Bubbly Tea Takes Aim at Soda

Explore the new Tea Up for Health Pavilion being featured at the 2015 World Tea Expo event.
Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 11.15.23 PMPepsiCo and Unilever have released a new product, Lipton Sparkling Iced Tea, as a result of the Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership. These beverages combine tea with popular flavors like peach, raspberry and lemon and add carbonation. The product is intended to link closely with their new “Be More Tea” branding, encouraging customers to take a new look at their usual routines and try to “enjoy what you may have otherwise missed.” PepsiCo has found strong sales in the tea sector recently. Soda has been faced with lessening popularity as consumers begin to search for what they perceive to be healthier beverages. The aim is to capitalize on the concept of tea as a healthy beverage, but include the familiar carbonation and flavors of already popular drinks. “We’re excited to launch our newest innovation and add a spark to everyday routines with the combination of iced tea and light, crisp tiny bubbles,” said Linda Bethea, senior director of marketing at Pepsi Lipton Partnership, told media sources. Other sparkling teas have been on the market with some success, but Lipton’s substantial market share puts them in a unique position to grow its popularity. The first television spot for the new product will be released this month. Tea has continued to be a big winner for the beverage industry. Coca-Cola recently announced that it now has three tea products — Gold Peak, FUZE and Ayataka — in its stable of billion dollar brands. Source: AdAge and CSP Net