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 Tea
exhibitors whet palates of
Show-goers
Dan Richards
National Restaurant
Association
...........................
May 23, 2005
The market for premium
coffee may be rising, but
several tea exhibitors at
the 2005 National Restaurant
Association Restaurant,
Hotel-Motel Show believe
their segment is
"exploding."
The Republic of Tea is using
its booth at the NRA Show to
market its new 16.9-ounce
glass bottles of teas, which
come in flavors such as
ginger peach. Republic of
Tea is not selling this
product at retail stores and
company "minister of travel"
Stuart Gold believes tea
should be treated like wine,
and is thus marketing the
product that way. Gold
refers to the different
"varietals" of tea the
company offers, and says it
allows operators to "sell a
non-alcoholic beverage at an
alcoholic price." The
Republic of Tea also markets
such products as tea oil and
tea honey.
At The Metropolitan Tea
Company, senior tea master
John Chaffey sees enormous
potential in high-end
loose-leaf tea. While his
company sells about 100
types of tea by the bag, it
sells about 500 types of
loose-leaf teas, mostly to
independent tea shops,
high-end restaurants, hotels
and spas. Chaffey believes
tea drinkers are becoming
more educated about the
drink, and its potential
health benefits, and are
demanding higher quality
tea. "Everything is
basically selling," he says.
"Tea is extremely hot."
Chaffey sees especially high
potential in a ground-up
Japanese green tea called
Matcha. Although operators
pay a higher price for
Matcha, he says the tea
produces a higher yield
because the entire leaf is
ground up. Chaffey believes
Matcha-based drinks may
become the drink of choice
for coffee drinkers since
these teas provide increased
awareness without a
"come-down" effect.
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An NRA Show attendee
peruses the offering
of Mighty Tea
Company, an NRA Show
exhibitor. |
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Ahmed Rahim, the CEO
of Numi Organic,
believes that in
addition to growing
awareness of tea
quality, tea
drinkers are
becoming more aware
of the source of
their tea. He
started his company
about five years ago
with his sister and
sells only
whole-leaf, organic
teas that are
certified as Fair
Trade. At this
year's NRA Show,
Numi is touting its
line of flowering
teas -- bundled tea
leaves that "flower"
when placed in hot
water -- which Rahim
says enhances the
experience of
drinking tea. Numi
markets its teas to
high-end markets,
where consumers are
"unafraid to pay for
quality."
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Mighty Leaf Tea Company
believes the demand for
high-end tea will expand
beyond beverages. The
exhibitor offers a larger
pouch of tea mixed with
lavender and salt that users
can place in their bath for
a relaxing, tea-enhanced
aromatic experience. CEO
Gary Shinner envisions this
product taking off at spas
and hotels, possibly even
being included for sale in a
hotel mini-bar or as a
complimentary gift for
guests. The spa pouch comes
in the same artisan-crafted
pouch as all of Mighty Leaf
products, according to
Shinner.
Click here for the original article.
Mighty Leaf Teas UK
Somerset Distribution UK Ltd.
4 Damson Garth, Lund
Driffield YO25 9TH
Tel: 01377 217793
Fax: 01377 217793
Email:
press@mightyleafteas.co.uk
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