You can't buy happiness but you can buy tea.

And the good tea news is that your grandmother's favourite old-fashioned afternoon pick-me-up has become 2016's trendy brew.

"The excitement, and health benefits offered by a multitude of tea flavours, scented, fruit infused, herbal, and exotic tea varieties, are attracting many consumers, including the adventurous, affluent, young ones," stated Patrick Lewis-Enright, Chairman of Staffords Bros & Draeger, sole importers of Twinings products into South Africa. "They are fascinated both by the unusual ingredients that make their way into their teapot or cocktail glass as well as the long history behind the world's second most consumed beverage."

So, let's look at 2016's tea trends.

Firstly, the most compelling health brew of the moment isn't new.

But what is new and inspiring for the industry, is the slew of young consumers who are embracing tea as the new coffee.

According to Vogue magazine, the fashion bastion of the world, "tea is experiencing a major fashion and wellness renaissance because consumers know that it is naturally rich in antioxidants and low in sugar" and, they continue, "if a quick look around is any indication, it may be poised to become the next green juice." To further substantiate their claim, Vogue points to New York's CAP Beauty, a wellness boutique in the West Village, where the sensorial aspects of tea extend to its facials, which often incorporate chamomile and green tea infusions.1

Secondly, tea has become a highlight on the menus of cutting-edge bars and restaurants

Tea-infused cocktails are, to the delight of many, finding their way onto bar and restaurant menus with increasing frequency. Globally bartenders and mixologists are experimenting with new ways to attract the young and stylish, and the intriguing flavour profiles of specialty teas are adding contemporary nuances to the cocktail menu. Tea cocktails are likely to contain any number of interesting flavour combinations, with Twinings offering a range that includes blueberry and apple, mango and strawberry, green tea and mint, white tea and pomegranate, to name a few favourites.

Thirdly, consumers are saying No to alcohol and Yes to tea

Around the world fashionable health-conscious consumers are voting against fizzy drinks, sugar and alcohol. This move has created a perfect environment for tea, with its low calorie-count and exotic flavour profile, to become the star of the cocktail stage. And, whilst we know that one can't exactly make cocktails "healthy", we believe that tea-infused cocktails are angelic in comparison and equally delicious.

Lastly, you can now drink your tea and eat it too

Beverages aren't the only place tea is showing up. Tea-infused dishes are one of the hottest new trends making its way into all kinds of foods including cakes, ice creams, gelatos, waffles, and more. Try our Twinings Green Tea and sesame cake, our Twinings Camomile and Maple Chicken Lettuce Wraps.