Sensient Taps into Demand for Unusual Flavor Blends in Tea

17 June 2014 --- A consumer desire for “spectacular flavour combinations” is fuelling growth in the premium tea market across Europe, according to flavour expert, Sensient. The company has recently developed a new way of adding flavour to teas, which it hopes will enable tea producers to further tap into growth in this market and to continue to draw new customers into the category.

By applying spray dried flavors to tea leaves and coating them using proprietary technology, Sensient Flavors Beverage Europe has developed a highly sophisticated way of flavoring teas.

Double-coating protects the flavor, maintains the sensory profile over a very long period of time and extends shelf life. The flavored and coated tea leaves can be customized in particle size and are highly dispersible during the production and blending processes.

“In line with the general trend towards premium indulgence and wellness, tea is gaining more and more importance,” Hans-Juergen Sachs, the general manager for Sensient Flavors Beverage Europe told Food Ingredients First. “In the drinks sector as a whole, it is evident that many consumers are craving outstanding and spectacular flavor combinations, and this trend is also fuelling growth in the flavored tea market.”

Sachs explained that this is a global market development, although there are still markets where tea consumption is relatively low, such as most Latin American markets. “With tea-based beverages, however, more and more manufacturers are trying to reach consumers who are not classic tea drinkers.”

When used with tea bags, this way of delivering flavor scores particularly well because the tea is easy to fill and dust-free, reducing the need for cleaning in production areas. In addition, visible flavor granules within the tea are a thing of the past as the flavor particles are directly attached to the tea leaves. The color of the leaves can be adjusted if necessary.

Sensient has produced samples based on black tea combined with a selection of popular flavors: bergamot, garden mint and jasmine.

“There are virtually no limits to what flavors we can offer,” explained Sachs. “To offer sophisticated flavor creations, fruity notes can be combined with “creamy” flavors such us caramel or vanilla. Also cocktail flavors can find their way in the tea segment."

With its new concept, the company is responding to the “premiumisation” trend, which is a key development in the European tea market in particular. It is also supporting tea producers in offering outstanding and sophisticated tea specialties.

By combining its technical expertise with a wealth of knowledge in classic flavor creation, Sensient aims to bring perfection to tea. An extension of the black tea range featuring various fruit flavors is currently in the pipeline. Upon request, the company is also able to use other tea varieties, such as green and white, as a base for flavored tea creations.