Pandemic Prompts Consumers to Grab Nutritious…

It’s tea time in America, and consumers not only want convenience during COVID times, but they’re also looking for their drinks to contain some sort of nutritional value, taste great and contain less sugar. And that’s where honey comes in.

Tea and honey have gone together for centuries, and 2020’s ready-to-drink (RTD) category is booming. Allied Market Research in October published its “Ready-to-drink (RTD) Tea Market by Type (Green Tea, Black Tea, and Others), Category (Organic and Conventional), and Distribution Channel (Supermarket/Hypermarket, Specialty Stores, Online Stores, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2027” report, which estimates the global RTD tea industry is estimated to top at almost $39 billion by 2027, amounting to a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2021 to 2027. What’s contributing to this growth?

Consumers are looking for health benefits during COVID. RTD tea “is encouraging consumers to focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle, which is a key factor that contributes toward the growth of the global RTD tea market,” the report noted. Honey is an all-natural and unprocessed sweetener, which consumers are clamoring for during these times. 

The RTD tea competition is flowing on supermarket shelves, and RTD drinks are a convenient way for consumers to grab, pay and go, which is an even more unique current demand. Great taste and attractive packaging are driving the market, and Allied Market Research said that product portfolio extensions and introduction of innovative flavors “are anticipated to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the global RTD tea market during the forecast period.” 

Honey is indeed a marketable sweetener, especially when consumers are looking for sweeteners that provide more of a health halo. Honey is familiar, tastes great and carries positive consumer perceptions. Let’s take a look at some great RTD teas on the market that contain honey.