Introduction:The beverage market continues to explore new directions in healthy drinks. Recently, HeyTea launched two new plant-based tea products, "Light & Refreshing Kale" and "Detoxifying Wheatgrass," sparking lively discussions among consumers. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the innovative formulations, actual taste experiences, and real feedback from the market and social media for these two new products, helping readers understand the trends and potential market responses of vegetable-based teas.
In recent years, new-style tea brands have been seeking differentiation in the combination of "vegetables + fruits + tea," and HeyTea has officially joined the "plant tea" arena. The brand recently launched its new "Super Vegetable Series," debuting two new products, "Light & Refreshing Kale" and "Detoxifying Wheatgrass," which attract health-conscious consumers with their fresh and wholesome image.
Among them, kale has long been a common ingredient in fruit and vegetable teas, but wheatgrass, as a relatively rare ingredient in beverages, has successfully piqued consumer curiosity. Many people have been discussing on social platforms what this drink, which sounds like "eating grass," actually tastes like and whether it’s worth trying.
According to official information from HeyTea, these two new products were launched in limited regional availability starting November 12 as part of the brand’s newly introduced "Super Vegetable Series." Although kale is no longer novel, the name "wheatgrass" has left many puzzled. In fact, wheatgrass is the tender stem and leaf of the wheat plant, resembling common roadside grass in appearance. It gained popularity overseas and in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan for its fresh juice, often regarded as a natural nutritional supplement.
However, turning wheatgrass into a beverage still requires a certain amount of "courage." Many netizens initially worried that the drink might be too "hardcore," tasting like chewing on grass. Fortunately, HeyTea adjusted the recipe by blending fresh wheatgrass with apple and pineapple, paired with a jasmine snow bud tea base, ensuring the overall flavor isn’t overly grassy but instead offers a refreshing, mildly bitter taste.
Many first-time customers shared their tasting experiences on social platforms. Some mentioned that the wheatgrass drink has a mildly bitter initial taste but carries a fresh herbal aroma, suggesting it’s best sipped slowly. They noted that a subtle grassy aftertaste lingers, which those who enjoy Americano coffee might find more palatable. Another user pointed out that at the preset mildly sweet level, the grassy flavor is less noticeable in the initial sips, but a hint of kiwi-like tartness emerges toward the end, creating an intriguing flavor contrast.
Interestingly, "Detoxifying Wheatgrass" also unexpectedly attracted the attention of many "cat parents." Numerous cat-owning netizens noticed that the grass resembles the "cat grass" commonly kept at home. Some even joked about asking HeyTea for a pack of cat grass to take home for their pets after finishing their drink. This topic briefly had HeyTea humorously referred to as a "pet food brand" rather than a tea brand, adding to the buzz.
However, what may be a fun and fresh experience for consumers can be a formulation challenge for HeyTea store staff. Since these vegetable-based teas require fresh plant ingredients to be juiced, washed, and processed on-site, employees need to invest more time and effort in the preparation process. From early morning, they’re busy washing the greens and juicing to ensure every cup remains fresh and hygienic.
Overall, HeyTea’s launch of kale and wheatgrass plant-based teas not only showcases the brand’s exploration in the healthy beverage market but also reflects current consumer demand for "natural, low-burden" drinks. Whether such vegetable teas will become a long-term mainstream trend remains to be further tested by the market, but in the short term, they have successfully sparked conversation and discussion—undoubtedly a successful market test.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
