Before knowing what our Mullet Tea is, you should already know what a Hard Ice Tea is.
An alternative to sugary drinks and beers
Still little known in Europe, "Hard iced tea" or "Hard ice tea" is an alcoholic drink made from iced tea, which often comes in several flavors. It is a refreshing, light and easy-to-drink drink that is attracting more and more consumers looking for an alternative to classic beers and cocktails.
Hard Ice teas are the non-carbonated version of the best-known hard seltzer. Hard seltzer which first appeared in the United States in 2013, with the SpikedSeltzer brand These are alcoholic beverages made from carbonated water, fermented alcohol and fruity flavors, SpikedSeltzer was acquired by Anheuser -Busch InBev in 2016. Since then, hard seltzer has enjoyed tremendous success in the United States, where it accounts for around 10% of the ready-to-drink beverage market. (Ready to drink)
A "healthy" drink
Hard Iced Tea is also low in calories, sugar and often free of gluten. It typically contains between 4% and 6% alcohol and is aimed at consumers looking to reduce their alcohol intake or opt for healthier beverages. Hard ice tea is therefore a drink that has health benefits. Far be it from us to advocate the consumption of alcohol, but thanks to the antioxidant and energizing properties of tea, and its low calorie content, it is less impactful than an ultra-sweet cocktail or an 8% craft beer.
The hard iced tea market is growing, especially in the United States. According to a study by Grand View Research, the global hard iced tea market is expected to reach US$1.6 billion by 2025. Major factors driving the demand are preference for low-alcohol and low-calorie beverages , and the diversification of manufacturers' offers.
Among the most popular brands of hard iced tea across the Atlantic, we can mention Twisted Tea, which claims to be the first hard iced tea on the market, with an alcohol content of 5% and an authentic taste of iced tea. It offers several flavors, such as lemon, peach.
Hard iced tea still has strong development potential, particularly in emerging markets such as Europe and Asia, where it is still little known.
Various manufacturing processes
- Hard iced tea is an alcoholic drink made from iced tea, which can be made in different ways. One of the most common methods is to steep loose leaf tea or tea bags in hot water, then add sugar and yeast. The mixture is then bottled or canned and left to ferment for a few weeks at room temperature or in the refrigerator. The result is a fizzy, flavored drink, with an alcohol content of around 4%.
- A second method is to use iced tea extract, obtained by spray drying. These powders are soluble in cold water and already contain sugar and flavorings. Then simply reconstitute them with cold water, add citric acid and yeast, and bottle or can them. This method preserves the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of iced tea, as well as its physicochemical properties.
- Our method is different again. Based on an infusion of black and green tea, and a little sugar, we do not work on fermentation, but on the addition of distilled alcohol, vodka. In addition to the aromas, specially created for our recipes, this allows us to obtain a unique taste, where the presence of alcohol is discreet, and above all an organoleptic regularity.
Hard iced tea is therefore a drink that has conquered a large audience, and which is now arriving, with our Mullet Tea, on the Swiss market. Thanks to its simplicity, freshness and ease of drinking, it is part of the current trend of Ready to Drink beverages.
