons, Kroger and other grocery stores. For local availability listings visit the company’s website.Novato, California-based Marin Kombucha introduced its Raspberry Cacao and Melon Rose flavors. The company was formed by tea connoisseurs who formulate the kombucha with one-third dragonwell tea, for its toasty flavor and two-thirds keemun black tea, which adds a smoky flavor. (Photo by Elizabeth Dobos)The kombuchas are currently available in kegs and the company is considering launching the flavors in ready-to-drink format this summer.Austin, Texas-based Live Soda introduced two additional soda-inspired Live Kombucha flavors to its collection: Cream Soda and Cherry Cola. Trevor Ross founded the company with the mission to improve his family’s health by making kombucha that tastes like soda. The other flavors in the company’s kombucha collection are: Cola, Root Beer, Doctor, Orange, Ginger, Lemon Lime, Raspberry, Blueberry and Refreshing Rhuberry.
Sparkling Tea
Seattle-based Teavana launched three new sparkling teas at Expo West: Unsweetened Black Tea, Blood Orange Mango White Tea, and Blackberry Lime Green Tea.
