Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491371
26 STiR tea & coffee industry international ARGENTINA Finlay Buys Argentine Firm UK tea company Finlays, which grows tea in Kenya and Sri Lanka, bought Casa Fuentes SACIFI, Argentina's largest tea estate company based in the Province of Misiones, which has an annual produc- tion capacity of 27 million kg. The company grows tea on 2,000 hectares and operates five factories where they process, grade, blend, and pack black tea for export to North America. Casa Fuentes tea is all Rainforest Alliance certified, pesticide-free, and particularly well suited to the production of tea extracts for the ready-to-drink sector in the US. Finlay's group managing director Ron Mathison said "Finlays is already a market leader in the delivery of tea and coffee extract solutions to the food and beverage business sector in the US. This acquisition will not only provide assurance of supply of suitable raw material, it will provide Finlays with a platform for research and develop- ment, new product development, and innovation in delivering custom specific tea blends." AUSTRALIA Snapple Launches in Australia US Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS), in partnership with Australian food distributor Stuart Alexander, has launched Snapple Iced Tea into the Australian market. DPS is a leading producer of flavored beverages and Snapple, founded in 1972 by three friends New York, now produces a range of ready-to- drink iced teas, juices, and waters. This new presence in Australia marks an expansion in DPS's plans. Four flavors of Snapple are now available - peach, lemon, raspberry, and green tea - and distributor Stuart Alexander says that major retailers have already recognized the growing interest in iced teas and are seizing the opportunity to add Snapple to their range of RTD bottled teas. "New brands are successfully adding value to the iced tea category and the Snapple launch offers that incentive for would-be stockists," said Mark Barr, general manager of Stuart Alexander. The marketing campaign began with Snapple samples being offered in-store nationally as well as roaming samplers in city hot spots. Snapple was first available in Woolworths supermarkets and later at leading grocery and convenience stores. infused with medicinal herbals such as chrysanthemum, ginseng and goji berries to enhance their health benefits. Prices for these quality teas are high but consumers are prepared to pay $25,000 for a cake of 100-year-old puerh, $1,500 for a Tie Guan Yin oolong, or $1,250,000 for one kilo of Da Hong Pao. CHINA Young Chinese Like Specialty In the past few years, the 30-something generation in China has been easily seduced by the buzz of the US-style coffee bars where they drank espressos, lattés, and Frappucinos. But now it seems they are rediscovering the Chinese tradition of savoring and appreciating expensive Chinese teas. The vogue in tearooms today is for this younger generation to try unusual teas such as expensive Wuyi Rock Oolongs, 100-year-old puerhs, spring-picked Long Jing and Mao Jian, and jasmine-blossom greens, discuss in detail the flavor profile, and try to decide what foods would pair successfully with such teas. Owners of tea businesses often now conduct tastings to lead new tea aficionados through a range of quality teas in the same way that a wine tasting might be conducted. Teas are served in wine or martini glasses and are paired with chocolate, seafood or subtly seasoned meat dishes. Or they are Weetabix Green Tea Alpen Bar The Weetabix Food Company, founded in the UK in 1932, is launching a range of Alpen Cereal Bars, the first Weetabix products designed specifically for Chinese consumers. The range, which includes a green tea and chocolate flavored Alpen Bar, is the direct result of an extensive research program amongst Chinese families and was developed at Weetabix's food labs in Burton Latimer in the United Kingdom. The move is part of the company's long term growth strategy to advance its presence in this fast growing China market. The new Alpen Bar range, which includes six new flavors, is aimed at young professionals who lead busy lifestyles and who are looking for high quality, imported goods. As breakfast habits change, Weetabix Food Company is driving growth with innovation, developing new products for on the go breakfast and developing new overseas markets. The cereal bars, made with 100% wholegrain wheat sourced from farms in the UK, launch in Shanghai in November, and will be available in Beijing and Guang- zhou in 2015. FRANCE Tea Tasting Tool Box In September 2014 Le Palais des Thés launched "La QuintEssence du Thé", a small tool box for teaching tea tasting. The kit was developed by a team of professionals that included Carine Baudry, graduate of ISIPCA, the International aroma, flavor, and perfume college in Versailles, who has been in charge of Le Palais des Thé's Tea School in Paris since 2003, and Clothilde Dutry, Tea Report Jane Pettigrew