Five high-end tea trends worth watching in 2020

Innovative plant-based products that promote health are continuously being introduced into the beverage industry. Unsurprisingly, tea and functional herbal products are very popular in the health field and are often claimed as nature’s elixir. The Journal of The Tea Spot writes that the five major trends of tea in 2020 revolve around the theme of phytotherapy and support the general trend towards a more cautious market for health and wellness.

Adaptogens as characteristic elements of tea and beverages
Turmeric, a kitchen spice, has now come back from the spice cabinet. In the past three years, turmeric has become the fifth most popular herbal ingredient in North American tea, after hibiscus, mint, chamomile and ginger. Turmeric latte is largely due to its active ingredient curcumin and its traditional use as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Turmeric latte is now available in almost every natural grocery store and trendy cafe. So, besides turmeric, have you followed basil, South African drunk eggplant, Rhodiola and Maca?

What these ingredients have in common with turmeric is that they are also adapted to the original plant and have traditionally been thought to help manage physical and mental stress responses. “Adaptogen” balanced stress responses are non-specific, and they help bring the body back to center no matter which direction the stressor comes from. As people learn more about the damaging effects of chronically elevated stress hormones and inflammation, this flexible stress response helps bring them to the forefront. These adaptive plants can help functional tea reach a new level, which is just right for our contemporary lifestyle.

From the busy urban population, to the elderly and even sports athletes, many people urgently need solutions to relieve stress. The concept of adaptogens is relatively new, and the term was first coined by Soviet researchers who studied herbs to help manage the stress of battle in the 1940s. Of course, many of these herbs are also rooted in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, and are often considered natural remedies for insomnia, including anxiety, digestion, depression, hormonal problems, and sexual impulses.

Therefore, what tea makers need to consider in 2020 is to find adaptogens in tea and use them in their own beverage products.

CBD tea becomes mainstream

Cannabinol (CBD) is rapidly becoming mainstream as an ingredient. But in this area, the CBD is still a bit like the “Western Wilderness” in the United States, so it’s best to know how to distinguish between different options. As a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, CBD was only discovered decades ago.

CBD can participate in regulating pain and inflammation of the central nervous system, and can exert analgesic effects. Scientific research has shown that CBD is promising for treating chronic pain and anxiety. And CBD tea can be a sedative way to help relax the body, calm the mind, and prepare for falling asleep without the side effects of drinking, hangovers, or excessive intake.

CBD teas on the market today are made from one of three CBD extracts: decarboxylated hemp, broad-spectrum distillate or isolate. The decarboxylation is a thermally catalyzed decomposition, which gives the generated CBD molecules a better chance to enter the central nervous system without being broken down in metabolism. However, it does require some oil or other carrier to be absorbed.

Some manufacturers refer to nanotechnology when describing processes that make CBD molecules smaller and more bioavailable. Decarboxylated cannabis is the closest to the complete cannabis flower and retains some cannabis flavors and aromas; the broad-spectrum CBD distillate is an oil-based cannabis flower extract that contains trace amounts of other minor cannabinoids, terpenes , Flavonoids, etc .; The CBD isolate is the purest form of cannabidiol, odorless and tasteless, and does not require other carriers to be bioavailable.

Currently, CBD tea doses range from 5 mg “trace” to 50 or 60 mg per serving. What we need to pay attention to is to focus on how CBD tea will achieve explosive growth in 2020, or study how to bring CBD tea to the market.

Essential oils, aromatherapy and tea

Combining aromatherapy can enhance the benefits of tea and functional herbs. Scented herbs and flowers have been used in blended teas since ancient times

Earl Grey is a traditional black tea containing bergamot oil. It has been the best-selling black tea in the Western Hemisphere for more than 100 years. Moroccan mint tea is a blend of Chinese green tea and spearmint. It is the most consumed tea in North Africa and the Middle East. The aromatic lemon slice is often used as a “accompaniment” to a cup of tea. As a supplement to the natural volatile aromatic compounds in tea, essential oils can exert an enhanced effect.

Terpenes and terpenoids are the active ingredients in essential oils and can be absorbed into the system by ingestion, inhalation or topical absorption. Many terpenes can cross the blood-brain barrier, producing systemic effects. Adding essential oils to tea is nothing new, but as another innovative way to enhance physiological support and relax the body and mind, they are gradually receiving attention.

Some traditional green teas are often paired with citrus, orange, lemon, or lemon essential oils; stronger and / or more spicy oils can be very effectively paired with black and puer teas and mixed with herbal teas with strong characteristics. The use of essential oils is extremely low, requiring only one drop per serving. It is therefore necessary to explore how essential oils and aromatherapy can benefit your own tea or beverage products in 2020 and beyond.

Tea and sophisticated consumer tastes

Of course, taste is important. Consumer tastes are also being trained to distinguish high-quality whole leaf tea from low-end dust or shredded tea, which can be verified from the healthy growth of the high-end tea industry and the shrinking of low-end mass market tea.

In the past, consumers may have been willing to tolerate some less delicious teas to redeem the perceived functional benefits. But now, they expect their tea not only to have good flavor, but even better flavor and quality for functional blends. On the other hand, this has brought functional plant ingredients an opportunity comparable to traditional single-origin specialty teas, thus opening up many new opportunities in the tea market. The high-end herbaceous plants, including adaptogens, CBDs and essential oils, are driving innovation and will change the face of specialty teas in the next decade.

Tea is gaining popularity in catering services

The various tea faces mentioned above are gradually appearing on the menus of upscale restaurants and trendy cocktail bars. The idea of bartending and specialty coffee drinks, as well as the combination of premium tea and culinary delights, will bring many new customers the first outstanding tea experience.

Plant-based health is also popular here as chefs and diners alike are looking for innovative ways to make foods and drinks taste better and provide some health benefits. When consumers choose a gourmet dish from the menu, or a hand-made cocktail, there may be the same motivation that drives customers to choose daily tea at home and in the office. Therefore, tea is a natural complement to the dining experience of modern gourmets, and it is expected that more restaurants will upgrade their tea plans by 2020.

 


Post time: Feb-20-2020