If you are a company looking to launch their tea brand or you’ve already gone through it, the product’s packaging has to be top-notch to retain its quality. The high quality of packaging for tea is a striking feature that gives an upper hand over other tea brands.
However, product packaging is no longer a simple affair, there are tons of options to choose. With the changing mindsets, brands are now competing to provide excellent packaging services at the same cost. Not to forget, the packaging should not be only about fine colors and excellent design. Although these do play a significant part.
But, as awareness is spreading globally, tea consumers have changed their priority to green consumerism for sustainable purchases. Hence, the packaging for tea bags and envelopes can be categorized into eco-friendly methods; recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable.
So, if you’re a tea brand looking to elevate your packaging game, scroll below to learn how to enhance the quality standards of your product:
Recyclable Packaging
Recyclable packaging for tea can be discarded, collected, sorted, reprocessed, and reused again for either the same or different purposes. Examples of recyclable packaging include paper void fill, paper tape, and paper or cardboard tubes and tea boxes.
These sustainable packaging examples can be reprocessed and reused after being disposed of in the gray bin. Other tea packaging materials that can be recycled are metals such as aluminium, steel, or tin cans.
In the same way, glass bottles or jars are also reusable but are slightly costly due to their weight in the shipping process. Plastic is a common packaging material in tea jars or bottles as well as in tea packaging bags.
Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable material is made of substances that break down without oxygen and convert into biomass, water, and carbon dioxide after a distinct period. The biodegradable packaging materials come from biopolymers which are found in different living organisms. These polymers are plastic-free and 100% biodegradable which can turn into a useful waste products.
However, remember that biodegradable material is not recyclable. You have to dump it into the compost bin so that it can be degraded into useful products with time.
Compostable Packaging
There are two compostable packaging materials, one that can be composted at home and the complex ones that are to be composted in industrial facilities. Combining PBAT (polybutylene adipate co terephthalate) and any plant-based material (mostly corn!) results in compostable packaging materials.
Contrary to popular belief, compostable and biodegradable are not just interchangeable terms. These two types of eco-friendly packaging substances require different atmospheres to break down. Compostable packaging needs specific conditions to degrade while biodegradable products naturally degenerate.
Essential Considerations for Tea Packaging Bags
When a brand is selecting the perfect packaging for their tea brand, they must consider sustainable and unique solutions to live up to the finest standards. The tea packaging should be emphasized after the quality and quantity of tea leaves.
Here is a detailed step-by-step description of how to pack securely along with maintaining the quality of tea:
Vacuum Bags
Vacuum bags or aluminium bags maintain the effectiveness of tea leaves, and appropriate packaging material ensures ease of use. Both these tea bag packaging containers allow the prevention of atmospheric airflow inside the container - improving tea leaves’ freshness and texture.
There is a multifold benefit to vacuum bags. It preserves the crispness and freshness of tea leaves for longer usage. Plus, moisture leakage may dampen the tea leaves, making the tea stale. This packaging for tea protects the intense taste and aroma of the leaves.
External Tea Bag Packets
The outer packaging of tea packets plays an important role in making consumers choose your brand out of several competitors. Whether it’s some colorful attractive pattern, the brand’s prominent logo, or some basic design that you need to know your target audience’s mind.
Apart from the exterior look, custom tea packaging must guarantee the safety of the product without compromising on its quality.
Weight of the Tea Bags
Tea consumption varies greatly among consumers depending on personal preferences. Therefore, it is only wise to consider the weight while tea packaging. It is a great plus factor for a brand to provide different tea bag packaging sizes and weights to cater to their consumer base’s varying needs.
Sustainable Packaging
Several tea brands are embracing this cause. As a responsible brand, it is necessary to look into the matter of global pollution and its adverse effects. You can make your product stand out by providing eco-friendly tea packaging products.
Tea leaves are also compostable and add nutrition to the prepared composts both at home and at composting facilities. A consumer knows that. But with equally degradable or compostable tea packaging, your product will have increased sales and unique identity.
Perks of Sustainable Product Packaging
The growth of a brand is not just dependable on increased sales and greater revenue amount. Brand identity also helps to enhance consumer loyalty, therefore, opting for unique solutions and causes is great for companies to develop their reputation.
For instance, piling up landfills with your products is irresponsible and unethical. Therefore, it is critical to become a sustainable tea brand that promotes green consumerism with product packaging.
It has many benefits including:
● Respectful and prominent brand image in the market
● Product packaging that is eco-friendly initiatives are appealing to investors
● Bigger and better recruitments
● Increased employee retention rates
● Tax and production cost privileges
● Positive impact on mother Earth
16 Creatively Designed Packaging for Tea Brands
Since we are discussing how to decide what would be the most suitable packaging method, here are some examples to get inspiration from.
1. Cha De Saudade
The company knows the importance of clever packaging. Cha De Saudade is designed by Grafikisto, a branding and designing studio. The illustrations on the packaging are illustrated by Cassi Namoda, an illustrator from Mozambique, Africa.
Morning black tea or afternoon blend have different colors, the title’s text or abstract picture on the box also represents a certain mood.
The tea boxes used are recyclable as well as attractive to look at, one can see the color coordination and the language to connect with the audience. The packaging associates color themes with tea blends for easy recognition.
(Source: https://www.grafikisto.com/cha-de-saudade)
2. Ching-Hua Porcelain Blend
This product’s packaging designed by Taiwanese designer Lung-Hao Chiang is commendable. From product concept to photography, everything is top-notch. Representation of pictures in soothing yet simple ink speaks of its oriental origin that is often used on the surface of plum vase, which is the traditional vase in China.
From the shopping bags to the tea bags inside the container, each packaging has a unique illustration that can make the coffee-lovers engrossed for hours.
This packaging will attract the consumer with its minimalistic approach.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/st60701)
3. Dancong Tea
This tea brand includes classic colors of green and black with white background. The graphic design is done by the designer Zhang Han, a member of Shenzhen Graphic Design Association (SGDA).
The visual concept is amazing and gives a message related to the plants it is extracted from.
Dancong tea is a type of oolong tea that is found in southern China. There are many different kinds and each one has its own history and characteristics.
The product’s oriental roots are shown via tree illustrations with flavor information. The colors used are typical of oolong teas, from green to black.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/zhanghan)
4. FangGe Puer
The designer Astro Wong from Somethink Brand has selected a fashionable, high-end look for this tea’s packaging. The round aluminium body makes the container recyclable and long-lasting.
The can lid has gold electroplated detail for a luxurious look. If that wasn’t enough, the text on the silk screen and unique shades make the containers look super attractive.
It is inevitable to say that the company aims to sell its tea to the younger generation. The tea packaging is designed for youngsters who are more inclined to the modernization of tea rather than being too traditional and basic.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/astrowong/info)
5. Gulabi Tea
The floral tea brand comes from Azerbaijan providing 100% premium and original flavor. Gulabi Tea packaging is created by the talented designer Rima Alithe from Baku.
Grown in the southern regions of Azerbaijan, Gulabi Tea packaging represents its floral taste with the design.
The logo has been printed in traditional font with three primary objectives of the brand. Moreover, the envelope is made of paper and sealed at the top. The gift box is also made of cardboard and includes paper tea cups with lids; all in light pink hues.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/rimaalizada/projects)
6. HEYU
The concept of the He-Yu packaging design is inspired by gemstones jade and amber. The black-colored liquid when freshly brewed gives hues of red or green. The visual graphics of the packaging also interpret Asian culture and its oriental aesthetics.
Distinguished art director and graphic designer Lung-Hao Chiang in Taipei, Taiwan that also designed for number 2 tea brand Ching-Hua Porcelain Blend.
The packaging is simple with minimum use of colors yet so meaningful that consumers instantly grab a pack.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/st60701/projects)
7. Minh An Tra
The Vietnamese graphic designer Nguyen Chien has illustrated the various types of Vietnamese tea on the Minh An Tra tea packaging.
The three main flavors are packed in three different colored packages yet the illustration remains the same. The flavors include pure green tea, lotus tea, and jasmine tea.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/141438991/Tea-Packaging-MINH-AN-TRA)
8. One Tea Room
This is a Hong Kong tea brand that produces Chinese tea with packaging designed by Aland Studio. Logotype comes from the Chinese character “One” which denotes a fulfilling tea experience. Similar to the logo shape, tea containers also have unique round corners.
The theme colors are royal blue with the monogram in the gold foil stamping that instantly gets your attention. This packaging speaks of class and sophistication.
(Source: https://alandstudio.com/one-tea-room)
9. Persian Apothecary
This tea collection is inspired by Persian culture, known for its rich traditional tea and kahwa. The Persian Apothecary range is full of different flavors and its packaging fully justifies the Persian heritage.
Designed by Mexico-based studio VVORKROOM in association with Sheyda Monshizadeh-Azar’s memories in Iran, Persian Apothecary packaging is so thoughtful.
It has colors, pictures, and written experiences of the Persian journey; symbolizing each flavor perfectly. Tea contents are stored in a round metal can which is then packaged into a rectangular cardboard box to retain freshness.
The packaging concept and the way it has been implemented are extraordinary.
(Source: http://vvorkroom.com/proyecto/persian-apothecary/)
10. Sachs Tea
This Vietnamese brand is known for its single-origin tea harvested fresh after every crop. Each flavor is symbolized by an expression of Vietnam’s culture and heritage.
Conceived by the graphic designer Nguyen Duy Duc Via from Brandex Studio, the artful concept of packaging design is one-of-a-kind. Cardboard packaging contains a round tube container.
The colors used reflect the corresponding flavor and Vietnamese expressions.
(Source: https://retaildesignblog.net/2018/11/06/sachstea-packaging-by-brandex/)
11. Suan Thau Tshen Craft Tea
The visual concept of packaging design hails from Chinese landscape paintings, a representation of the tea plants and where they are extracted from.
The packaging is made from paper which has two portions denoted by light shades of green and brown. It gives a picture of green on top of a mountain just like Suan Thau Tshen teas.
This creativity is the effort of extremely talented graphic designer and illustrator Lung-Hao Chiang that also designed for brands Heyu and Ching-Hua Porcelain Blend.
(Source: https://packagingoftheworld.com/members/bentotadda/)
12. Tea Sister
The tea sister packaging design is inspired by the IP image of “TEA SISTER”. The packaging is paper-based. Tea contents are stored in a solid rectangular box that employs a top and bottom cover.
The brand's designer studio HOOK FOOD belongs to the city of Beijing in China.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/143585885/TEA-SISTER-ILLUSTRATION-PACKAGE)
13. To Day Tea
This tea brand utilizes a very unique concept for packaging its tea content. It’s a white paper box that has a huge flower printed with numbers from a Chinese arrangement with a tag provided that has flavors and the feeling of a tea sipper written on it.
Jung Hua from the Republic of Korea is the creator of the brilliance behind To Day Tea’s packaging design. She is located in the region of Daegu.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/jungdesign/info)
14. Zanazan
Zanazan tea packaging emblematizes traditional Armenian heritage. The ornamental pattern used in weaving carpets is graphically printed on the kraft tubes hinting at the Armenian-originated tea.
The name of the brand “Zanazan” means diversity, representing the brand’s taste diversity.
Tigran Panosyan is the artist behind the mindful art on the packaging of Zanazan tea. He belongs to Yerevan in Armenia.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/tigranpanosyan/projects)
15. 幽绝20000
Our second-last pick is a product of BY-ENJOY DESIGN, located in Fuzhou, China. The designer has aptly crafted the origins of the tea into the packaging of the product.
It is sourced from Wuyi Mountain Ghost Cave Cinnamon in Fujian, a valley between the mountains that is humid and dark, hence the black-colored packaging.
The Chinese characters are based on mountains where the tea plantation grows.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/103395737/Tea-Packaging-20000)
16. 单丛茶 Fenghuang Single Clump Tea
Designed by Chuanjia Chan in Guangzhou located in China, the packaging for tea speaks of its Chinese origin. It’s a finished tea made from narcissus varieties. The cardboard packaging with a drawer-like tea box is a unique technique.
The design and logo echo the flavor of the tea, and the high mountain rhyme and cluster advocate for tea aroma.
(Source: https://www.behance.net/184445181866d9/projects)
Key Points:
We have learned the significance of eco-friendly and smart packaging for tea bags. The tea business is expanding globally but so is the packaging industry that emphasizes eco-conscious and sustainable material.
These are the key points that we have learned about tea packaging bags and how to enhance their overall quality:
- Tea packaging bags should be sustainable and climate-friendly without compromising the quality and price.
- Packaging for tea if conducted smartly can attract the target consumers.
- Sustainable packaging includes materials that are recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable. However, all three of the terms have different meanings and are not interchangeable.
- There are certain steps to package tea contents in a way that it remains fresh. The taste, aroma, and quality of tea leaves can be preserved with proper packaging.
- A brand should also focus on its customer retention and loyalty, resulting in better sales. The sustainability of a company has rather more benefits than is usually considered.
Many tea brands are transforming their packaging strategies and adopting environmentally sound packaging methods. Have you found the right packaging strategy for your tea brand? This article has all the right answers.
Are you the next brand that will revolutionize packaging for tea with more sustainable and green solutions?
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