Tea Tonic

Lemon, vanilla and honey rank among the top 3 flavours that consumers typically choose in hot and iced drinks*. Other classics include mint, ginger, strawberry and peach, which all offer a refreshing twist.

Beyond the classics, emerging flavours include herbal, spiced and chai. There is also a strong opportunity for refreshing flavours including watermelon, lime, raspberry lemonade, and elderflower – while innovative flavours on the rise include cherry and lychee, alongside trending tropical fruits like mango, lychee, passion fruit and coconut .

Flavours such as cherry as being used to recreate the taste of classic British desserts, such as cherry bakewell. As 39% of consumers aged 16-34 are interested in trying teas inspired by sweet treats, incorporating this concept into tea offers consumers the nostalgia and comfort of these desserts in a modern, innovative form**.

With its creamy and tropical profile, coconut adds a sense of luxury to your beverage, and a premium perception to your drinks offer. As a flavour, it works well on a menu alongside or combined with other bolder flavours like chai spice, matcha, mango and oolong.

If you’re looking to add sophistication to your menu, try adding yuzu to your tea menu. Often seen as a premium ingredient, yuzu has a unique citrus profile which makes tea blends more vibrant and elegant.

Lychee is a popular ingredient to add into bubble teas, iced teas and fruity herbal infusions. While consumer demand is growing for global, fruit-forward and unique flavour experiences, lychee is gaining traction as an adaptable and appealing addition to tea menus.

Our survey revealed the type of teas that have the highest consumer appeal.

The top 10 include:
English/black tea 59%
Green tea 33%
Iced tea 27% (vs. 47% for students)
Fruit tea 26%
Earl Grey tea 26%
Mint/Peppermint tea 23%
Bubble tea 19% (vs. 42% for students)
Chai tea and decaf tea 17%
Spiced tea and Botanical tea 14%
Matcha 13% (vs 27% for students)*.

This trend is particularly driven by younger audiences.

While traditional teas like English Breakfast are preferred by older consumers, young consumers are more open to trying more innovative offerings such as bubble tea and matcha*.

The number one thing that consumer require from their tea purchase, apart from simply taste, is that it refreshes them, closely followed by hydration*. Consumers are looking for flavours and concepts that can quench this desire, and leave them feeling rejuvenated and fresh.

Innovation is at the centre of the Tea Tonic trend. It’s not just about making a traditional English Breakfast – it is now a creative platform with so many opportunities to elevate popular teas. Bubble tea trends demonstrate how adding different textures, like tapioca pearls, popping boba or jellies can transform a simple tea into an interactive experience.