The term tea attracts consumers seeking better-for-you beverages. There is something holistic about steeping water in leaves and herbs, knowing their inherent goodness is being extracted and will be ready for sipping. Tea is the original plant-based beverage, and it has become a star in today’s diverse beverage world due to a growing toolbox of ingredients that makes it easier to innovate.

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water and may be found in almost 80% of all US households, according to the Tea Association of the USA Inc., New York. On any given day, more than 159 million Americans are drinking tea. The United States is unique in its tea consumption, with about 80% consumed chilled or iced, either prepared at home or purchased in a ready-to-drink (RTD) format.

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