Whether you call them wellness teas or functional teas, consumers look to healthy teas for multiple benefits. Many shoppers’ conception of a wellness tea extends beyond helping their bodies to comforting their souls and enhancing the environment and lives of others. All of these benefits should be factored into the development of a line of good-for-you teas.

The three pillars of a wellness tea should be:

1. Build on a strong base tea
2. Manage expectations and efficacy
3. Look for benefits beyond the actual ingredients

‍

BUILD ON A STRONG BASE

All forms of tea (including black teas) have been studied for their health benefits, yet consumers gravitate more towards greens, whites and oolongs as the base for popular wellness teas.

It used to be that dish detergent was dish detergent- it existed solely for getting dishes clean. Then product developers began to offer more- things like vitamin E to protect hands and all-natural ingredients to prevent dishwater from harming our clean water sources. Many products, including wellness teas, have followed this same trajectory. Consumers often seek a combination of ingredients with complimentary functions. Certain botanicals and ingredients do offer specific benefits, but many wellness teas achieve their popularity by combining multiple heath-focused ingredients with great taste. All forms of tea (including black teas) have been studied for their health benefits, yet consumers gravitate more towards greens, whites and oolongs as the base for popular wellness teas. Green teas in particular have gained a reputation of being high in antioxidants and other benefits while also providing a mild taste that blends well with other healthy stuff.

‍

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AND EFFICACY

Successful wellness teas take advantage of research-backed potency and consumer perceptions.

The most popular wellness teas continue to appeal to fundamental health needs and desires. Shoppers look for teas to alleviate cold symptoms, help them sleep, and burn fat. However, not all ingredients are created equal. Chamomile has been used for relaxation and as a sleep aid, but current studies suggest that other botanicals, like ashwaganda, may have greater impact and reliability as a sleepy-time tea component. Successful wellness teas take advantage of research-backed potency and perceived effects.

LOOK FOR BENEFITS BEYOND INGREDIENTS

Consumers are increasingly looking for more sustainable teas and products and associate sustainability with a healthier lifestyle. The sustainability mindset includes

• Economic development for tea workers
• Environmental protection
• Social responsibility

Sustainable teas are feel-good teas that shoppers are seeking, and are willing to pay more to get. China and Firsd Tea play a critical role in these sustainable, good-for-us-all teas:

• China is the world’s largest tea exporter
• 45% of green tea in the US comes from China
• 50% of US Fair Trade tea originated in China
• 65% of US Organic tea is from China

Tea, With Benefits can be a concept that extends beyond physical enhancements in the body. A wellness tea can provide psychological impacts as well as social/ecological improvements that contribute to the tea-drinker’s sense of well-being.