How do you package tea?
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The world of tea packaging design is an engrossing and somewhat intoxicating one to keep track of.
Traditional Victorian-era designs from a bygone era, and solid colours and minimalist elements.
Whether old or new, tea brands, without a doubt, go to all extremes with their packaging design.
Several aspects make your product attractive, including the box you ship it in, the stand-up pouches you package your loose leaf tea in, and even the tea bags themselves.
Each part of the design must work together and build an overall voice for your brand.
Getting started with tea branding
According to Statista, the volume of tea consumed in Europe will rise to 767.9 mkg by 2025, creating growth of around 3.4% annually.
It's clear:
People love their tea.
But they also love trying out new flavours.
Source: Moya Matcha
Tea packaging might be an afterthought for some companies, but it can make yours stand out from any other product on market shelves.
You’re competing with thousands of different items on the store shelves. You have to stand out in your section and amidst a sea of packaging.
You can have the most amazing tea that anyone ever consumed, but if the colours and design of your packaging fall flat, your sales will suffer.
Even the classic tea brand Twinings knows the power of clever packaging design:
This article will discuss the various aspects of a smart tea packaging design and why it works as a marketing tool.
We will also look at some examples of smart packaging.
What Are the Rules of Tea Packaging Design?
Tea packaging keeps the item secure and adds value to the product. It grabs interest and tells a story.
Some of the basic rules of good packaging design include:
Proper logo placement
A clear definition of what the product is
Authenticity and truth
Differentiation from similar offers
Securing the tea from moving around too much in shipment
Showcasing the voice of the brand
Of course, there are other ways tea packaging helps sell your product, but these are basic elements of a good design.
Common tea packaging materials
You'll find some common packaging solutions amongst all tea brands.
Cardboard product boxes, metal tins and even stand up pouches.
The standard product box with some form of kraft paper inside is the go-to packaging solution for many brands that sell their tea in teabags.
Australian brand Yarra Valley Tea Co. is a fine example of tea packaging design on a simple paper stock box.
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A post shared by Yarra Valley Tea Co (@yarravalleyteaco)
When it comes to loose leaf tea, stand up pouches or doypacks are another common solution. A fine example of this is the Argentinian brand, Tenki Patagonia.
Stand up pouches are durable, cheap, and along with a mailer box, are great for subscription-based brands.
One tea packaging solution that's growing in popularity is the cardboard tube and paper can.
Another Polish brand, Dworzysk, use stunningly detailed designs on the side of their tube to create an image that invokes the same feelings that the tea helps drinkers feel.
In this case, it's getting a good night's sleep.
Paper & Tea also use cardboard tubes as the medium for their tea packaging.
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A post shared by P & T - Paper & Tea (@paperandtea)
But its metal tins that are, without a doubt, one of the most eye-catching forms of tea packaging.
Swedish tea brand Teministeriet sells their range of teas in black metal tins.
The solid black design allows the simple white text to draw in the eyes of the view to read the type of tea - in the case, the '150' tea.
Metal tins are strong and robust, making them one of the best examples of packaging sustainability in tea packaging design.
These tins are frequently reused elsewhere in a household and are entirely recyclable when they are disposed of.
See how to use Packhelp's online designer to create custom tea packaging
Let’s dig into how you accomplish these features and look at some examples of brands doing an excellent job with their tea packaging.
Do: Customise the Design
Know who your target audience is and what makes them tick.
Which pain points drive them to try a new tea brand?
Perhaps they want something different in their lives.
Maybe they care most about flavour.
The only way of figuring out your customers’ needs is by surveying them and digging deep into the psychographics of your buyer personas.
Once you understand the forces driving them to seek out a new tea, you’ll know how to package it to meet their needs.
Tea company Harney & Sons place some of their speciality tea sachets in tin cans.
The design gives a hint of times gone by and is the perfect choice for those feeling a bit nostalgic.
This Victorian-era feel implies that the brand has been around for a long time.
Consumer intuition says that if a brand has been around for a long time, it's trustworthy.
Therefore, this tea must be good, because it's been around for so long.
Don’t: Go Cheap
The cost of tea packaging can eat into your profit margins. After all, a tin can costs more to produce than a cardboard box.
However, if you want your item to compete against luxury goods, you must spend a bit more on your design and materials.
You don’t have to use tin but think through even the thickness of the cardboard or how the colours look on the packaging’s background.
Learn more about Packhelp's corrugated Mailer Boxes
Building trust amongst your consumers is vital.
A brand that's consistent in its branding is one that's trustworthy: it shows pride in one's name and product.
What makes your company stand out from other tea entrepreneurs? How can you showcase your unique value proposition on the box?
Do: Embrace a Cause
What do you care most about as a brand? How can you highlight this through your tea packaging?
For example, if you care about feeding hungry children, you might include a note stating each box purchased helps a specific cause.
Your tea packaging design should also echo what your company cares about: its values.
If your business is one that prioritises conservation and sustainability, this should be echoed in your tea's ingredients.
Juniper Ridge embraces nature both via the design and the tea packaging material.
The design shows plants and a lot of white space.
The designer layered three strips resembling parchment paper to contain text.
The box itself is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) material. Even the ink is environmentally friendly.
The wording on the package shows their commitment to sustainability.
It points out the packing materials and shares that they cultivate the ingredients in the tea responsibly to not harm the environment.
Don’t: Forget Your Brand Identity.
Since 90% of people admit to remembering a company based on colours and images, your packaging should include your logo and colour palette.
If people already associate red with your tea, don’t deviate too much from that.
Your logo is also a big part of who you are as a brand.
Make sure it takes a prominent place on your packaging. Ideally, people associate your voice with your tea.
When they want a different flavour or type, they’ll look for your symbols and recognise you immediately.
Below is a fine example of using colour to differentiate flavours from Raven Coffee:
Learn the finer details about coffee packaging here
At the same time, think about the image you project in the words you use and the tone you take.
If you want to be seen as a young, hip business, tap into language familiar to the younger generation.
If you wish to reach senior citizens, utilise a classic style and tone.
Pukka Herbs do this with all their tea packaging. However, it's interesting to see how those values are recreated on their large setup boxes used as gift sets.
The same floral motifs associated with their logo and other packaging solutions are echoed on the larger boxes.
This is a fine example of consistent tea packaging branding over multiple mediums while using colour to differentiate flavours.
Do: Focus on the Basics
While you want your tea packaging to stand out, don’t be afraid to scale things back to a more minimalist style.
Let your product speak for itself. The quality of the box and the items inside can do a lot of your talking for you.
A minimalist look might not be suitable for all tea packaging, but if you already have a fairly established brand, it can focus on what’s inside.
There are still some things you’ll need to include, such as ingredients, your tagline, and logo.
However, you don’t need to add vivid colour or tons of graphics to get your point across.
Is the look right for you? Only you can decide the voice of your tea brand.
Smith Tea keeps its package design simple.
They use neutral black and white with a touch of gold. Note the high-quality cardboard with a glossy finish and hot stamping.
The number of elements on the container is minimal.
To match the style of their tea boxes, they also keep their site to only a couple of colours and add plenty of white space around images and text.
The overall impression is one of simplicity and quality.
TWG Tea is another example of minimalistic packaging design.
In this example, you can see how they use black and gold to imply excellence and quality.
Do: Tell a Story
People love a good brand story.
How did you get where you are today?
What motivated you to start your company?
- Have you overcome any major hurdles?
You might think that’s a lot to convey on your packaging, but you can easily tell a story with clever copy.
Condense your primary victory into a single line of five or fewer words.
Learn more about Concrete Jungle and how they communicate their uniqueness.
Include it as a tagline on your product packaging.
You can even add QR codes and links that take the user to a more in-depth look at your company’s timeline.
Don’t: Overload Your Design.
We’ve already talked about utilising a minimalist design for your tea packaging.
There is a lot of information you’d like to convey to your users, but it’s important to focus only on the essential elements.
Otherwise, your design becomes overloaded with competing elements.
Too much noise and a busy look may turn customers away.
When given a choice between two designs, which one is best?
You’ll find it is almost always the one with less information or condensed wording.
Pictures say more than words, so think about whether you can convey the same message with a photo or illustration.
Study Your Competition
Creating the perfect tea packaging requires creativity, knowledge, and attention to detail.
Take time to study your competition and what their boxes look like. Is yours different enough to grab attention while still making it clear tea is inside?
Know your customer base well, as they may have different preferences than other tea brands.
Once you tap into your users’ preferences and develop the perfect design, you should run it past a control group or two.
Get feedback on any tweaks that might improve it further.
Take the time on the front end to develop the best product packaging possible.
The result will be excellent sales and brand recognition.
About the author:
Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly. She was the director at a marketing agency before becoming a freelance web designer. Eleanor lives in Philly with her husband and dog, Bear.
How To Source And Package Tea
Sourcing Tea
In the fascinating journey from leaf to cup, how to source and package tea play a pivotal role.
At Pouch Me, we create custom tea pouches in different packaging formats and can help teach you how to successfully package tea. The sourcing part is from our work with tea businesses who create truly remarkable blends that transcend cultural boundaries to touch the hearts and souls of tea lovers worldwide.
We'll explore the lush tea gardens spread across various parts of the world, each contributing to the diverse array of tea types with their unique climatic and geographical influences.
Whether you're a tea business or tea connoisseur our post will enrich your understanding of your beloved brew's journey and the meticulous efforts behind each sip.
Introduction to Tea Sourcing
How to source and package tea? It's a question that has puzzled many. The Tea Association of the USA has recommended voluntary guidelines for product purity, packaging, and additives; however, specific recommendations for sourcing and packaging tea are not available on their website.
The journey of tea, from the lush fields to the comfort of your cup, is a fascinating one. It's a process that demands a keen eye for quality and a deep understanding of the art and science of tea making.
Sourcing quality tea is not just about finding the best leaves. It's about understanding the journey those leaves have taken, from the moment they sprouted on a tea bush to the moment they arrive at your doorstep.
How to source and package tea is about appreciating the craftsmanship that goes into every step of the process.
Understanding Different Types of Tea
Tea is a world of diversity and complexity. When thinking of how to source and package tea, knowing the different types of tea is paramount.
From the delicate, floral notes of green tea to the robust, full-bodied flavor of black tea, each type offers a unique taste experience. And each type of tea requires a different approach to sourcing and packaging.
Green, black, oolong, and white teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference lies in how the leaves are processed after they are harvested.
The primary types of tea are:
Type of TeaCharacteristicsBlack tea- Fully oxidized with a strong flavor- High caffeine content
- Most common type in the Western worldGreen tea- Unoxidized with a milder flavor
- Popular in East Asia
- Known for its health benefitsWhite tea- Made from the youngest tea leaves
- Least processed of all teas
- Delicate flavor
- Low in caffeineOolong tea- Partially oxidized with a flavor between black and green tea
- Popular in China and TaiwanPu-erh tea- Fermented and aged, unique flavor and aroma
- Popular in China
- Known for its digestive benefitsHerbal infusions- Not from Camellia sinensis plant
- Made from herbs, fruits, and flowers
- Examples: chamomile, peppermint, rooibosPurple tea- Relatively new type grown in Kenya
- High in antioxidants
- Unique flavor profile
How to Source Tea
Sourcing tea is a meticulous process that requires a blend of knowledge, patience, and a keen sense of quality.
Here's a more detailed, step-by-step guide on how to source tea:
Step 1: Research Potential Tea Suppliers
The first step in sourcing tea is to identify potential suppliers. This could be tea plantations, wholesalers, or independent growers. Look for suppliers who have a strong reputation in the industry and are known for their commitment to quality.
You can do this by:
- Reading reviews and testimonials online.
- Attending tea industry events and trade shows.
- Joining online tea communities and forums for recommendations.
Step 2: Understand the Supplier's Practices
Once you've identified potential suppliers, it's important to understand their practices. This includes their farming methods, how they process their tea, and their stance on sustainability.
Key things to look out for include:
- Whether they follow organic farming practices.
- If they have fair-trade certifications.
- How they handle their tea post-harvest.
Step 3: Evaluate the Quality of Tea
Evaluating the quality of tea is a critical step in the sourcing process. This involves assessing the tea's taste, aroma, and appearance.
Here's how:
- Taste: Brew the tea and take note of its flavor profile. Is it bitter, sweet, floral, or fruity? The flavor should be rich and full-bodied, not flat or overly bitter.
- Aroma: The aroma of the tea can tell you a lot about its quality. It should be fresh and fragrant, not stale or musty.
- Appearance: Look at the tea leaves. They should be whole and vibrant in color, not broken or dull.
Step 4: Understand the Importance of Certifications
Certifications like organic and fair-trade can provide assurance of the tea's quality and the supplier's ethical practices.
Organic certification ensures the tea has been grown without harmful chemicals, while fair-trade certification ensures the workers have been paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.
Step 5: Build Relationships with Suppliers
Building a strong relationship with your tea supplier is crucial. This not only ensures a steady supply of quality tea but can also lead to better prices and access to rare or specialty teas.
Building relationships can involve regular communication, visits to their plantation if possible, and a mutual understanding of expectations and standards.
Step 6: Navigate International Trade Laws
If you're importing tea from another country, it's important to understand the relevant trade laws and regulations. This can involve duties and taxes, import restrictions, and necessary documentation.
It's advisable to consult with a trade expert or legal advisor to ensure you're compliant with all regulations.
By following these steps, you can source high-quality tea that meets your standards and expectations. Remember, how to source and package tea is not just a transaction, but a journey into the world of tea that requires passion, patience, and a commitment to quality.
Challenges in Tea Sourcing
Sourcing tea is not without its challenges. Language and cultural barriers can make communication with suppliers difficult. Ensuring consistent quality can be a complex task, given the many variables involved in tea production.
Navigating international trade laws and regulations is another challenge. These laws can be complex and vary from country to country. Understanding them is essential to ensure a smooth and legal import process.
Packaging Tea
Introduction to Tea Packaging
When it comes to the art of tea, the journey doesn't end with sourcing the perfect leaves.
How to source and package tea is a question that requires equal attention to both aspects.
In the discussion of how to source and package tea, the packaging process is just as crucial, serving as the final step that ensures the tea's freshness and quality are preserved from the plantation to your pantry.
Proper tea packaging is truly important and more than just a functional necessity. It's an extension of the tea itself, reflecting the care, attention, and passion that went into sourcing the tea.
It's about creating a package that not only protects the tea but also enhances the overall tea experience.
4 Main Types of Tea Packaging Materials
The world of tea packaging is as diverse as the world of tea itself.
From the traditional tin cans to the modern biodegradable bags, each packaging material offers its own set of advantages and challenges.
To flesh out how to source and package tea, let's run through the main types of packaging materials for tea so you can see which one will fit your special requirements, product, and branding the best:
Tin
Tin is a classic choice for tea packaging. It's sturdy, airtight, and offers excellent protection against moisture and light. However, it can be more expensive and less environmentally friendly than other options.
Paper
Paper packaging, especially when lined with foil, can be a good option for tea. It's lightweight, cost-effective, and can be easily branded. However, it may not offer the same level of protection as other materials.
Plastic
Plastic is another common choice for tea packaging. It's durable, waterproof, and can be transparent, allowing the tea to be visible. However, it's not the most sustainable option and may not be effective in preserving the tea's aroma.
Flexible Laminates
This is our specialty. We use flexible laminates, comprising polymer films, paper, and metalized film, in versatile packaging like bags, pouches, and wraps made from materials such as plastic film and foil.
We make these via an extrusion process, bonding different layers of materials like films, papers, and aluminum foils. These laminates are an excellent choice for tea packaging, preserving the tea's freshness and flavor most effectively.
3-Step Process on How to Package Tea
Packaging tea is a delicate process that requires careful consideration. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it effectively:
Step 1: Choose the Right Packaging Material
As discussed above, the choice of material can greatly impact the tea's freshness and shelf life. When thinking of how to source and package tea, choose a material that offers good protection against moisture, light, and air.
Step 2: Ensure the Container is Airtight:
Air can degrade the tea's quality and shorten its shelf life. Ensure the container is airtight to preserve the tea's aroma and flavor.
Step 3: Consider the Packaging Design:
The design of the package is your chance to communicate your brand to the customer.
Consider elements like color, typography, and imagery. Don't forget to include important information like the tea type, brewing instructions, and expiration date.
Sustainability in Tea Packaging
When answering how to source and package tea, this is a vital area of consideration.
In today's world, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It's a responsibility. And when it comes to tea packaging, it's no different.
Using sustainable, biodegradable materials for tea packaging is not just good for the environment, it's also good for business. More and more consumers are becoming conscious of their environmental impact and are more likely to choose brands that align with their values.
At Pouch Me we offer Kraft PLA bags fashioned into stand up pouches, flat and lay flat pouches, quad seal and flat bottom pouches with biodegradable zippers made from corn, which are eco-friendly alternatives to the typical plastic and metal laminates.
However, sustainability in tea packaging is not just about the material. It's also about the entire lifecycle of the package, from production to disposal. It's about minimizing waste, reducing energy use, and promoting recycling.
In the end, how to source and package tea is a journey that requires a balance of art, science, and responsibility.
It's about delivering a product that not only tastes good but also feels good to buy, knowing that every step of the process has been thoughtfully considered.
How To Source And Package Tea FAQs
+ How should tea be packaged?
Use airtight and moisture-proof packaging to maintain the freshness and aroma of tea, preventing the absorption of moisture and external odors. Protection from light is also crucial to preserve the tea's quality. You can package tea in individual tea bags, sealed bags for loose tea, or tins, using materials like paper, plastic, or metal, with some companies opting for biodegradable materials to reduce environmental impact. Make sure to include pertinent information about the tea, such as its type, origin, brewing instructions, and expiration date.
+ What are the sources for tea?
Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is native to East Asia. The plant is cultivated in various parts of the world, including China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. The leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are harvested and processed to produce different types of tea, including green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. The processing method determines the type of tea. For example, green tea is made from leaves that are quickly heated to prevent oxidation, while black tea is made from leaves that are fully oxidized.
+ How to make tea bag packaging?
Tea bag packaging involves several steps. First, the tea is measured and placed into tea bags. The tea bags can be made from filter paper, food-grade plastic, or cotton muslin. The tea bags are then sealed to keep the tea fresh. The sealing can be done with staples, glue, or string. Some tea companies use biodegradable materials for their tea bags to reduce environmental impact. The tea bags are then placed into secondary packaging, such as a box or tin, for distribution.
+ How do you package herbal teas?
Herbal teas are packaged similarly to regular teas. The herbs are dried and then placed into tea bags or loose tea containers. The packaging should be airtight and moisture-proof to maintain the freshness and quality of the herbs. The packaging can include information about the herbs, such as their health benefits and brewing instructions.
+ What is primary packaging of tea?
Primary packaging is the material that first envelops the product and holds it. This usually is the smallest unit of distribution or use and is the package that is in direct contact with the product. For tea, the primary packaging could be the tea bags or the sealed bag containing loose tea. This packaging is designed to protect the tea and maintain its freshness.
+ What is the best packaging material for tea?
The best packaging material for tea is one that protects the tea from moisture, light, and odors. Commonly used materials include cellophane, polyethylene film, polypropylene film, polyester film, and nylon film. Some tea companies also use biodegradable materials for their packaging to reduce environmental impact. The choice of material can depend on various factors, including the type of tea, the intended shelf life, and the brand's environmental policies.