People may have started drinking tea hundreds of years ago, but a resurgent interest in the drink has led to a thriving new tea scene, which takes best teas, traditions, and rituals from around the world and makes them part of our everyday lives. Specialty teas are taking more and more shelf space in the supermarkets. Here at Flying Fish we are determined to explore and embrace the emerging trends.

Much ado about Matcha

Matcha is trending among health-conscious tea drinkers. This green tea-leaf powder can be consumed in a shot glass for a morning boost of caffeine and antioxidants, as a creamy latte, mixed with fruits and ready to drink from the chiller cabinet, or in baked goods such as shortbread and macarons.

Tea Mixology

Mixologists have found tea’s rich and refreshing variety of flavours a delectable addition to their stock of ingredients for cocktails. “Teatinis” - martinis made using tea, have arrived at upscale bars, and can be easily prepared at home too. Another popular trend is creating “custom” teas for customer requests, combining essential oils, herbs, dried fruit and vegetables to create unique blends.

Dessert Tea

Tea blenders are innovating with “desert tea” - taking inspiration from the dessert menu and recreating those flavours in delicious tea concoctions made using fruit, chocolate and spices.

Fermen-tea-tion

Kombucha, the fizzy and fermented tea with powerful probiotic properties, is popping up in shops, pre-bottled in multiple flavours, and in bars as a cocktail ingredient, all around the world. Although readily available pre-bottled, it is fun to make at home too and we are planning to post future articles on how to do this.

Gourmet Treat

Gracing the tables of high-end restaurants, tea is fast becoming a popular food ingredient and can be used in a large variety of dishes to add its distinctive flavour. Masala Chai scones? Green Tea Salad dressing? Lapsang Souchong meatballs?

Good Health in a Cup

Tea has long been consumed for its health properties, but the wealth of new research on tea is highlighting more health benefits than the original tea pioneers could have ever imagined. Green Tea with it’s “health halo”, is now so popular that it is being grown in countries that never produced it in the past, such as Sri Lanka. Just to keep with global demand.

Tea on The Go

Ready to drink bottled tea is a great “grab and go” option, and is available in numerous shops, cafes and vending machines. Available as is or with addition of fruit, gelled coconut and a huge variety of other ingredients, bottled tea is becoming more popular than ever.

Bubble Tea

Colourful and tasty, bubble tea has taken the world by storm since it first appeared in Taiwan in the 1980s. Everything about it, from oversized straws used to drink the tea to the chewy tapioca boba (the bubbles at the bottom) bursting with flavour, makes it a fun experience.

Best Served Chilled

Extracting more natural sweetness than hot tea and with less caffeine, cold brew or infusion is a growing trend. There is a wide variety of equipment available, from easy to use infusers to more elaborate teaware, to help you make and enjoy chilled teas. Without a doubt there will be a plethora of cold brew style infusions coming from Flying Fish very soon.