TRENDS: Tea Is Moving & Shaking
 Drink more tea: It’s good for you! |
The U.S. market for tea is expected to double over the next five years, boosted by a growing interest in wellness, says a newly-published report by market research firm Packaged Facts. They project that sales of instant, leaf, liquid concentrate and ready-to-drink tea will reach nearly $15 billion by 2012, compared to $7.4 billion this year. The specialty tea segment of the market, which currently makes up 36% of the total, will grow to more than 50% of tea and ready-to-drink tea sales in the U.S. The main driver of growth is the growing interest in health and wellness foods—and one that promises anti-aging effects. A growing list of benefits include lower risk of certain cancers, weight loss, and protection against Alzheimer’s, all linked to the polyphenol content of the tea (green tea contains 30% to 40% water-extractable polyphenols, black tea between 3% and 10%. | |
| Last month alone, three new studies of tea benefits in major medical journals were released: – A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggested that a one gram drink of black tea may have the potential to stimulate an insulin response and reduce blood sugar levels. – Another study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that drinking five cups of green tea a day may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 48 percent. – A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinking tea regularly may lead to improvements in bone health, similar to that observed with calcium or physical exercise.The American palate has become more sophisticated, too. The day of the generic black tea bag is over. Chai, yerba mate, rooibos and other specialty teas are here to say. Learn more about tea—and see some of our favorite specialty tea brands—in the Tea Section of THE NIBBLE online magazine. |
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