Tea Blog

If you’re a coffee drinker, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d rather lick a sidewalk than drink a cup of coffee. I’ll likely always remain a devoted tea drinker. Even so, I’m a bit skeptical of the growing idea that tea consumption in the United States could one day surpass coffee.

That idea recently appeared in the Los Angeles Times, in this report on the growing tea industry and shifting beverage trends, which boldly suggested that tea may be entering a new era of popularity.

The article suggests that more Americans are becoming concerned about high caffeine intake and rising beverage prices, contributing to what it describes as a cultural shift toward tea consumption.

According to the report, domestic tea sales increased by 32% over a five-year period ending in 2012, reaching approximately $15.7 billion, with projections rising toward $18 billion within a few years. Factors cited include celebrity endorsements, branded tea lines, and growing interest from major beverage companies.

This shift is also reflected in the actions of large coffee-focused corporations expanding into tea. For additional perspective, see this financial analysis of Starbucks’ strategic focus on tea products, which explores how major brands are investing in tea as a growth category.

All of this is encouraging for tea enthusiasts, though it may come with potential downsides such as rising prices. Even so, it still seems unlikely that tea will surpass coffee consumption in the United States anytime soon.

In fact, as noted toward the end of the Los Angeles Times article, the wholesale tea market remains only a fraction—roughly one-tenth—of the size of the coffee market. That suggests tea’s growth, while significant, still has a long way to go.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea blog articles by the author.

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