The leaf branches out

Unlike many beverages, tea has been less affected by the recent recession. Indeed, as the economic picture brightens, sales of tea products are rising. In 2010, tea imports were up 10 percent over the previous year, to a record 274 million pounds, according to estimates by the Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Perhaps overshadowed in this country by specialty coffee purveyors, tea is, after water, the most consumed beverage globally. Of course, Starbucks et al. also serve a substantial amount of iced and hot tea and chai drinks. Additionally, there are some 3,000 specialty tea rooms in the U.S.

Mixologists are also reaching for the leaf to create innovative cocktails, with tea infusions. Tea accented liqueurs like Zen Green Tea and Qi are gaining adherents, and Absolut recently released a Wild Tea Vodka, flavored with oolong and elderflowers. However, much of the action in the tea arena is in RTD beverages. Bottled iced teas have proliferated over the past few years. And thanks to the leaf’s well-documented health benefits, tea is often a key ingredient in the rising category of functional drinks as well. The RTD tea market totaled $3.30 billion in 2010, according to the Tea Association.

For operators, RTD drinks are easy to buy, store and sell. But preparing iced and hot teas from scratch is more profitable. Plus, freshly brewed tea, properly promoted, can be a point of differentiation for your restaurant. The interest is there among consumers. The Tea Association predicts dollar sales of specialty teas will increase 5 to 8 percent in 2011.

Hot profession
A tea sommelier is the bridge between the culinary and tea worlds,” declares Cynthia Gold, one of just a handful of professionals in the world with that title. As tea sommelier for the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, Gold supervises the hotel’s popular Afternoon Tea, develops tea cocktails, creates “tea cuisine” dishes, blends the hotel’s signature teas and devises tea-accented special events.

Offered Friday through Sunday from2 to 4 p.m., Afternoon Tea is held in the hotel’s Pairings restaurant. It’s priced at $29.50 and includes three courses of scones, tea sandwiches and sweets paired with appropriate teas. “Afternoon Tea is quite popular with a wide variety of demographics—families, couples and groups,” says Gold.