With 2026 right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your menu for the next year. For many of you, that means asking the following: what’s next for specialty tea? From evolving flavor preferences to new twists on café classics, it’s clear that a few tea trends will be appearing in the coming months. To stay ahead of the curve, here’s what we expect will be brewing in the new year.
2026 Tea Trends: Flavor Innovation
Dessert & Decadence
Consumers continue to crave comfort, but with it, they want an elevated, indulgent twist. Blends inspired by desserts and bakery classics will be popular in the year ahead! From fresh-out-of-the-oven to freshly brewed, expect baked goods like cinnamon buns, shortbreads, and different cakes to inspire next year’s tea blends. While unique flavors such as fig, banana, currant, and strawberry will be making their way into your cup, chocolate and cocoa may be taking on more of a supporting role.
To follow this tea trend, try offering Gingerbread Maple. The combination of our smooth Ceylon black tea, warming spices, and caramelized sweetness makes each sip of this blend a tasty treat.
Fun & Fruity
Goodbye to generic berry blends, hello to interesting fruits and fun combinations! Consumers are seeking bolder, more nuanced fruit profiles that taste refreshing and feel craft-driven. Stone fruits like peach, plum, and nectarine are taking center stage, adding juicy sweetness to teas, while stand-out citruses such as grapefruit, blood orange, and pomelo will brighten blends. Using innovative pairings like strawberry mint, mango turmeric, and pineapple ginger will also add some creativity to your menu.
To follow this trend, try adding White Peach to your offerings. This white tea is bursting with juicy peach notes, and the addition of lemon verbena lends to a citrusy finish.
2026 Tea Trends: Classics Meet Creativity
Changes to Chai
Of course, chai will remain a staple on your menu in 2026. However, consumers want a fresh take! For a creative spin on this traditional spice blend, try mixing up your chai by adding chocolate, rose, or turmeric. We also expect consumers to want a caffeine-free chai, most effectively done by using a rooibos base.
To follow this tea trend, try serving Organic Table Mountain Chai. An organic rooibos chai, this caffeine-free tea is a crowd-pleaser in the colder months.
Matcha Mix-ins
Matcha drinks are evolving. With their ever-growing popularity, consumers are expecting creativity that goes beyond the classic vanilla and strawberry lattes. Each season has its classics, such as pumpkin for fall, cocoa and mint for winter, rose for spring, and mango for summer. For flavors that go beyond the changing temperatures, try something nutty and savory like pistachio, hazelnut, or sesame. Matcha lemonades are always a classic, and you can also try adding fruit and coconut milk to make a matcha refresher!
To follow this tea trend, try flavoring your matcha with homemade tea syrups. Tea syrups are easy to make, taste better than the premade kind, and allow you to control how strong your flavors are. We love using Peppermint White Chocolate—its sweet and minty flavors make for a scrumptious syrup.
