Recent
Tea Trends
Tea
is for Trendsetter
While
you might think of coffee as the trendsetting beverage,
tea is actually growing faster. Older tea buzzwords were
“fair trade”
and “organic”, “green
tea” and “bubble tea”.
Recently,
tea is hipper than ever and is showing up in places you
wouldn’t imagine. Here are some of the hottest up-and-coming
tea trends:
Tea-Resistible
Cocktails
In the trendiest big city nightlife spots, tea is making
its way into the most innovative of libations. Bartenders
are slipping green, black, and scented
teas into all kinds of drinkables. With names like Green
Tea De Lite, the Earl Grey marTEAni, and the Moroccan Mojito,
tea is making its mark in cocktails.
A
Tea for All — Tearooms, Tea Lounges, Tea Bars
No
matter the space or the place, the tea business is booming.
Specialty tearooms, tea lounges, and tea bars where tea
lovers can belly up to the bar for tasting sensations are
popping up all over big cities.
“Tea
cuppers” set up tasting presentations so tea aficionados
can learn about and appreciate firsthand fine, world-flavored
teas.
It’s
the Specialtea
With all the buzz about the health
benefits of tea, more and more tea drinkers are coming
out of the woodwork, and they’re demanding quality
teas.
Even
hotels and fine restaurants are catching on and offering
loose leaf teas and a selection of high-quality specialty
teas. After all, there’s nothing worse than an amazing
meal coupled with a bad cup of tea.
Sweetening
the Pot
So they’re serving specialty teas, setting up exquisite
afternoon tea and tea ceremonies, and pairing great dishes
with the perfect teas. However, this latest fervor for tea
goes beyond the finger sandwich.
Many
chefs and restaurants are experimenting with tea on their
menus. Think green-tea vinaigrette, tea-scented rice, powdered
green tea sprinkled over fine desserts. The inspirations
are endless.
Artsy
Teas
As you gaze into a cup of this tea, you’ll be impressed
by its gorgeous artfulness that resembles the fine works
of Mother Nature.
The
tea leaves have actually been hand sewn in what steeps open
into a full and beautiful flower shape, something like a
peony or a radiant sea anemone in your cup. Not
only are they eye-catching, but they’re usually quite
delightful as well.
Major
HotTeas
A few of the trendiest types of tea of late are white tea
(similar to an exquisite green tea in flavor but double
or more the price), Yerba Mate (a South American caffeine
boost with the health benefits of tea), and rooibos or red
tea (a caffeine-free South African herbal tea with antioxidant
values of green tea).
Watch
for more on these as their popularity soars.
Sources:
Cheers, May 2004
Nation’s Restaurant News, May 3, 2004
www.gourmetretailer.com
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