OTHER BEVERAGES

Ready-to-drink tea

It’s convenient. It’s comforting. It’s refreshing. No wonder RTD tea is the go-to beverage for millions of consumers around the world. Take advantage of professional support – all the way from concept development to finished product - to help your RTD tea business thrive and grow.

Refresh your consumers, and your business.

The RTD tea category, also called iced tea, is evolving to meet a growing range of consumer needs. It serves as a morning wake-up, a self-rewarding indulgence, or an aid to evening relaxation. Whether you’re new to the category or already involved, we help you identify, produce and launch innovative, conveniently packaged products that your consumers will love.

5.5¹ billion litres of untapped potential

Grab the opportunity!

In 2024 the global consumption of RTD tea reached 39.7 billion litres worldwide. And, with an expected CAGR of 3% (2025–2028), the market is set to expand by an additional 5.5 billion litres hitting 45.2 billion litres by 2028.²

China is the biggest market

China makes up around 34.5% of global consumption volume. And it isn’t just the biggest market, it has also been showing strong growth with a CAGR of 8% from 2021 to 2024.³

Others are growing fast

Japan and the US are the next biggest markets, making up around 19% and 17% of total global consumption volume. Some other markets to take note of are Thailand and Vietnam, since they have been growing fast - at 13,3% and 8,1% respectively - from 2021 to 2024.⁴

Discover the trends in ready-to-drink tea

Appealing to all kinds of people, regardless of age, lifestyle or location, RTD tea is already the third largest category of beverage consumed globally.⁵ And it’s set to grow substantially in the coming years as producers explore an ever-expanding variety of flavours and functions.

WEBINAR

Broaden, innovate and grow - unlocking the potential in ready-to-drink tea

If you’re looking to enter or expand in the RTD tea market, our dedicated tea webinar offers fresh inspiration and practical insights to help you capture a share of this growing category. Learn about the current market situation and the emerging consumer trends. Discover where the most exciting innovation opportunities lie and get actionable ideas on how to leverage them.

Four starting points for iced tea products

Ready-to-drink iced teas can be categorised into four main types. However, the boundaries between these categories are becoming increasingly blurred as producers innovate to meet consumers’ evolving demands for proactive health, value, novelty, and responsible consumption. Expect to see more inventive formulations featuring added functional ingredients, as well as hybrid products that bridge multiple beverage categories.

Plain teas

Sold either as ready-to-drink or concentrates, plain iced teas are usually made from real, fresh tea leaves, using natural processes to guarantee their freshness and authenticity. They focus on traditional tea types and regional favourites such as oolong, black or green tea. However, this category also includes less well-known varieties like barley and hojicha teas, and scented or herb-flavoured teas like as jasmine, osmanthus, chrysanthemum or chamomile.

Milk teas

Sold mainly as ready-to-drink, milk iced teas combine the richness of dairy or plant-based milk with the distinctive taste of black or green tea. This pairing softens tea’s natural bitterness, creating a smooth and creamy texture that appeals to a wide range of consumers. Beyond taste, milk adds nutritional value through protein, iron, and calcium, while plant-based alternatives offer lactose-free, vegan options that are growing in popularity worldwide.

Fruit-flavoured teas

Available as ready-to-drink beverages or concentrates, fruit-flavoured teas combine the refreshing qualities of tea with the natural sweetness of fruit juice. Their rich, fruity flavour and functional benefits make them one of the fastest-growing categories in the market. Lemon and peach remain global favourites, while varieties such as mango, passion fruit, and winter melon can all be found on the world’s supermarket shelves.

Cross-category innovations

Cross-category innovations are reshaping the RTD tea landscape. Producers are increasingly breaking traditional boundaries to craft hybrid beverages that combine tea with chocolate, coffee, or even mocktail and cocktail inspirations. Texture-enhancing elements such as fruit pulp, jelly, and tapioca pearls are also being introduced—most commonly in milk teas—to create a more indulgent and multisensory drinking experience.

How did Hatsu get ahead in ready-to-drink tea?

From a start-up led by two young entrepreneurs to the leading lifestyle iced tea brand in Colombia, how did Hatsu get to where it is today? From the disruptive branding to unlocking new opportunities together with us, discover the details behind Hatsu’s continued success.

Comprehensive support for your RTD tea business

Matching people and products

How do you find and fill new white spaces in the fast-evolving ready-to-drink tea category? See examples created using our Demand Spaces segmentation model.

Discover RTD tea examples powered by Demand Spaces⁠

From idea to shelf

Ready to take your RTD tea from idea to shelf? Our experts co-create innovative beverages, optimising production and driving efficiency.

Explore how we help you bring your ideas to the shelf⁠ ⁠

Woman with blue nails holding tea packages

Wow consumers with ready-to-drink tea innovation

The ready-to-drink (RTD) tea category is growing, and innovation helps brands stand out. Discover three concepts that could spark your next big idea.

Explore the trends and concepts⁠

Meet consumer demands with the right packaging

Consumer attitudes towards packaging sustainability are evolving, and we carried out a global consumer study to find out more about what people look for when making a purchase. What does this mean for ready-to-drink (RTD) tea producers, and how can packaging help boost sales? Find out in our report.

Tea trends article and tea in Tetra Prisma Aseptic cartons

Four reasons to choose carton packaging for RTD tea

In the fast-paced world of RTD tea, packaging plays a crucial role in delivering quality, convenience and sustainability.

Find out more about carton packaging solutions for RTD tea⁠⁠

Packages with purpose and personality

Packaging’s primary role is to keep your products safe and protected, but it can do so much more! A true reflection of your brand purpose, the right package will give your products a unique character that helps you build meaningful connections with your target audience.

Tea in Tetra Brik Aseptic carton package

For ready-to-drink tea in all sizes

The robust, rectangular Tetra Brik^® Aseptic package comes in multiple sizes from portion to family packs.

Available shapes
Base, Slim, Mid

Volume range
200 - 2000 ml

Filling line capacity
Up to 40,000 pack/hour

Portion packages for on-the-go

The eye-catching octagonal Tetra Prisma^® Aseptic is light to carry, easy to hold, open and drink from.

Available shapes
Edge, Square

Volume range
125 - 1000 ml

Filling line capacity
Up to 9,000 pack/hour

Mini package for tea concentrate

Tetra Classic^®Aseptic Base Plus 20 ml is a resource-efficient package with a pull-tab opening, making it deal for concentrates.

Available shapes
Base, Cube, Mid, Slim

Volume range
20 - 200 ml

Filling line capacity
Up to 21,600 pack/hour

Read more about Tetra Classic Aseptic⁠

Advanced production systems for RTD tea

Get everything you need for your RTD tea production, from product creation and recipe testing to processing, filling, packaging, logistics, services and beyond.

Learn more about Advanced production systems⁠

Production systems for RTD tea presentation on tablet

Line solutions for ready-to-drink tea

Do you plan to make plain tea, milk tea, acidifed or sweetened? Are you starting with loose leaf, broken leaf, fanning or dust? Whichever product type or recipe you want to make, we can customise a complete processing solution for your RTD tea production. From extractors and clarifiers to aseptic tanks, heat treatment, mixing and blending, all the equipment we supply is orchestrated by a common control system to maximise safety, efficiency and quality at a low operational cost. If you prefer to work with a co-packer, we can introduce you to a suitable partner from our extensive network.

Find out more about line solutions⁠

Driving growth through effective collaboration

Discover how we helped Yaí, a Brazilian beverage brand, expand their ready-to-drink tea portfolio and attract new consumers using real market data, trend analysis and consumer insights

RTD tea Yai packages on towel and sunglases

Get products to market faster with a co-packer

Learn how working with a co-packer could help get your ready-to-drink tea business off the ground quickly and reduce the need for capital investments.

Test your recipes in our pilot plants

Work with one of our Product Development Centres to create exciting, profitable new products and evaluate the equipment you need to produce them. Nail your recipe from the start for a smooth scale-up to full production — and of course, take home samples to taste and share!

Discover how we help with product development⁠ ⁠

Broaden your product portfolio with equipment upgrades

Take advantage of our equipment upgrades to gain flexibility and make innovative RTD tea products on an existing juice, milk or plant-based beverage production line. Diversify your portfolio and utilise excess production capacity with a tailored upgrade solution based on your needs.

Tea line and tea in Tetra Prisma Aseptic carton packages

Continuous production and continuous improvement

Advanced tools and services

Keep things running smoothly

From optimising production to supplying exact spare parts, we offer services to help raise productivity, reduce energy use, minimise waste, and maintain the highest standards of food safety. It’s not just about maintaining your equipment, but about future-proofing your business to stay competitive in an evolving industry.

Find out how our services help your business⁠⁠

We share the risks

Tetra Pak^® Advanced Agreements offer a unique level of commitment. They include clear performance guarantees and shared risk—creating a genuine partnership built around long-term value and your success.

Learn more about Tetra Pak Advanced Agreements⁠

¹ Tetra Pak Compass, 2024. Expected growth between 2024-2028
² Tetra Pak Compass, 2024
³ Tetra Pak Compass, 2024 (China’s CAGR is 7%, not 8% - please change)
⁴ Tetra Pak Compass, 2024 (Thailand’s CAGR is 12% + Vietnam’s CAGR 4.6%)
⁵ Tetra Pak Compass, 2024 (These numbers only pertain to still and concentrate formats)

Video footnote
Ipsos Global Trends, Base: 50,237 adults surveyed in the markets shown between 15 February and 23 April 2024
Innova Category Survey 2024 (Why do you consume RTD Tea? Why have you increased consumption of RTD Tea?)
Innova Health and Nutrition Survey 2024, Innova Category Survey 2024
Innova Database, TeaAndCoffee
Innova Category Survey 2025, Beverage Industry, Firebelly Marketing
Innova Database, Survey 2025, Innova Trend Survey 2025
MAT’Jun 2024 vs MAT’Jun 2023
Source: Innova Database (Global, MAT’Jun 2024 vs MAT’Jun 2023)
Tetra Pak Food Demand Spaces 2024: 10 countries, 1,500 adults aged 18-65 per market
Global, MAT’Jun 2024 vs MAT’Jun 2023
Innova Lifestyle & Attitudes Survey 2024
Innova Packaging Survey 2024 (global average)

Solutions

Categories

Packaging

Product Innovation

Integrated solutions & equipment

Automation & Digitalisation

Services

Factory Improvements

Rethinking resources

Insights

Food categories

Key area

Handbooks

Cases & Articles

Tetra Pak Index

Consumer trends and insights

Sustainability

Focus Areas

Approach

Measuring & impact

Carton equity

About us

Company

Media

Careers