Tea and Coffee

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The gourmet coffee market has perked up this year, according to the National Coffee Association of USA Inc. (NCA). Approximately 34 percent of American adults drink gourmet coffee beverages daily, up 3 percentage points from 2013, according to the New York-based association’s “National Coffee Drinking Trends” market research study, which was released in March. Conversely, non-gourmet coffee drinking dropped 4 percentage points to 35 percent, it reports.

Consumer interest in healthy beverages has led to an evolving marketplace within the industry, experts note. For instance, the tea category has experienced sales increases due to consumer emphasis placed on healthy living habits, according to a January report from Santa Monica, Calif.-based IBISWorld titled “Tea Production in the US.”

Ito En North America Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a subsidiary of Ito En Ltd., will debut bottled Shincha green tea in the United States. Shincha is the year’s very first harvest of green tea, which is known for its fresh and lively flavor, sweet finish, and smooth umami character, the company says. The company plans to bottle the tea, which is only accessible for a few months each year, under its Oi Ocha green tea brand and release it online and at select U.S. retailers for a limited time.

Former professional lacrosse player and entrepreneur John Gagliardi introduced a line of Titan Tea functional beverages made with organic tea leaves, electrolytes, D-ribose and caffeine.

The old saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but consumers also are turning to beverages such as tea to support their health.

Nestea, a brand of Stamford, Conn.-based Nestlé Waters North America, announced the revival of the brand’s “Nestea Plunge” marketing effort with the new 2014 advertising campaign. This updated communication strategy is designed to promote Nestea’s new recipe, which features more flavor and fewer calories, the company says.

Canadean’s latest update of its global beverage forecasts to 2019 strongly underlines the role of the emerging market country groupings.

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Donuts, part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. family of companies, has partnered with Arizona Beverages USA LLC, Woodbury, N.Y., and Arnold Palmer Enterprises, Cleveland, to introduce the new Frozen Arnold Palmer Coolatta. The half iced tea, half lemonade frozen beverage will be available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide throughout the summer.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. launched Teavana Oprah Chai Tea. The tea beverage was developed by Oprah Winfrey in collaboration with Teavana’s leading tea teaologist and features a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos, the company says. Teavana Oprah Chai Tea is available as a handcrafted latte or loose-leaf tea at participating Starbucks stores across the United States and Canada and as loose-leaf tea and brewed tea at Teavana stores in the same regions.

Portland, Ore.-based Boyd Coffee Co. is launching a new generation of single-serve coffees for single-cup coffee brewers. The new Boyd’s Coffee cups' soft mesh filters use less packaging than the traditional rigid-side cups and also enable coffee drinkers to smell the coffees’ fresh-roasted aromas, the company says.