by WTN Staff 

Emeryville, Calif.-based Peet's Coffee & Tea has thrown its hat into the RTD tea ring.

The specialty coffee and tea company on June 29 released news of its latest line, Peet's Bottled Iced Teas, which includes six varieties: Jade Green Lime, Little Dragon Peach, Moroccan Mint Green, Snow Leopard Tea with Honey, Summer House Citrus, and Summer House Classic (unsweetened).

The 15-ounce bottles are being sold in 25 of Peet's northern California retail locations, as well as at a handful of grocery stores in California and Nevada, including some Whole Foods.

"We've taken everything we know from our 43 years in the tea business and crafted unique recipes that bring out the best flavor in each iced tea. It took us about five years to perfect this and get true tea taste into a bottle, but I think we finally got it right," said Eliot Jordan, who's been tea master at Peet's for nearly 20 years and recently was a judge in the World Tea Championship.

Peet's Vice President Chris Lansing said cold tea was "the primary way in which people consume tea in the U.S." Citing data from research firm Packaged Facts, Lansing noted that the bottled tea market grew by 15 percent from 2002 to 2007.

"The category has now slowed, but it remains the largest category, in terms of dollars, for how consumers enjoy tea," she said.