Tea is moving up in consumers' minds thanks to new twists on flavor profiles and functional offerings in the category. Going beyond lemon, manufacturers are innovating across the entire beverage segment by incorporating authentic and regional tea profiles that work in conjunction with complex and exotic flavors that elevate the beverage. Whether celebrating with tea craft cocktails during happy hour or just looking for an energy boost in the morning, tea has established itself as a solid beverage choice for any daypart. From ancient Chinese medicine to modern day, tea has been used as a functional beverage long before the modern-day wellness hybrid drinks were established giving it the healthy halo that other beverage categories only dream of. With such a rich history steeped in functionality makes it no surprise that 9% of all iced tea consumption focuses on wellness (Tastewise, Beverage Insights 2021). The refreshing taste of tea with added wellness features is an accelerating growth driver for new product development. A trending new beverage with consumers in 2021 is CBD Iced Tea that many consumers are making at home and is driving new demand for RTD formats with fruit, ginger and hibiscus flavor pairings.
Across the RTD tea beverage category product launches over the last three years feature Hibiscus, Lemon and Raspberry as the leading profiles with many new and more interesting flavors emerging (Mintel, GNPD 2021).
Successful commercialization of these RTD tea beverage innovations requires new tools to delight the consumer with the authentic taste of brewed tea. Founded and headquartered in California, Flavor Producers has been developing natural and organic plant-based flavors for Health & Wellness beverage products for over 40 years. Recently, Flavor Producers has expanded the Tru Bruz® extract and essence portfolio to include Trü Brüz® Flavor Systems which provide the authentic taste profiles of brewed tea with the ability to customize profiles with flavors. Beverages made with Trü Brüz® Flavor Systems may be labeled "made with brewed tea" and tailored to achieve the green, white or black tea profile you desire.
The Trü Brüz®; Flavor Systems are offered as WONF flavors that provide the authentic taste profiles, aromatics, color, and astringency that consumer expects from brewed tea. Drew Scholle, Flavor Chemist with Flavor Producers, offers some insights to tailoring a tea profile within a beverage formulation. "It's important to ask whether the beverage requires greener grassy flavor notes upfront, and earthy undernotes in the finish when adding a green tea profile to a beverage. He adds, "Perhaps more floral, smokey, and a hint of cocoa in the black tea profiles to add more complexity." The authentic taste of the tea is achieved even in the more difficult applications such as alcohol and low pH beverages. The Trü Brüz® portfolio includes custom flavor systems optimized for the heat stability and flavor retention requirements of the beverage. These flavor tools are both natural and organic and plant-based with new varietal options including Green Tea Sencha Essence and Green Tea Jasmine.
Trü-Brüz® Tea profile features:
- Authentic Tea taste profiles
- "Made with Brewed Tea" labeling claim
- Natural and Organic
- Plant-based and Non-GMO
- Liquid and powder formats
- Versatile as a complete flavor system or top note
- Heat and Alcohol stable
- Shelf-Life Flavor retention
- Versatile use in food and beverages
Here is a Transparently Delicious™ Tea beverage formulation from our experienced application team. It features our unique black tea from our natural and organic Trü Brüz® line of brewed tea and coffee flavors, extracts & essences.
Savannah Iced Tea
This refreshingly transparent and clean label twist on southern iced tea starts with authentic earthy tea undertones, hints of violet complemented with a luscious apricot flavor and slight ginger kick while finishing with a smooth touch of sweetness reminiscent of sitting on a porch on a hot summer day.
- Natural Black Tea (Iced Tea Type) Flavor WONF Trü Brüz®
- Natural Black Tea Extract Trü Brüz®
- Natural Ginger Flavor WONF
- Natural Apricot Flavor WONF
Ingredient Statement: Filtered Water, Black Tea Extract, Natural Flavor and Stevia.
Create your own natural or organic flavors at www.flavorproducers.com.