Fruit Melanges

Fruit Tea: Vibrant Compositions for Unique Enjoyment

Mild or strong, sweet, floral, natural or exotic: fruit tea is a true classic among infusion beverages. This hot drink offers a wide range of flavors – countless variations make it a popular choice for young and old alike. If you find water too bland, juice too high in calories, and soft drinks too unhealthy, fruit teas are an excellent alternative. As a tea retailer, you can purchase fruit teas of the highest quality from Gebrüder Wollenhaupt's wholesale tea offerings and provide your customers with extraordinary compositions for a unique tea experience.

Like herbal teas, fruit tea differs from traditional tea varieties. So-called true teas include green tea, black tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. All of these tea types originally come from one plant: Camellia sinensis. The teas on the market differ mainly in their processing, which is responsible for their distinct flavors. These teas typically originate from countries such as China, Japan, India, and Sri Lanka. Fruit tea, on the other hand, usually does not contain leaves from Camellia sinensis. Any infusion that does not come from the tea plant is considered a tea-like beverage. As a result, fruit tea contains no stimulating caffeine or theine, making it gentle on the body. The fact that it contains virtually no calories also makes it a suitable beverage for both leisure and work, and it can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Originally, the development of tea infusions came during times of crisis when tea and coffee were unaffordable for many people. When there were supply shortages of coffee, local fruits were increasingly used as infusion beverages. Since the 1950s, the market for fruity enjoyment has grown continuously. At Gebrüder Wollenhaupt, you can purchase select fruit teas in bulk and offer your customers delicious and safe enjoyment.

The Key Ingredients in Fruit Tea

Fruit teas usually get their deep red color from the addition of rose hips or hibiscus. Many commercially available teas consist of a single plant type, including rose hips, quinces, elderflowers, or apples. There is also a wide range of tea blends made from various fruits. These often combine different types of fruits and berries. Vegetables are occasionally included in tea blends too – cucumber, beetroot, and carrot are sometimes used.

Essential oils play a key role in the aroma and flavor of the tea. Some mixed varieties are also enriched with vitamins and flavorings.

To enjoy fruit infusions at their best, proper storage is essential. It is recommended to store teas in a cool and dry place. To preserve the vitamins that some fruit teas contain, they should be protected from direct sunlight. Additionally, they must be stored in airtight containers. It is also important to keep tea away from coffee, herbs, or spices, as this can negatively affect its quality. Ideally, tea should be transferred to an airtight container after opening – preferably a tightly sealable glass or tin.

Cultivation and Production of Fruit Tea

Most of the fruits used in tea are cultivated – grown all around the world. However, some cannot be cultivated. Since targeted cultivation isn’t possible in those cases, they are picked and collected. As a natural product, the quality of fruit tea strongly depends on factors like soil, climate, and weather. Thus, there may be seasonal differences even if the fruits come from the same crop. At Wollenhaupt, we use only select ingredients from trusted suppliers to offer you and your customers the highest level of tea enjoyment.

During production, the fruits are either harvested on plantations or collected within the country of origin. Immediately afterward, they are dried for several days in large halls or in the open air. The fruits then undergo a variety of strict quality controls before the selected batches are further processed in our facilities.

In further processing, the fruits are cut into coarse or fine pieces. In what is known as coarse cutting, the plant parts are cut to a size of two to fifteen millimeters. In fine cutting, they measure a maximum of two millimeters. Naturally small fruits may be added without being chopped. Finally, depending on the recipe of the tea brand, the fruit pieces are blended and combined with other ingredients. Naturally, the ingredients should be handled gently.

Which Varieties Are the Most Popular?

Apple, rose hip, and elderberry are very popular, as are various berries such as blueberry, currant, raspberry, and blackberry. Flavors like peach, apricot, pineapple, cherry, and mango are also on the rise. Fruit tea is also enjoyed cold: on hot summer days, an ice-cold fruit infusion is a refreshing and quick-to-make treat. As with other foods, the current trend in tea is toward naturalness. In Germany, demand for non-flavored blends continues to grow.

Organic fruit tea is especially popular. However, flavored variants are also widely enjoyed. Children especially like the intense flavors of these tea beverages. Pregnant and breastfeeding women also often choose organic teas. However, they should pay close attention to the specific variety. Most fruit teas are a good choice, but some are less advisable as they contain licorice root extract – which is known to increase the risk of premature birth.

How to Prepare Fruit Tea Correctly

Fruit tea should always be steeped with boiling water. Natural mineral water or low-lime, soft tap water is best suited for preparation. One to two heaping teaspoons per cup is generally sufficient – the larger the fruit pieces, the higher the recommended dosage. How long the tea is steeped is a matter of taste and depends on how intense you like it. Compared to other teas, fruit infusions typically need to steep longer. This is because dried fruits take around five minutes to release their aromas into the hot water. A general rule of thumb: the longer the steeping time, the more acidic the fruit infusion becomes. Most tea drinkers use sugar, honey, syrup, or rock candy to sweeten it. For added flavor, you can also add a splash of fresh juice.

Conclusion: Fruit Tea Is a Low-Calorie and Delicious Treat

Fruit tea is an excellent alternative for anyone who doesn’t enjoy conventional drinks like mineral water, sweet juices, and soft drinks. As a tea-like infusion beverage, it’s often a gateway into the world of tea drinking – which can turn into a lifelong passion. The wide variety of teas available from Wollenhaupt's wholesale range is a perfect addition to your assortment as a tea retailer. Let our experienced staff advise you and discover new compositions to offer your customers.