Instant tea and the growth of ready-to-drink (RTD) teas

The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea

Ready to Drink Tea in an Instant

Following on the heels of iced tea, it took over 40 years for instant tea and
ready-to-drink teas (RTD) to make their debut and become popular.

The taste for powdered instant tea didn't really catch on until the 1950's, and
even then it was a poor substitute for the real thing. Even today it's still con-
sidered to be sort of like the kool-aid of teas.

Instant tea is made by brewing tea leaves and
removing the liquid. Sugar and preservatives
are added, and sometimes flavorings, such as
lemon or berry flavor. All you have to do is add
it to water, stir, and you've got tea-sort of.

Another innovation that followed iced tea was
ready-to-drink (RTD) teas. Realizing the huge
marketing potential, it didn't take long for the
soft drink manufacturers and tea companies to
join together to create ready to drink
tea-based products.

Available in cans and bottles, ready to drink tea
can be found in supermarkets, vending
machines, convenience stores, and everywhere
in between. Made with green tea, black tea,
and now white tea, RTD teas come sweetened,

and unsweetened, flavored with lemon, peach, or berries, or un-
flavored, carbonated and non-carbonated.

Some taste of tea--others not so much, containing more sugar and
flavorings than actual tea. Some tout health benefits and claim to
be all natural.

I have to admit that if I'm on the run, hot and thirsty, I'll reach for
a Snapple, sweetened, with lemon, or a bottle of Lipton sweetened
black tea with lemon, over a soft drink, and they're both pretty good. So it comes down to a
matter of convenience rather than taste for me. But I'm no snob about it.

My thoughts on instant or RTD tea is this; if you like the taste and it's something you enjoy,
then go for it. Like with all teas, it comes down to personal tastes and preferences. If it tastes
good to you--then it's good. Enjoy.

For information and to learn more about the tea, visit our other
pages:

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classic.
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decision led to its creation, and the recipe for brewing up a glass
or pot of this summertime classic.

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and information, we've turned confusing into confident.

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So who is Earl Grey, anyway?
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Learn where and how the beloved teapot began.
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some decorative and beautiful to look at. Learn where and how
the beloved teapot of today began its journey centuries ago.