Introduction:China’s first group standard specifically targeting fresh leaf milk tea, titled "Fresh Leaf Milk Tea," has been officially approved and implemented. Proposed by the Guangxi Tea Circulation Association and drafted by leading well-known tea beverage brands, it clearly defines raw materials, production processes, and additive restrictions. This article details the new standard’s definitions, core requirements, and market background, helping you understand how new-style tea beverages are moving toward being healthier, more transparent, and better regulated.
As consumers place increasing emphasis on the healthiness of beverages, more people are choosing milk tea not just for its rich flavor but also for its use of natural ingredients and clean production methods. To respond to this trend, the group standard "Fresh Leaf Milk Tea," proposed by the Guangxi Tea Circulation Association and drafted under the leadership of TeaQi (Shanghai) Brand Management Co., Ltd., has recently been officially approved and released. It is the first national standard specifically tailored to fresh leaf milk tea.
The introduction of this standard signifies that the ready-to-drink tea beverage industry is advancing toward greater standardization and healthiness. Not only does it clearly define the terminology of fresh leaf milk tea, but it also provides specific regulations regarding ingredient selection, production techniques, storage conditions, and prohibited additives. This helps improve the overall quality of the product and builds consumer trust.
According to surveys, an increasing number of post-90s consumers, after trying new-style tea beverages, have started to take an interest in traditional Chinese loose-leaf tea. A report published by the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences at the end of 2022 showed that as many as 74.25% of surveyed post-90s respondents expressed willingness to explore more loose-leaf tea, and 34.81% were willing to purchase loose-leaf tea products directly from tea beverage shops, indicating strong potential market demand for natural tea bases.
According to a report by The Beijing News, the newly approved "Fresh Leaf Milk Tea" group standard was led by the Guangxi Tea Circulation Association and jointly drafted with multiple parties including the School of Food and Quality Engineering at Nanning University, and has been officially certified by the Guangxi Standardization Association. The standard explicitly states that fresh leaf milk tea is a ready-to-drink beverage primarily made from tea leaves, fresh or pure milk, and drinking water. The tea infusion is prepared through on-site steeping or high-pressure extraction, then blended to create the final drink.
In terms of specific regulations, such milk teas may include or exclude other dairy products, sugars, or syrups according to need, butthe use of processed ingredients such as non-dairy creamer, powdered creamer, flavorings, hydrogenated vegetable oil, or instant tea powder is strictly prohibited.Furthermore, the entire product must meet the requirement of being free from trans fatty acids, in order to fully showcase the original flavor and freshness of the tea leaves.
The biggest difference between fresh leaf milk tea and common milk tea on the market is that the former emphasizes the use of whole-grade tea leaves rather than broken tea or tea powder. Additionally, the tea infusion must be either on-site or high-pressure extracted, and stored sealed and refrigerated for no more than 4 hours to ensure the aroma and freshness of the tea. It is then blended with fresh whole or pure milk to create a tea beverage option that is refreshing in taste and transparent in its ingredients.
New-style tea beverages have risen rapidly in the Chinese market in recent years, with their market size continuing to expand. Data shows that in 2020, the market size of China’s new-style tea beverage industry was approximately 77.3 billion yuan, and it is estimated to grow significantly to 354.72 billion yuan by the end of 2024, demonstrating that it has become an important and undeniable segment of the tea beverage market.
However, prior to this, the ready-to-drink tea beverage market had long lacked unified regulatory standards. It wasn’t until May 2021 that the first specific product standard, the "Tea Beverage Series Group Standard," was officially launched. This covered five major categories: ready-made milk tea, milk cap tea, fruit tea, sparkling tea, and cold-brewed tea. In September of the same year, the China Chain Store & Franchise Association further released the "Group Standard on Terminology and Classification of Ready-Made Tea Beverages," accelerating the overall industry’s move toward standardization.
Speaking about the development process of the "Fresh Leaf Milk Tea" standard, the Guangxi Standardization Association stated that the standard was formulated after in-depth market research, extensive collection of relevant data, and combining sampling analysis with practical production validation. The technical approach is correct, the content is comprehensive, and it is both scientific and advanced while also being practical for implementation. This helps brands establish consistency and builds trust with consumers.
This standard not only helps regulate the product quality of fresh leaf milk tea, but also provides clear guidance for tea beverage brands, assisting them in creating more distinctive product images. For consumers who prioritize ingredients and production processes, it will be easier in the future to identify products that truly meet the standards of healthiness and freshness when choosing tea beverages.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
