Tea and Coffee

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Starbucks Coffee Co. introduced a new line of iced coffees that enables consumers to customize the drinks with creamers and/or sweeteners of their choice.

Starbucks Coffee Co., Seattle, reported its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal-year 2014.

High Brew Coffee released a line of ready-to-drink cold-brewed coffees under the same name.

Suja Juice Co. released its first line of cold-brewed, organic, non-GMO Project Verified and cold-pressured teas.

Most small-business owners see the world through rose-colored glasses when launching their companies, optimistic that their new ventures will succeed and thrive. In the case of Rooibee Red Tea, Louisville, Ky., this optimism has produced strong results.

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.