Maximise the potential of your ready-to-drink tea portfolio
The RTD tea category is growing, with 4.81% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) expected between 2026 and 2034.1 In addition to these rising global sales, the variety within the category is flourishing.
Consumers are driving this significant growth, as more are looking for tasty low-sugar beverages or refreshments that include protein, vitamins or other functional ingredients. These developing trends also mean that there are opportunities for RTD producers everywhere.
How do you know where to look for inspiration for your next RTD product, and how do you decide which will have the highest potential for success? Not with instinct alone. You need data, insights and expertise, and that’s where we can help. We can help you identify the most relevant trends and develop products designed specifically to meet evolving needs while differentiating your brand, in turn making the most of these significant opportunities.
Develop your RTD tea ideas based on consumer demands
Experts from our Marketing Services team can help take your ideas forward, and our Customer Innovation Centres offer an immersive, collaborative space where you can develop new product concepts. We offer guidance based on real market data and research, giving you the insights you need to ensure your next RTD tea is the ideal product for your intended audience. Your inspiration, together with our expertise, can help you bring products to market that will make a real impact on the shelf.
Here are three concepts from our experts that show just how flexible, innovative and exciting the RTD tea category can be, and each is based on where consumer demand is heading. Get inspired and get ahead!
Concept 1
A taste sensation with added function
Protein-enriched iced tea provides active consumers with great-tasting functional refreshment.
Fitting an active lifestyle
As consumers increasingly seek foods and beverages that offer functional health benefits, protein has become a major purchase driver. In fact, 42% of consumers say protein is the most important ingredient to them for products in the food supplement and nutrition category.2 RTD tea with added protein addresses this trend, creating a refreshing beverage that combines hydration with muscle building and repair.
Light, protein-powered hydration
Our PRO TEA Jasmine Green Tea concept contains 10g of clear whey protein, less than 40 calories and no added sugar – all in a light, refreshing beverage. It’s ideal for active consumers as it could support muscle recovery, hydration and everyday wellness while providing energy from green tea and a delicate jasmine flavour.
Concept 2
An RTD tea fit for the whole family
Tap into the growing opportunity for tasty, functional beverages that appeal to children.
A new audience ready for a classic category
With many parents looking for healthier child-friendly beverage options, RTD tea represents an increasingly interesting opportunity. Launches with child-focused positioning combined with health claims accounted for 0.6% of the global total in 2024, and the overall share of innovations in this category is increasing. In Indonesia, school canteens offer RTD tea both as drinks and as ice lollies after freezing.1
Flavoursome, with prebiotic functionality
The Little Sips concept is a kid-friendly RTD tea concept based on caffeine-free rooibos, flavoured with apple, vanilla and a hint of caramel, and with no added sugar. Rich in polyphenols, rooibos offers antioxidant benefits, with inulin for prebiotic fibre that can support gut health.
Concept 3
Bring café-style indulgence to your tea portfolio
A matcha-based RTD tea with pistachio and vanilla for hot or cold consumption.
Tea with added luxury
RTD tea is evolving beyond traditional formats, tapping into consumers’ appetite for new, indulgent experiences. Cross-category innovations are combining tea with milk and complementary flavours to create exciting new textures and taste profiles. In fact, RTD milk tea launches in North America increased 35% between 2023 and 2024, while juice-tea launches grew 52%, year on year in the Middle East and Africa.1
A smooth, sweet treat
The Lattéa concept is a matcha pistachio latté that fits the indulgent treats trend, blending tea’s functionality and elegance with the luxury of a café-style experience. It combines matcha, milk, pistachio, vanilla and honey to create a creamy, smooth beverage. The matcha contains naturally occurring caffeine for a gentle boost and is rich in polyphenols with antioxidant properties. Honey provides sweetness.
Where could tea take you?
There’s a world of opportunities in the ready-to-drink tea category, so why not let your inspiration take you further afield? Combine your ideas with our insights to see which markets have the most potential, and how your products could be adapted to meet consumer needs.
Find your audience
One idea could be a ‘glow-up’ beverage made for the Indonesian market that appeals to teens and young adults. This idea could include ingredients like vitamin C and collagen peptides that can potentially contribute to wellbeing, with a package design that would capture the attention of the target audience.
Or how about a peach-flavoured RTD tea for the US market that’s made to be consumed anytime, anywhere? This could be a product with a premium package but made with budget-conscious consumers in mind. The label could highlight that the focus is on quality, and that there’s no added sugar or preservatives.
Combining market data, insights, emerging trends and ingredient innovation can help you unlock countless exciting opportunities in the RTD category. Are you ready to get started?
