What is the primary packaging of tea?
Just what is the best packaging for tea, anyway? Custom tea packaging design, among other tangible selling elements, is essential for marketing tea locally and internationally.
Your product packaging is an essential element of branding and efficient logistics because it directly affects your customers on first contact.
Many tea businesses shell out hundreds of dollars to find the best custom tea packaging suited for tea consumers in a given supply zone with the goal of boosting tea sales.
The manner in which your product's tea packaging presents itself to potential customers holds significant weight, as it serves as their initial encounter with you as a brand.
When asking what is the best packaging for tea, function is as important and form. You need to captivate your prospective customers' attention through the use of visually-striking materials and a compelling packaging design.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea: Different Types of Tea Packaging
The primary goal of any kind of product packaging is to protect its contents and maintain product quality.
When looking at what is the best packaging for tea, we need to first of all protect the tea material (whole or ground) to say our custom packaging is successful.
Tea leaves are delicate and must be packaged with care to preserve their aroma. Creating a sealed environment to preserve tea quality is crucial—something boxes and tea tins can't do.
There are different types of pouches used to package tea, some of which are listed below:
What is The Best Packaging for Tea:
The high barrier bag is one of the best packaging formats for tea, and this is the kind of packaging we regularly produce for our customers at Pouch Me.
Barrier bags are multilayer, protective films that help to protect the loose tea from harmful elements, which include UV rays, oxygen, and moisture. This kind of bag material safeguards against tea quality degradation over time.
You can add zippers to make these easily resealable, and choose tin ties instead if you want to standardize your packaging height for a consistent brand presentation.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea:
Barrier Bags - Foil Tea Pouches
We form these simple and cost-effective tea packaging pouches from roll film by sealing them all around the sides and leaving the top or bottom open for filling and sealing.
Our tea customers use these as secondary packaging for tea bags and always request tear notches, so customers have an easy time accessing the tea inside.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea:
Barrier Bags - Foil Stand Up Pouches
In recent years, foil stand up pouches have grown in popularity as an excellent alternative for loose-leaf tea packaging.
These feature a bottom gusset (extra material that bottoms out, much like a pocket) that allows them to stand upright and are available in different sizes and colors.
Some of our customers who sell tea also choose to order these with clear windows to showcase the contents, or fully opaque to maximize the print real estate. It's all up to how you want your tea presented to your customers.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea:
Barrier Bags - Foil Gusseted Pouches
Similar to the stand up pouch, this is a popular tea packaging pouch that comes in various colors and styles.
Styles of foil gusseted pouches include the quad seal bag, side gusset bag, and center seal gusset bag. With side gussets and reclosable zippers, you can't open the top fully due to the construction, so it is important to get the right bag size based on your SKUs.
Grab your free consultation with us if you aren't familiar with these formats and need help figuring out what is best for your specific tea product.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea: Paper Pouches
These food packaging bags come in various colors and feature a square bottom so they can stand upright on shelves.
Since most all pouch packaging manufacturers typically make these using a paper base material (and often a laminate on top), these bags only have a short shelf life since they don't have any barrier properties and are more permeable.
What is The Best Packaging for Tea: Classic Tea Bags
These are perfect for packaging small amounts of tea; your customers can use them on the go since they are small enough to fit in a purse or wallet.
Packaging materials manufacturers use food-grade plastic such as nylon, filter paper, and cotton muslin that filter various foreign particles and contaminants.
What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Each Type of Packaging Material?
Many consumers do not fully understand the critical role tea packaging plays in preserving product quality.
Many materials are used for tea packaging and each has its advantages and downsides. Let's get into the details now.
Paper Tea Packaging
Paper is an environmentally-friendly material that is effective for tea packaging. It is made of recyclable and completely biodegradable materials, and it protects the quality of your product.
Paper is easy to print on, which makes it easy to customize into an eye-catching design. In terms of appearing more bespoke, brown kraft tea labels will blend seamlessly and disappear on your kraft packaging pouch.
A paper tea pouch is the most convenient option if you want a packaging solution for on-the-go, eco-conscious consumers. Some consumers choose this when asked what is the best packaging for tea. Paper pouches are easy to carry around and can be made resealable.
Their biggest drawback is that they are more expensive than some of the other options, and they are not always convenient for people on the go.
Plain Plastic Bags
Plastic is waterproof and a popular choice for tea packaging, especially for startups on a lean budget.
However, plastic is not a good choice if you are going for an environmentally friendly material. It is not biodegradable and takes decades or even centuries to decompose. Plastic contributes heavily to environmental pollution.
People worldwide are becoming environmentally conscious, and there's been a growing movement toward reducing plastic use and promoting more sustainable packaging materials.
Some tea companies are adopting more environmentally friendly packaging, such as paper and bamboo, while others are switching to reusable and resealable packaging, like our custom printed tea pouches.
Aluminum Foil or Mylar
Aluminum is a barrier packaging material popular for food products, and it is strong and durable and has excellent barrier properties against contaminants such as light, moisture, oxygen, and odors.
We build aluminum tea pouches and tea bags in various shapes and sizes. Aluminum is a conductive metal, meaning it can alter the tea's flavor, so there has to be a plastic or paper layer between the aluminum and the tea.
Aluminum tea pouches are a great tea packaging option since they preserve tea quality longer than other materials.
How Does the Packaging Affect Tea Flavor?
Your delicate loose-leaf teas, powders, tisanes, and herbal blends need economical packaging that saves space in storage and transport, is leak-resistant and keeps the aroma in and unwanted odors out.
Poor packaging can expose your tea to oxygen, heat, light, and humidity, which lead to the loss of its rich flavor and essential oils.
Your chosen tea packaging plays an integral role in successfully preserving your tea's flavor, aroma, and best quality.
What is the best packaging for tea? It is packaging that protects or shields your product from the most damaging external elements:
Factor #1: Oxygen
Tea oxidizes naturally with time, and certain teas, such as oolong, are purposely oxidized during the manufacturing process.
When packaged in a container that is not airtight, tea oxidizes more rapidly and loses its aroma and flavor.
Factor #2: Odors
Few tea drinkers know the extent of damage external odors can cause to their tea leaves.
Tea can absorb odors of fragrant spices such as cinnamon and pepper if kept in a container with a loose lid or closure.
Even as your customers may fail to store your teas properly, you can safeguard the quality of your product by choosing to use airtight packaging with excellent barrier properties.
Factor #3: Heat
When precious tea comes into close contact with heat, such as in improper storage or if transported inside hot vehicles, it can oxidize, causing its quality to deteriorate.
Choose peace of mind by choosing insulating tea packaging so your teas don't spoil prematurely, which will undoubtedly damage your brand's reputation.
Factor #4: Light
Although keeping tea leaves in a glass jar or clear packaging bag looks lovely, clear containers enable light to pass right through.
Tea leaves quickly deteriorate when exposed to UV radiation, resulting in noticeable discoloration and declining flavor.
Factor #5: Moisture
Moisture can cause extreme damage to tea leaves. When tea becomes moist, it begins to degrade.
Choose packaging that prevents this via secure seals that are truly resistant to moisture vapor transmission.
What is The Best Packaging For Tea: Special Considerations for Tea Packaging Design
You put in a lot of effort to make high-quality teas, so you want to ensure your consumers can enjoy them the way you intended.
Here are three critical factors to consider when designing your tea packaging.
1) Convenience
Ensure that your tea is easily accessible to your customers.
Some specially-made collapsible cartons include a split in the center that acts as a holder for tea or sachets that have been separately packaged.
Resealable stand up tea pouches with sturdy bag zippers make it easy and quick to dispense the perfect portion of tea.
2) Sustainability
Consumers are becoming more environmentally aware and want to buy from companies whose products use fewer resources overall.
You can engage in this expanding trend by providing biodegradable tea bags, reusable tea containers, or recyclable pouches made of organic materials.
3) Product Freshness
Choosing tea packaging that shields your tea from the elements is crucial since exposure to oxygen, sunshine, and humidity can significantly alter both the quality and the freshness of the tea.
Many consumers expect individually-wrapped tea bags and sachets, while loose-leaf teas need to be kept in a metalized foil bag or resealable plastic bag.
Another fantastic method for preserving the freshness of loose-leaf tea is vacuum sealing.
What is The Best Packaging For Tea: Top 3 Tips for Choosing the Best Tea Packaging
In addition to protecting and preserving your tea throughout storage and delivery, product packaging serves as your primary means of conveying to customers the value of your brand.
What is the best packaging for tea? It should make a strong case for why your tea is the finest option.
Here are some tips for your tea package design.
Tip #1: Match the Tea Packaging to the Brand
Ensure your packaging selections for your custom tea packaging complement the style and personality of your business.
Prospective customers first interact with your business through your tea's custom packaging.
Make sure that the branding and packaging of your products are consistent, whether you sell primarily online or in-store.
Tip #2: Practice "Less Is More"
What is the best packaging for tea? The best custom printed tea packaging clearly and concisely conveys the brand message to consumers.
Essential branding elements to include in your tea packaging include the product name, brand logo, custom graphics, and a brief brand statement.
Adding too many images and text on top of that tends to dilute the brand message.
*If you need help creating print-ready designs, our Prepress Team is ready to help!
Tip #3: DIY with Caution
Designing is enjoyable; therefore, creating your own product packaging might be tempting. But choosing packaging design experts will always save you from unforeseeable technical issues and costly headaches.
Choose to leverage a wealth of resources from professionals for practical guidance on what works effectively as well as what design and material choices to avoid.
Additionally, a professional with extensive industry knowledge may provide you with possibilities for packaging supplies that would genuinely make your tea package stand out but that you might not be familiar with.
Ready to grow your tea business with custom tea packaging?
Finding the ideal product packaging agency is the first step to creating excellent custom tea packaging.
At Pouch Me, we create custom packaging for various unique tea products that helps you stand out from your competition.
Our accommodating staff has decades of knowledge and industry experience required to translate your ideas into final, unique, professional tea packaging solutions.
We are ready to help and share our know-how and give you the best recommendations if you need help deciding on suitable materials and features for your custom tea packaging.
What Is the Best Packaging for Tea FAQs
+ How do you package tea?
Loose-leaf tea can be packaged in a tightly lidded plastic jar to protect the product from damage and maintain its flavor and aroma.
You can also package tea in an airtight plastic pouch, tin container, or cardboard box.
We recommend using flexible high barrier pouches that give you the best of all worlds:
- Economical - costs 5x less than rigid packaging to produce, store, and transport;
- Protective - airtight, unlike tea tins and boxes; and
- Won't fill up a lot of space - saves space in storage, transport, in landfills.
+ How do you attract customers to your tea business?
You can take several measures to ensure your tea packaging appeals to customers. Some of them are:
- Identify your target customers. If you focus all your marketing efforts on anyone who likes tea, you will end up focusing on no one.
With a target audience in mind, you will be able to tailor your message to their persona and successfully establish a connection with them.
- Make your packaging stand out. It is easy for consumers to pick the low-cost regular tea brand from the retail shelf.
They could also easily choose to purchase from your competitor. And they will unless your tea packaging visuals catch their attention at first glance.
+ What material is used for tea packaging?
Common tea packaging materials include metallic tins, stand up pouches, and cardboard boxes.
Many companies selling their tea in teabags use the standard product carton containing some type of kraft paper inside as packaging.
+ What is the best material for tea packaging?
The best material for tea packaging depends on the specific needs of the tea and the brand. However, some common materials include natural kraft, airtight stand-up bags, metal tins, and cardboard product boxes. These materials help to keep the tea leaves fresh and protect them from external factors like moisture and light.
+ What is the best way to package tea?
The best way to package tea is to use airtight and light-proof packaging, any protective packaging that keeps your tea from deteriorating in quality and freshness.
This could be in the form of stand-up pouches, metal tins, or cardboard boxes.
Your packaging should also be attractive and reflective of the brand to appeal to consumers. Eco-friendly packaging is also becoming increasingly popular.
+ What are the different types of tea packaging?
There are several types of tea packaging, including bulk tea packaging pouches like quad seal bags and flat bottom bags, stand-up pouches, metal tins, cardboard product boxes, and compostable tea packaging.
- What packaging type you choose will depend on various factors, such as:
- the type of tea you are selling (if these are whole or ground, for example);
- your brand's values (if your packaging needs to be sustainable);
- and your target market (use and tea ritual behaviors to compliment how your tea is packaged).
+ What is required on tea packaging?
The specific requirements for tea packaging can vary by country and region due to different food labeling laws.
However, generally, your tea packaging should include relevant, need-to-know information such as:
- your brand name
- the type of tea you are selling
- specific brewing instructions
- net weight
- ingredients (if these are blends)
- any allergen information
- the manufacturer's or distributor's details
- a "best before" date
- any storage instructions.
+ Which packaging material is suitable for tea and coffee?
Packaging materials that are suitable for tea, coffee, and spices include paper, plastic, glass, tinplate, and aluminum which are all types of flexible packaging.
When compared to rigid packaging, flexible packaging is more lightweight and can be utilized for softer items that are less likely to sustain damage.
I agree to Packhelp.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The world of tea packaging design is an engrossing and somewhat intoxicating one to keep track of.
Traditional Victorian-era designs from a bygone era, and solid colours and minimalist elements.
Whether old or new, tea brands, without a doubt, go to all extremes with their packaging design.
Several aspects make your product attractive, including the box you ship it in, the stand-up pouches you package your loose leaf tea in, and even the tea bags themselves.
Each part of the design must work together and build an overall voice for your brand.
Getting started with tea branding
According to Statista, the volume of tea consumed in Europe will rise to 767.9 mkg by 2025, creating growth of around 3.4% annually.
It's clear:
People love their tea.
But they also love trying out new flavours.
Source: Moya Matcha
Tea packaging might be an afterthought for some companies, but it can make yours stand out from any other product on market shelves.
You’re competing with thousands of different items on the store shelves. You have to stand out in your section and amidst a sea of packaging.
You can have the most amazing tea that anyone ever consumed, but if the colours and design of your packaging fall flat, your sales will suffer.
Even the classic tea brand Twinings knows the power of clever packaging design:
This article will discuss the various aspects of a smart tea packaging design and why it works as a marketing tool.
We will also look at some examples of smart packaging.
What Are the Rules of Tea Packaging Design?
Tea packaging keeps the item secure and adds value to the product. It grabs interest and tells a story.
Some of the basic rules of good packaging design include:
Proper logo placement
A clear definition of what the product is
Authenticity and truth
Differentiation from similar offers
Securing the tea from moving around too much in shipment
Showcasing the voice of the brand
Of course, there are other ways tea packaging helps sell your product, but these are basic elements of a good design.
Common tea packaging materials
You'll find some common packaging solutions amongst all tea brands.
Cardboard product boxes, metal tins and even stand up pouches.
The standard product box with some form of kraft paper inside is the go-to packaging solution for many brands that sell their tea in teabags.
Australian brand Yarra Valley Tea Co. is a fine example of tea packaging design on a simple paper stock box.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Yarra Valley Tea Co (@yarravalleyteaco)
When it comes to loose leaf tea, stand up pouches or doypacks are another common solution. A fine example of this is the Argentinian brand, Tenki Patagonia.
Stand up pouches are durable, cheap, and along with a mailer box, are great for subscription-based brands.
One tea packaging solution that's growing in popularity is the cardboard tube and paper can.
Another Polish brand, Dworzysk, use stunningly detailed designs on the side of their tube to create an image that invokes the same feelings that the tea helps drinkers feel.
In this case, it's getting a good night's sleep.
Paper & Tea also use cardboard tubes as the medium for their tea packaging.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by P & T - Paper & Tea (@paperandtea)
But its metal tins that are, without a doubt, one of the most eye-catching forms of tea packaging.
Swedish tea brand Teministeriet sells their range of teas in black metal tins.
The solid black design allows the simple white text to draw in the eyes of the view to read the type of tea - in the case, the '150' tea.
Metal tins are strong and robust, making them one of the best examples of packaging sustainability in tea packaging design.
These tins are frequently reused elsewhere in a household and are entirely recyclable when they are disposed of.
See how to use Packhelp's online designer to create custom tea packaging
Let’s dig into how you accomplish these features and look at some examples of brands doing an excellent job with their tea packaging.
Do: Customise the Design
Know who your target audience is and what makes them tick.
Which pain points drive them to try a new tea brand?
Perhaps they want something different in their lives.
Maybe they care most about flavour.
The only way of figuring out your customers’ needs is by surveying them and digging deep into the psychographics of your buyer personas.
Once you understand the forces driving them to seek out a new tea, you’ll know how to package it to meet their needs.
Tea company Harney & Sons place some of their speciality tea sachets in tin cans.
The design gives a hint of times gone by and is the perfect choice for those feeling a bit nostalgic.
This Victorian-era feel implies that the brand has been around for a long time.
Consumer intuition says that if a brand has been around for a long time, it's trustworthy.
Therefore, this tea must be good, because it's been around for so long.
Don’t: Go Cheap
The cost of tea packaging can eat into your profit margins. After all, a tin can costs more to produce than a cardboard box.
However, if you want your item to compete against luxury goods, you must spend a bit more on your design and materials.
You don’t have to use tin but think through even the thickness of the cardboard or how the colours look on the packaging’s background.
Learn more about Packhelp's corrugated Mailer Boxes
Building trust amongst your consumers is vital.
A brand that's consistent in its branding is one that's trustworthy: it shows pride in one's name and product.
What makes your company stand out from other tea entrepreneurs? How can you showcase your unique value proposition on the box?
Do: Embrace a Cause
What do you care most about as a brand? How can you highlight this through your tea packaging?
For example, if you care about feeding hungry children, you might include a note stating each box purchased helps a specific cause.
Your tea packaging design should also echo what your company cares about: its values.
If your business is one that prioritises conservation and sustainability, this should be echoed in your tea's ingredients.
Juniper Ridge embraces nature both via the design and the tea packaging material.
The design shows plants and a lot of white space.
The designer layered three strips resembling parchment paper to contain text.
The box itself is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) material. Even the ink is environmentally friendly.
The wording on the package shows their commitment to sustainability.
It points out the packing materials and shares that they cultivate the ingredients in the tea responsibly to not harm the environment.
Don’t: Forget Your Brand Identity.
Since 90% of people admit to remembering a company based on colours and images, your packaging should include your logo and colour palette.
If people already associate red with your tea, don’t deviate too much from that.
Your logo is also a big part of who you are as a brand.
Make sure it takes a prominent place on your packaging. Ideally, people associate your voice with your tea.
When they want a different flavour or type, they’ll look for your symbols and recognise you immediately.
Below is a fine example of using colour to differentiate flavours from Raven Coffee:
Learn the finer details about coffee packaging here
At the same time, think about the image you project in the words you use and the tone you take.
If you want to be seen as a young, hip business, tap into language familiar to the younger generation.
If you wish to reach senior citizens, utilise a classic style and tone.
Pukka Herbs do this with all their tea packaging. However, it's interesting to see how those values are recreated on their large setup boxes used as gift sets.
The same floral motifs associated with their logo and other packaging solutions are echoed on the larger boxes.
This is a fine example of consistent tea packaging branding over multiple mediums while using colour to differentiate flavours.
Do: Focus on the Basics
While you want your tea packaging to stand out, don’t be afraid to scale things back to a more minimalist style.
Let your product speak for itself. The quality of the box and the items inside can do a lot of your talking for you.
A minimalist look might not be suitable for all tea packaging, but if you already have a fairly established brand, it can focus on what’s inside.
There are still some things you’ll need to include, such as ingredients, your tagline, and logo.
However, you don’t need to add vivid colour or tons of graphics to get your point across.
Is the look right for you? Only you can decide the voice of your tea brand.
Smith Tea keeps its package design simple.
They use neutral black and white with a touch of gold. Note the high-quality cardboard with a glossy finish and hot stamping.
The number of elements on the container is minimal.
To match the style of their tea boxes, they also keep their site to only a couple of colours and add plenty of white space around images and text.
The overall impression is one of simplicity and quality.
TWG Tea is another example of minimalistic packaging design.
In this example, you can see how they use black and gold to imply excellence and quality.
Do: Tell a Story
People love a good brand story.
How did you get where you are today?
What motivated you to start your company?
- Have you overcome any major hurdles?
You might think that’s a lot to convey on your packaging, but you can easily tell a story with clever copy.
Condense your primary victory into a single line of five or fewer words.
Learn more about Concrete Jungle and how they communicate their uniqueness.
Include it as a tagline on your product packaging.
You can even add QR codes and links that take the user to a more in-depth look at your company’s timeline.
Don’t: Overload Your Design.
We’ve already talked about utilising a minimalist design for your tea packaging.
There is a lot of information you’d like to convey to your users, but it’s important to focus only on the essential elements.
Otherwise, your design becomes overloaded with competing elements.
Too much noise and a busy look may turn customers away.
When given a choice between two designs, which one is best?
You’ll find it is almost always the one with less information or condensed wording.
Pictures say more than words, so think about whether you can convey the same message with a photo or illustration.
Study Your Competition
Creating the perfect tea packaging requires creativity, knowledge, and attention to detail.
Take time to study your competition and what their boxes look like. Is yours different enough to grab attention while still making it clear tea is inside?
Know your customer base well, as they may have different preferences than other tea brands.
Once you tap into your users’ preferences and develop the perfect design, you should run it past a control group or two.
Get feedback on any tweaks that might improve it further.
Take the time on the front end to develop the best product packaging possible.
The result will be excellent sales and brand recognition.
About the author:
Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly. She was the director at a marketing agency before becoming a freelance web designer. Eleanor lives in Philly with her husband and dog, Bear.
What is the primary packaging of tea?
The Do’s and Don’ts When Designing Tea Packaging
- 0