When one thinks of tea two countries jump immediately to mind – China and England. China was home to tea for thousands of years before Westerner’s knew anything of it. England embraced tea and made it into a cultural icon of sorts. This may be why that many companies involved in growing, processing and selling tea look to England as a bridge between two worlds. Here various teas can be tested and reviewed for overall potential for export and sale.

Popularity of Tea in the U.K.

Consider for a moment that the estimated amount of tea consumed in the United Kingdom is over 160 million cups – well, that’s a LOT of tea! So if growers and exporters can create a brew that appeals to the English tea table, the chances for success increase dramatically in the United States too. It’s for this reason that many tea manufacturers – be they basic teas or gourmet – use the United Kingdom as a testing ground based on demographics that include sex, social levels, geography, and age.

Different Market Tests

Each company’s goals are different. One firm might be looking to attract the men’s market, when so many people think of tea as a woman’s brew. Another artisan firm looks to draw a refined pallet, getting them interested in things like white tea that have rare qualities. A third company might look to the bottom line – what pleases the largest demographic and sell that (Earl Grey Tea is a perfect example of a blend that did just that). And now, of course, there are companies pushing the health and well-being angle, which while it certainly works can also become rather over-stated and seems to sometimes down-play the social element of tea in this region of the world.

It should be noted that market research does not simply focus on tea blends. It also includes different designs for tea bags, new tea infusers, tea cups and tea pots, just to name a few. As technology advances we will see new tea wonders that the public will embrace – or not/

Rounding out Success

So how does a tea company become truly successful with such a diversity of potential goals and target groups? By offering more than one product. Historically speaking unless your singular product is a true sensation with qualities that no one can match or reproduce, one-shot ponies do not work in the commercial world. In the past, something so unique and rare was a wonder – now people find ways to reinvent the proverbial “tea wheel”. There are certainly still tea masters and some well guarded secrets, but with so much technology sometimes the bottom line is appealing to individual tastes and then finding a way to attract that audience.

Tea processing is but one part of a much larger industry picture. Then the export and marketing requirements begin. The good news for consumers is that we now have so many more options available than we did even a decade ago. It’s quite plausible that the tea export and marketing business will continue to expand so that we can enjoy even more variety while also enjoying something good for us.

Author Bio: Steve Green writes for Unity Teapots – selling yixing teapots and cast iron teapots online.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: tea trade,tea history,tea industry