Harriet Jachec spoke with Andrew Walker, founder of Tea Rex, at Food Matters Live 2018 about the brand’s natural approach to tea products.
Naturalness, and freshness, are currently seen as consumer trends for both food and beverages. Walker said that Tea Rex has utilised this in order to enhance flavour in its products.
“If you dry anything, you lose the flavour and any natural goodness that was contained within it. With fresh ingredients, you get all the benefits of the flavour, but you also get natural vitamin c, the soluble fibres, and the goodness contained in a slice of lemon in hot water.”
Due to the pH level of the sachets, Walker explained that Tea Rex products have a longer shelf life.
“The clever part about Tea Rex is because we manage our pH levels carefully, that actually gives us a shelf life for up to a year. So the pH that comes with lemon allows us to have a longer shelf life without the use of preservatives.”
The innovative fresh format also alters the way the consumer will interact with the product.
Walker illustrated this further, and said: “Much like you would have with looseleaf tea or coffee, you need some form of apparatus, filter, or cafetière, it’s similar with Tea Rex.
“You can use a cafetière […] and we’ve also invented a filter which you can use to brew each cup individually.”
Not only are consumers looking for freshness in their buying choices, but concerns about sustainability have also come to the fore in terms of packaging.
Walker explained: “The filter is made out of biodegradable filter material. However, the paper at the moment isn’t. But over the next year, we are looking to develop a version which will be fully biodegradable.”
Presented and edited by: Harriet Jachec
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024
