STiR coffee and tea magazine

32 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 4, 2017 (August / September) Tea was no longer being purchased for its convenience, but for its quality, with consumers actively looking for products that had larger leaves, and vis- ible spices and flowers. The double and single chamber format traditionally used CTC tea, as the consistent size of the leaf, ensured an efficient and consistent infusion. How- ever; the limited space in these bags and smaller openings impacted the infu- sion of larger leaf products. To appeal to this growing sector, tea bag manufacturers needed to offer a bag that reflected that premium experience. The solution was the pyramid sa- chet. These sachet were first introduced to the tea drinking population in the early 90s, providing an elegant yet simple option for these on-the go consum- ers. "Whole leaf tea, herbal tea, flower and fruit tea can be packed in the trian- gular tea bag without any damage," said Tomomi Yajima, sales administration department, NASA Corporation. "While the mesh filter lends itself towards a better extraction." Triangular sachets is an investment that manufactur- ers should not take lightly. Consumers perceive these sachets as a premium product, and manufacturers need to ensure that their product delivers this experience. "Many copy-cats are getting into this segment with inexpensive machinery," said Yajima. "However; manufacturers need to also pay attention to production efficiency and product quality, if they are spending all the time repairing their machinery then the investment is wasted." An additional challenge for manufacturers is the increased production time for sachets. The FUSO line of pyramid tea bag machinery ranges from 50 bags a minute to 120 bags a minute for a triangular sachet, compared to 200 plus bags a minute for single and double chamber products. The right machinery can ensure that the product delivers the premium experience, and the higher price tag, associated with these types of products. Innovations in the material of the sachet has also helped to expand the pyramidal market, with biodegradable options responding to the environmen- tally conscious consumer. While the type of weave of the fabric, will have an impact on the overall extraction. One of the newest method is the knit weave, which is created through forming the PLA fibres into a mesh layer." The knit is made from multifilament, compared to a single filament," said Yajima. "This design naturally provides a better extraction." For those companies that are still wanting the higher production levels of a rectangular tea bag, IMA's CT30 offers manufacturers a completely trans- parent tea bag that can be filled at a production speed of 300 bags per minute. The single chamber tea bag can be produced with both woven or nonwoven filter material, which is then sealed using an ultrasound technique. Pyramids are commonly sold in nitrogen filled envelopes produced 50-60 bags per minute on equipment like that from Tecpacking, a global manufac- turer based in Tianjin, China. Not just for tea For those consumers that are wanting to brew multiple cups, there are now hand bag and long tea bags available. This is also ideal for those manufactur- ers who want to offer an iced tea selection for their customers. However; one of the newest trends is tea bags for coffee. FUSO's drip bag filter is one example of this, with the ability to flush nitrogen right into the single serve product preserving the freshness of the grind. "In Japan, there are approxi- mately 2 billion cups consumed each year, it's an extremely large market," said Yajima. "And this trend is expanding throughout Asia." Consumers desire for convenient and innovative packaging will continue to drive an interest in tea packaging. Although there has been a slight decline in tea bag purchases in the US, the largest segment of the market retains a preference for tea bags. Continued research and development ensures the humble but versatile teabag will continue to evolve. Capsule machine by Spreafico Automation

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