Latest news with #NationalIcedTeaDay
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The New Tea Revolution Takes Off
While coffee remains king in the United States, recent activity shows that iced teas may finally be ... More experiencing their time to shine as well. Tea parties have a long tradition in the United States, going back well before the American Revolution. Colonists enthusiastically tossed crates of tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxation on tea. The Boston Tea Party became a key moment in American history, leading up to the American Revolution. These days, iced tea is in the middle of its own revolution, as companies tweak recipes, add flavors, modify sweeteners, invest in launches, take to social media, and tout its health qualities. Soon after National Iced Tea Day on June 10, in case you missed it on your calendar, might be a good time to look at tea trends in what could easily be seen as a coffee country. Yes, coffee is an enormous F&B category, but iced tea (especially on a hot summer day) may be experiencing its time as well, judging by some recent activity. 'It's prime for the next modern revolution. I've been in the beverage biz my whole career,' Ryl Tea CEO Blodin Ukella said, pointing to enhanced water and protein shakes as categories that took off. 'Tea is a legacy category. It's seen innovation, but hasn't seen impactful innovation.' That is changing, as natural sugar substitutes give the good — without the bad. Ryl Tea, for instance, is part of this transformation of tea 'with benefits,' such as antioxidants, as well as flavors like peaches and cream, watermelon, rocket pop, half tea and half lemonade, lemon, raspberry and green tea. In addition to unsweetened versions, Ryl Tea, offers tea sweetened with monk fruit, Stevia, and allulose. 'Zero sugar. No artificial ingredients in the sweetener or flavor. And it tastes like a full sugar, full bodied product,' Ukella said of a naturally sweetened product with 'clean ingredients and robust taste.' 'We figured out how to take the functional benefits you'd get from a steeped tea, that you would make home, and retain those in the [ready to drink]Launched and led by Ukella, an immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1999 from Kosovo , Ryl Tea seeks to position itself as healthy with taste. Modern energy drinks today have exploded in popularity (think Celsius). Ukella believes, and some evidence backs the idea, that tea's time has finally come too. 'Tea is an everyday item. The peak season is absolutely the summertime, when people look to quench their thirst,' he said. 'We don't see the same downward dips you might in other categories.' Party Time For Ice Tea While Ryl (which is an acronym for 'Rethink Your Liquid') Tea is making real progress, it's part of a bigger tea boom. North America is the second largest region for iced tea sales over the past year, growing by 5% in value and 3% in volume over the past five years, according to Innova Market Insights. About 23% of consumers increased their iced tea consumption, boosted by variety and novelty that, 'balances refreshment with natural ingredients and functional benefits,' Innova said. 'It's evident that iced tea is evolving from a seasonal refreshment to a year-round staple,' states News. Touting new flavors, natural ingredients, and functional benefits, iced tea is on track to become a ... More year-round consumer staple. Nearly half — or 43.6% of the global iced tea market or $4.7 billion in 2024 — was in North America, according to News, saying sales are boosted by tea's 'refreshing taste and flavor versatility' and 'rising demand for refreshing, low-calorie drinks.' 'Health-conscious consumers in North America favor low-sugar, organic, and naturally flavored iced teas, fueling demand for healthier options,' preferring teas to 'sugary sodas,' according to News. 'The Iced Tea Market is experiencing significant growth…' they continue, 'driven by health-conscious consumers seeking refreshing, low-sugar beverages.' About 23% of iced tea consumers prefer low-to-no-or reduced sugar, and 26% of iced tea launched in the past year featured sugar-related claims, according to Innova. Lemon, peach, ginger, lemonade, and hibiscus are the top five flavors, Innova added. Shaking Up The Space Limited Time Offers (LTOs) are part of this tea time transformation. Ryl Tea, for instance, launched its rocket pop limited offering, but others are also shaking up the sector with temporary launches. In May, Coca-Cola announced a new LTO release called Sprite + Tea through October. A mix of Sprite with the 'classically refreshing flavor of tea,' it's available in regular and zero-sugar. This 'category-crossing' mix, combining soda and tea, follows a TikTok trend with millions of views of a post combining Sprite with tea bags, leading the company to create an official product mixing the two. With more variety than ever on our shelves, tea companies are shaking up the status quo by ... More "category-crossing," or combining soda and tea. 'We're always listening to our consumers, but this particular phenomenon motivated us to explore how we could offer our own refreshing take on tea,' said Kate Schaufelberger, Brand Director, Sprite North America. Coca‑Cola said its North America R&D team did consumer testing to 'fine-tune the formula' and create 'a smooth and refreshing balance of the complementary flavors.' 'You never go wrong when you listen to consumers and tap into what they're doing by becoming part of their everyday,' said A.P. Chaney, Coca-Cola's Senior Creative Director for Sparkling Flavors in North America. Sprite touts the blend as its "Refreshing Take on Tea,' pushing back against any idea that tea is old-fashioned, by calling it 'not your granny's tea.' 'We'll always continue to push ourselves to do what's right for our consumers and the business with innovations like Sprite + Tea,' Chaney said. Tea Take Two Some players are getting back into the category, believing this truly is iced tea's time. While Coca-Cola stopped producing Honest Tea, an organic, low-sugar brand, three years ago, Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman is back with Just Ice Tea (a pun on only iced tea and justice.) 'It recently became the ninth best-selling, ready-to-drink tea in the U.S. grocery channel, leapfrogging Coca-Cola's Peace Tea,' Food Dive noted regarding Just Ice Tea, citing NIQ data. In 2022, Goldman started Just Ice Tea with celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn and Yale professor and Honest Tea co-founder Barry Nalebuff four months after Coca-Cola said it would drop Honest Tea. These days, you'll see many tea products that are low-sugar, organic, and with sustainability in ... More mind. Just Ice Tea sales totaled $16 million in 2023, its first full year, according to Food Dive, which said the company recently added distribution in Target, as well as some Walmart and CVS stores, doubling stores to 12,000. 'I obviously would have never wished for Honest Tea to have been discontinued, but now that it has, we've been presented with an amazing business opportunity,' Food Dive quoted Goldman. Touting its organic, low-sugar, Fair Trade, and sustainability traits, Just Ice Tea offers flavors like honey green and peach oolong, orange mango herbal fusion, and berry hibiscus herbal. Hard Tea Crosses Generations In addition to blending tea with soft drinks, tea makers are also blending teas with alcohol. Lipton's new Hard Iced Tea seeks to appeal to baby boomers and millennials. Iced tea, after all, already provides a 'versatile base for mocktails and cocktails' and 'a favored base for creative drinks,' according to news. Brewed by FIFCO USA under a licensing agreement with PepsiCo, according to Marketing Dive, Lipton's Hard Iced Tea, like so many others, seeks to cross categories. Lipton's marketing 'campaign puts a heavy emphasis on content designed to appeal across age groups,' according to Marketing Dive, which added that 'Lipton Hard Iced Tea is attempting to bridge the generational divide between Baby Boomers and Millennials.' Lipton is seeking to reach consumers of all ages, even partnering with the Retirement House, senior influencers who reportedly have 6.4 million TikTok followers. They're tapping social media in other ways, too, holding an Instagram contest to win a trip to Palm Springs, California. Japan's Take On Tea Meanwhile, Japanese tea brand Ito En, which expanded into the United States in 2001, has been seeking to appeal to Asian Americans through a tie-in with Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The company, whose flagship is Oi Ocha, launched a less bitter version as it seeks to win over the U.S. market with an unsweetened brew. Nearly half of Japan's green tea exports went to the United States last year. Founded in the 1960s, Ito En has swallowed up much of Japan's tea market, accounting for around a quarter of the country's total tea production, according to Thomson Reuters. Japan's green tea exports grew by 24.6% to 36.4 billion yen or $251 million last year, with nearly half to the United States, reports Thomson Reuters. Ito En claims to have around 2% of the U.S. market for tea beverages, reports Thomson Reuters, ranking eighth largest, with Unilever's Pure Leaf brand leading the sector. Skewing Younger Some iced teas, such as Ryl Tea, are targeting a younger demographic. Ukella said energy drinks such as Alani Nu are bringing in the next generation of consumers, as Poppi did before selling to PepsiCo. 'We like to think, when you look deeper in the category, we're adding something new to a legacy set,' Ukella said. 'Tea is not approachable if you're a Gen Z, Millennial consumer. You have legacy dominant sugar players.' Ryl Tea has grown to about 40,000 accounts including Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, CVS, Walgreens, and many more. 'When you think why Poppi had the success it did, it brought in a new consumer to the set of soda,' Ukella continued, speaking on Gen Z and Millennials. Ryl Tea, Ukella said, has the fastest growing social media following in tea, in two years building an Instagram following of 84,000 and111,000 TikTok followers. 'The unique thing isn't just the followers, but the impressions and engagement,' he said, noting over 1.5 billion impressions in two years. 'The vision is to treat us as a Next Gen consumer beverage platform. Our goal is to drive growth in the tea space and build a brand of authenticity. Potentially, we can launch new sub-categories.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's National Iced Tea Day — and Lipton Hard Iced Tea Wants to Bring Boomers and Millennials Together for a Giant Party
It's no secret that baby boomers (people who were born between 1946 and 1964) and millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) have long found plenty of things to disagree upon, whether it's how much to spend on a pet, or whether or not to socialize with your neighbors. But if there's one thing boomers and millennials can agree upon, it's that Palm Springs is a mighty fine place to go on vacation — while it's long been a retirement town, with the average age being 57, it's also a big party town and super popular among the millennial set for their bachelor and bachelorette parties. So on June 10, National Iced Tea day, Lipton Hard Iced Tea is offering a new sweepstakes to send people from both generations on an all-inclusive trip to the desert city for the ultimate multi-generational bash — because good times aren't just for the young. (Or the old!) 'This National Iced Tea Day, we want to celebrate how tea brings people of all generations together, this time with a party-loving twist of Lipton Hard Iced Tea," Lisa Texido, brand director of Lipton Hard Iced Tea, tells PEOPLE in a statement. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. For the new campaign, the brand teamed up with content creators from the Retirement House (the 'grandfluencers' who challenge the conceptions of what senior living looks like), and comedian Cruz Corral, who's known for his funny takes on workplace culture across ages. To win the trip, from June 10 through June 17, fans can enter to win by following Lipton Hard Tea on Instagram and tagging their favorite party partner from another generation (boomers tag millennials, millennials tag boomers, 21+ Gen Z are welcome to participate too), with the hashtag #dontretiretheparty. The campaign statement continued, "Whether you're a Boomer who invented the house party or a Millennial who brings the energy to every rooftop gathering, Lipton Hard Iced Tea is calling on both generations to unite over their shared love of hard tea and partying." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Law & Order: SVU's Ice-T Says He Was ‘Blindsided' by Kelli Giddish's Departure, Credits Fans With Bringing Her Back Full-Time in Season 27
Law & Order: SVU's Rollins and Tutuola were partners on the police force, and their portrayers are pals off-screen. So count series vet Ice-T among those eagerly awaiting Kelli Giddish's full-time return to the procedural this fall. 'Kelli is dope. Me and her were teammates and partners,' Ice-T told TVLine Tuesday at Raising Cane's in New York City's Times Square. The rapper/actor was there to celebrate National Iced Tea Day (get it?!) in collaboration with the restaurant chain. More from TVLine Who's Your Law & Orderverse Dream Team? Choose Your Perfect Squad And Just Like That EPs Tell All About the Hot New Gardener in Carrie's Life: 'That's Like an Aphrodisiac' Criminal Minds Video: As JJ Seeks Help, Aimee Garcia Previews 'Intimate' Scenes With a 'Magical' A.J. Cook He recalled that when Giddish started the show in Season 13, just after original cast member Chris Meloni departed as Det. Stabler, 'I fell in love with Kelli as a person. She's just a sweetheart.' Giddish's exit as a series regular in December 2022, after her character and Peter Scanavino's Dominick 'Sonny' Carisi Jr. got hitched in a courthouse wedding, was a surprise, he added. 'No one really expected her to leave the show. We got blindsided by that. But the fans said they wanted to see Kelli back, so she's coming back.' Giddish has recurred on the show in the past few seasons, which is how we know Rollins is now a sergeant working with the New York Police Department's Intelligence Unit. The character most recently showed up in Season 26 to assist SVU on a kidnapping case. Giddish's reinstatement as a regular made series star Mariska Hargitay 'ecstatic,' she recently said. 'She is a formidable actress and an incredibly creative partner and has been such a joy and huge part of the fabric of SVU,' Hargitay added. 'I love her, and I love acting with her and co-creating with her, and it feels like home with her.' NBC renewed SVU for Season 27 in May. The upcoming season will find the procedural under the supervision of a new showrunner, Michele Fazekas (Gen V) and down two squad members: Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez won't return as Det. Joe Velasco and Det. Kate Silva, respectively. Press PLAY on the video above to hear Ice-T get excited about Giddish's increased presence in the new season, then hit the comments with your thoughts! Best of TVLine Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa' Vampire Diaries Turns 10: How Real-Life Plot Twists Shaped Everything From the Love Triangle to the Final Death Vampire Diaries' Biggest Twists Revisited (and Explained)
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump deploys Marines to L.A., Calif. sues and the ICE protests spread
Good morning, all. It's National Iced Tea Day. Here's how the 1904 World's Fair helped make the drink popular. Now, on to the news. Subscribe to get this newsletter in your inbox each morning. Protests against immigration raids continued in Los Angeles for a fourth day yesterday as President Trump activated additional troops and demonstrations spread across the country. Here's the latest. Federal response: Trump deployed 700 Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to L.A. as Attorney General Pam Bondi warned that violent protesters would face federal charges, saying, 'If California won't protect their law enforcement, we will.' [AP/Politico] Local moves: California sued the Trump administration, claiming the deployments are 'unlawful.' The state's attorney general accused Trump of 'trying to manufacture chaos.' And the LAPD said federal help was unnecessary and could hinder operations. [NBC News/USA Today] More protests: Thousands gathered in downtown L.A. yesterday to peacefully protest the ICE raids and rally for the release of a union leader who was arrested while documenting an ICE raid on Friday. Protests also sprang up in at least nine other U.S. cities. [Los Angeles Times/Reuters] 🏆Big BET Awards moments At the BET Awards, Mariah Carey performed a new song, Kevin Hart made a risky Diddy joke and Doechii called out Trump's response to the L.A. protests nearby. See the highlights, the winners and the red carpet looks. [USA Today/E! News] 💉 RFK Jr. fires vaccine panel Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the panel that advises the CDC on vaccines, writing that the decision is meant to restore faith in vaccines. Public health experts and GOP senators criticized the move. [Politico] ➡️ Appendix cancer in young adults A new study found that, compared with older generations, appendix cancer rates have tripled in Gen X and quadrupled in millennials. Though they're rare, experts said, the findings confirm a rise in gastrointestinal cancers in younger patients. [NBC News] ⚖️ Baldoni vs. Lively A judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively that alleged extortion and defamation. In a response to the ruling, Lively opened up about the 'pain' the lawsuit brought her. [People] 🏒 A blowout brawl The Florida Panthers took a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final after a 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. A major brawl broke out during the game's third period, resulting in eight players getting tossed. [Yahoo Sports] 📺 Now streaming: Call Her Alex, the docuseries following Alex Cooper, the host of the wildly popular podcast Call Her Daddy, is on Hulu. Watch the trailer. [Yahoo Entertainment] 🏀 On the court, the Fever, whose star Caitlin Clark is still sidelined with an injury, tip off against the Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass. [USA Today] ⚾ On the field, after an incredible home run robbery by the Athletics' Denzel Clarke yesterday, his team faces the Angels again today at 9:38 p.m. ET on Fubo. [Yahoo Sports] ☀️ And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area. In 2007, the series finale of The Sopranos aired on HBO. Fun fact: Although James Gandolfini won multiple Emmys for his role as Tony Soprano, the show's creator David Chase once questioned if he'd be 'threatening enough' to play the mob boss — then Gandolfini read the part. [People] Yahoo Health Editor Rachel Grumman Bender stopped by to explain her team's reporting on how people's grocery shopping habits are changing. Rachel: It's a common marketing tactic where food companies use buzzwords like 'natural' and 'low-carb' to make products seem healthier than they actually are. Experts told our writer Mikaela Conley this can erode people's trust, and many are seeking healthier, less-processed foods, even if it means paying more. Rachel: Along with reading nutrition labels, some people are turning to apps like Yuka that scan food labels and following influencers on social media. Mika wrote about one report that found a whopping 84% of consumers now buy products based on content creators' recommendations. Rachel: Apps and influencers can be helpful when you're trying to eat healthier, but experts warn that they can also oversimplify complex nutrition issues and even spread misinformation. The smartest approach: Check for proper credentials, and consult with a registered dietitian. Learn to read nutrition labels: Here are some tips. Matthew Covey wanted his proposal to his girlfriend, Gracie, to be special, so he asked her artist father to stage a fake art show, where he unveiled an oil painting featuring the question, 'Marry Me?' 'I couldn't even comprehend what happened,' Gracie said. [People] Have a great day. See you tomorrow! 💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Walk for at least 150 minutes each week — or 30 minutes a day, five days a week — to improve your health. [Parade] About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News. Start your day with The Yodel to get caught up on weather, national news, politics, entertainment and sports — in four minutes or less. Did you like this morning's newsletter? Subscribe to have it sent to you on weekdays. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- India Today
National iced tea day: 7 Unique recipes you need to try this summer
Every year on June 10, tea lovers across the globe raise a chilled glass in celebration of National Iced Tea Day. A beloved summer staple, iced tea is more than just a thirst quencher—it's a customised drink infused with herbs, fruits, spices, and even sparkling elements to create endless variations. Whether you prefer it classic, fruity, herbal, or bold, there's a recipe to match every mood and a comprehensive guide to the refreshing iced tea recipes this summer—perfect for backyard brunches, poolside lounging, or a healthy midday CLASSIC LEMON ICED TEAIngredients:4 black tea bags4 cups boiling water2 tablespoons honey or sugar (optional)Juice of 1 lemonIce cubesLemon slices for garnishInstructions:Steep the tea bags in boiling water for 4–5 bags and stir in honey or sugar if lemon juice and let it over a glass full of ice and garnish with lemon slices. A timeless favourite!MINT GREEN ICED TEAIngredients:4 green tea bags1 handful fresh mint leaves4 cups hot (not boiling) waterHoney to tasteIce cubesInstructions:Steep green tea bags and mint leaves in hot water (80C) for 3 and let it cool. Add honey if and serve with extra mint sprigs and cooling, detoxifying, and GINGER ICED TEAIngredients:4 black tea bags1 sliced ripe peach1 tablespoon grated ginger4 cups boiling waterHoney to tasteIce and peach slices for servingInstructions:Brew black tea with sliced peach and it steep for 10 minutes before straining. Chill the mixture and sweeten with over ice with peach slices for a fruity, spicy ROSE ICED TEAIngredients:2 tablespoons dried hibiscus petals1 teaspoon dried rose petals4 cups boiling waterHoney or agave to tasteLemon juice (optional)Ice cubesInstructions:Steep hibiscus and rose petals in boiling water for 10 and chill. Add sweetener and a splash of lemon juice if ruby red tea is tangy, floral, and packed with BERRY ICED TEAIngredients:3 herbal berry tea bags (e.g., raspberry, blueberry)2 cups hot water1 cup sparkling waterFresh mixed berriesIce cubesInstructions:Brew the berry tea in hot water and let it with sparkling water, add fresh berries, and pour over ice.A fizzy, fun option for garden parties and COCONUT ICED TEAadvertisementIngredients:3 green or white tea bags1 cup coconut water3 cups hot waterPineapple chunks or juice (optional)Ice cubesInstructions:Steep tea bags in hot water for 3 with coconut water and pineapple juice if using. Cool and pour over hydrating, and rich in electrolytes—perfect for hot MASALA ICED CHAIIngredients:2 black tea bags2 cups waterCup milk (dairy or plant-based)2–3 crushed cardamom pods, a small cinnamon stick, and a few clovesSugar or jaggery to tasteIce cubesInstructions:Boil water with spices and tea milk and sweetener; simmer for a few and strain. Pour over ice for an Indian twist on iced tea that's comforting yet FOR THE PERFECT ICED TEABrew Stronger Tea: Iced tea can taste diluted if not brewed strongly enough. Double the tea bags if cloudiness: Let the tea cool slightly before refrigerating to avoid with sweeteners: Try honey, agave, stevia, or even flavoured fresh ingredients: Fresh herbs, real fruit, and whole spices elevate the tea cubes: Freeze leftover tea in ice cube trays to prevent dilution in your next Iced Tea Day is the perfect excuse to explore the many flavours and possibilities this simple drink offers. Whether you prefer it zesty, tropical, floral, or spicy, iced tea is a versatile companion for summer. So, grab your pitcher, pick your favourite recipe, and sip your way into the season.
