Originally published August 15 2005
Green tea product sales are on the rise
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In an effort to try and avoid sugary sodas and unhealthy drinks, more and more consumers are turning to green tea an alternative.
The report from Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, puts the US market for tea and ready-to-drink tea at $6.8 billion in 2005, a 9.4 percent increase over last year.
Seventy-two percent of overall sales are accounted for by ready-to-drink bottled and canned ice teas, but loose tea and tea bags for future brewing comes second with 20 percent of sales.
It is a message that America, in the grip of an obesity epidemic, with all the health consequences it entails, is ready to hear.
It was also the most used flavor in new tea drinks in 2004, according to Productscan Online and is also used in non-beverage items including ice cream and cosmetics, bringing the benefits to those too busy to brew and drink a cup of tea.
"Green tea is hot right now -- in fact, it is getting dangerously close to a clich� for a food to contain green tea," said Packaged Facts publisher Don Montuori.
Green tea has a lighter flavor than black tea, less caffeine and higher antioxidant content.
But according to the report, interest in green tea in the US is a bit of a surprise since the flavor is not typical of American tastes.
Rather, it attributes the trend to the tea's reputation as "cornucopia of wellness" for everything from weight loss to preventing some kinds of cancer.
Green tea's polyphenols and catechins have been the subject of much scientific research, and the report expects this interest to continue, helping to isolate the beneficial characteristics and most efficacious vehicles for use.
However last month green tea was dealt a blow by the FDA, which said, after reviewing evidence to support a health claim, that a link with prevention of breast, prostate and other forms of cancer was "highly unlikely".
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