Refresh and Rehab

Monster Energy Co., Corona, Calif., extended with Rehab Monster line with a new Wild Berry flavor.

Officials say the drink delivers electrolytes Na + K + Mg + Ca; coconut water; vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12; and antioxidant botanicals (milk thistle, quercetin). It delivers 160mg of caffeine with only 25 calories per can and less than 5g grams of sugar.

“Rehab Wild Berry Tea is the perfect beverage to help you refresh, recover, and revive after a night out,” said Dan McHugh, chief marketing officer. “Our Rehab line was inspired by creating the best tasting beverages that also aided the body to perform and function with natural vitamins. Wild Berry Tea is the beverage of choice to get you back on your feet after a long night of partying.”

Growing Line

This September saw Del Monte Foods Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif., expand its JOYBA Bubble Tea Botanicals line with two new flavors: Strawberry Rose and Sweet Peach Honeysuckle.  

The line debuted in late 2021 with four initial varieties: Blueberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Lemonade Green Tea, Mango Passion Fruit Green Tea and a Raspberry Dragon Fruit Black Tea. JOYBA is available in 12oz. cups sold individually or in four- and eight-count packs. Suggest retail prices are $2.99 (individual), $9.99 (four-pack) or $14.99 (eight-pack at Sam’s Club & Costco.

“JOYBA Bubble Tea is a new brand of fruit-forward brewed tea with the perfect amount of playful

popping boba,” says Del Monte. “The brand worked alongside a Taiwanese boba expert to formulate the unique popping boba and thoughtful packaging, which includes a boba straw with every cup.”

 Go to the Extreme

Twisted Tea (Boston Beer Company) said it introduced its first high-ABV test launch: Twisted Tea Extreme, an 8% take on its hard iced tea line-up. Officials say the test helps Twisted Tea better understand the higher-ABV space and gather direct drinker feedback.

"Fans asked and we listened," said Erica Taylor, senior brand director for Twisted Tea. "Designed for those times when fans are looking for an extra kick of alcohol, flavor and fun, Twisted Tea Extreme gives us a totally new space to play in while maintaining what we do best: creating the best-tasting hard iced teas out there."

Made with real brewed tea and no carbonation, Twisted Tea Extreme is available in single-serve cans in two flavors: Lemon and Blue Razz. Officials said the offering is testing in New York, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Customize at Home

Direct-to-consumer coffee specialist Frazy, San Jose, Calif., expanded and introduced Frazy Boba Tea to its line. Six varieties include Peach Black Tea, Mango Black Tea, Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Almond Black Milk Tea, Milk Black Tea and Thai Milk Tea.

Frazy's new boba teas come with vacuum-sealed packets of boba tapioca pearls and milk powder (if applicable). Consumers select and order the type of boba tea they want, the caffeine level, the type of milk (whole, oat, soy, non-dairy creamer, non-fat milk, no milk), sweetness level (sugar, low sugar, no sugar, etc.), and anything else that makes it uniquely theirs. Consumers warm the boba tapioca pearls for three seconds in the microwave to soften, add hot or cold water and/or ice, and enjoy a delicious 8oz boba tea drink anywhere.

Frazy Bottles are 2.75oz concentrated versions of portable, highly customized specialty boba teas and coffees delivered in compact, shelf-stable bottles straight to consumers' doors. Frazy Boba Bottles start at $5.99, and are sold in six or 12-packs that can be mixed to create various customized boba drinks.

New Name in Tea

This August saw Dunkin’, Canton, Mass., introduce ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages in four distinct flavors—both for iced teas and iced coffees.

Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Tea, the brand’s first venture into the hard tea category, has an ABV of 5% and offers four signature flavors: Slightly Sweet, Half & Half (half tea, half lemonade), Strawberry Dragonfruit Iced Tea Refresher, and a Mango Pineapple Iced Tea Refresher. They’re sold at grocery and package stores in nine states and come as a 12-can mix pack; a six-pack of 12oz Slightly Sweet Spiked Iced Tea cans; or single 19.2oz Slightly Sweet Spiked Iced Tea cans.

“We knew we had the opportunity to create something special when we saw the positive response to our previous seasonal collaborations for Dunkin’-inspired beers. The growing appetite for adult beverages inspired us to put a twist on our customers’ favorite Dunkin’ Iced Coffee, Iced Tea and Refresher flavors,” said Brian Gilbert, vice president of Retail Business Development at Dunkin’.

Cold Brew Teas

Tea Forté Inc., Maynard, Mass., says its new Tea Forté Cold Brew infusions “liven up your water with refreshing flavor from organic botanicals and hints of fruit.”

"Cold Brew is an exciting new beverage for everyday enjoyment. The carefully curated collection can be enjoyed any time of day, during any season, and features three herbal tea flavor pairings sure to please every palate," says Katie Kameswaran, Tea Forté marketing director.

Cold Brew features 15 plant-based sachets per box (SRP $15) that enhance still or sparkling water in as little as 7 to 10 minutes. Varieties include Elderflower Rose, Watermelon Mint and Pomegranate Vanilla.

RTD Tea Shop Experience

Taiwan’s Orbitel International Corp, Taipei, used Anuga Cologne 2023 in Cologne, Germany, to introduce its O's Bubble Jelly Popping Boba Infused Drinks.

There are two flavors of juice-infused oolong Peach or oolong Lychee combined with aloe vera, in 16.2oz and 8.1oz cans. There also are two 16.2oz Jelly Popping Boba Cup varieties—Strawberry Peach Green Tea and Lychee Mango Green Tea—each with special lids for poking and sipping.

Officials say all drinks feature natural, vegan, non-GMO ingredients. Orbitel adds that O's Bubble offers 100% home compostable tea fiber straws, certified by DIN CERTCO and BPI.