It’s not enough to just source premium ingredients. In order to deliver a superior tea experience, Tea of a Kind must preserve the natural essence of our teas until you choose to drink them.
We have done this with the patented Gizmo closure, which protects the beneficial characteristics of our teas from degradation. Our innovative delivery system defends against exposure to UV light, oxidation, and other damaging conditions that bottled beverages confront in the warehouse, on the delivery truck and on the store shelf.
So when you twist the Gizmo cap and see your Tea of a Kind burst in a plume of color, you can be confident that we are fulfilling our promise.
Goodness grown. Goodness preserved. Goodness delivered.
– Tea of a Kind’s website
Last month, the folks at Tea of a Kind introduced themselves to me prior to the World Tea Expo and Healthy Beverage Expo in Las Vegas. I was very curious to experience their patented cap design first hand and eagerly went about finding them upon my arrival at the Expos. I didn’t have to look far. With press credentials this year and access to the Press Room, I noticed that Tea of a Kind was nicely displayed on every press table in the room along with a tub full of bottles all on ice at the back of the room. It was my first taste of tea at my tenth World Tea Expo and I liked it!
RTDs are big in the world of tea and they are growing by the day! I am quite certain there will be a “split decision” among my peers. Some will love Tea of a Kind and others will poo poo it simply because it’s tea in a bottle. But as I’ve been saying for some time now, you’ve got to reach your customers where they are. If they are at the refrigerated wall of beverages, why not introduce them to tea over there?!
At Tea of a Kind, they believe: “The right choices go beyond trend. Living healthy is more pleasurable than not. The harmony of science and nature is beautiful. Small adjustments can create invigorating change. The most enjoyable experiences are those that touch all five senses.” Like many people, Tea of a Kind’s CEO, Don Park, and President, Walter Apodaca, both struggled with serious illnesses that were the direct result of a poor diet. Their commitment to creating a line of all-natural beverages that captures and delivers the natural goodness of foods led to the birth of Tea of a Kind.
In a piece by PRNewswire on October 22, 2012:
“Tea of a Kind (powered by Gizmo), the first beverage to utilize the patented ‘Gizmo Closure and Delivery System,’ won the Best Ready-to-Drink Tea or Coffee title at the 2012 InterBev Awards, held during a special gala dinner at the Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas on Thursday, October 17th. The beverage was also a finalist in the Best Bottling Innovation, Best Packaging Innovation and Best Social Media Campaign categories.
Once the cap is twisted, the ingredients burst into the bottle at 90 psi and self-mix, creating a color change and a visual confirmation that the drink is fresh and ready to consume. Available in Peach Ginger Black Tea, Citrus Mint Green Tea, and Pomegranate Acai White Tea, Tea of a Kind is 100% natural, contains only 20 calories per 16 ounce bottle, and is loaded with antioxidants.”
Directly on the bottle, it states: “406 mg of antioxidants per 16 oz bottle. No preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors, and slightly sweetened with cane sugar there are 20 calories per bottle equaling 6 grams of sugar.” I’ll drink to that – and I’ll drink that!
I also love the concept of the nutrients being protected until the cap is twisted just before drinking. Storing ingredients in the caps of bottles is definitely the trend – there were many beverage companies featuring new products that release the “healthy stuff” just before opening. However, I do not recall seeing any other bottled products that did this with tea.
I liked the Tea of a Kind folks I met, the companies’ PR firm that introduced themselves to me ahead of time, and, of course, the product. I wish them great success.
This is terrific. I love that they’ve figured out a way to resolve the issue regarding loss of antioxidants when ice tea is not freshly made. Too bad they didn’t consider stevia but the small amount of sugar isn’t too hard to take. If this will help shift people away from high sugar beverages and toward tea, this is terrific. I do understand some will be dismissive of bottled tea but the ability to preserve the antioxidants is key and as you’ve mentioned, the consumers want it.
My first response to the image of the bottle was COKE. – said the former coke a cola addict. Not a healthy connection but it does bring to mind ice cold coke on a summer day. Interesting that they chose that shape however.
Thanks for introducing me to this new lid development. I’ll see if I can pick up a bottle when I’m in Portland next.
Yes, Michelle, I knew the bottle would remind folks of a certain ‘other’ well-known beverage but I wasn’t going to say what it was! Can’t knock the success they’ve had with that shape!
I found the company most enjoyable – as well as the beverage most delightful. As a tea educator tasting tea in as many ways as we can is all part of the ever-growing experience.
That’s why I love what I do!
Hope you enjoy the beverage, too!