What should you look for in loose tea packaging?

Key takeaways

• Loose tea packaging must be protective, preventing oxygen, light, moisture, and odours from impacting flavour.
• Aluminium tins provide durability, hygiene, and a luxury feel for loose-leaf tea.
• Pouches and flexible formats are also suitable for loose tea packaging due to their high-barrier properties.

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Consumer interest in loose-leaf tea is higher than ever. The market is currently valued at around USD $1.2 billion and expected to grow further over the next decade. For companies already offering tea, expanding into loose-leaf tea is therefore a fruitful opportunity.

Launching new loose tea products can be a complex process. You’ll need to contend with increased competition, rising costs, and changes in consumer buying patterns. As such, high-quality and distinctive loose tea packaging may be the difference between your products standing out or getting overlooked. For these reasons, loose tea packaging needs to communicate more than just quality and value.

To learn what you should really be paying attention to in your loose tea packaging, I spoke to Enric Garcia. He is the owner of Quality Blends, a Spanish specialty coffee roaster with its own loose-leaf tea brand, QLT. Read on for his insights.

What do you need from loose tea packaging?

The most important quality of loose tea packaging is protection. Tea can generally last for up to two years after processing – but much of this depends on packaging that keeps it secure.

Like coffee, tea easily absorbs moisture and odours during storage. Therefore, the packaging needs to be airtight with high-barrier properties. Effective loose tea packaging also needs to protect the tea from light and heat. Both of these factors accelerate the degradation process, resulting in stale flavour notes.

This is why Enric recommends packaging that covers a number of needs. “It should be practical, airtight, functional, economical, local, sustainable, and, if possible, with an innovative design,” he tells me.

For QLT’s products, he chose food-grade tin cans for storing loose tea. “They come with a disposable screw cap so that each container is new,” he says. Not only are cans excellent at protecting tea from moisture, light, and odours, but they are also physically durable.

He says they specifically designed the tins to be easily disposable, but can be repurposed after use as well. “We don’t want to contaminate our teas by refilling containers,” he explains. “For us, the purity and hygiene of the containers are very important.”

Other common formats for loose tea packaging include bags and pouches, which are generally more cost-effective. Paperboard boxes and tubes are also popular for storing both loose-leaf tea and individual tea bags.

While protective qualities are normally the main consideration for loose tea packaging, consumer demands are evolving.

As Enric explained, design is another priority for QLT’s tins. “Often, packaging is a reflection of the product,” he adds. This echoes studies on the psychology of packaging, showing that visual elements and messaging shape a customer’s perception of the product.

Research shows that 72% of American consumers base their purchasing decisions mostly on packaging design and materials. These first impressions are crucial, because customers often make a decision on buying a product or not within seconds.

Therefore, your loose tea packaging needs to balance a number of concerns. Not only should it be protective and high-quality, but it also needs to be visually appealing.

Which materials are best for loose tea packaging?

The best materials for loose tea packaging will vary based on your product formats and branding goals. High-barrier materials like low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and aluminium are all suitable for protecting tea.

Enric chose aluminium cans for QLT’s packaging due to these barrier properties. “They better protect the tea from light, oxygen, and moisture, and preserve its aroma and freshness,” he explains.“Also, they are more sustainable and reusable, and also provide superior aesthetic and brand value.”

Aluminium tins as loose tea packaging add a sense of sophistication. It’s a versatile format, making the product ideal not only for high-end retail and gifting but also as a luxury item in the home.

Custom bags and pouches can be just as effective for luxury tea brands. They are generally more cost-effective to purchase and customise compared to tins, and can be made from a range of eco-friendly materials. You can select recyclable materials like LDPE and compostable options such as PLA or kraft paper with an inner lining.

Cardboard is also an effective choice for boxes or tubes to store pouches. Made from renewable resources such as wood fibres or recycled paper, they are physically robust and protective. Boxes and tubes also present excellent branding opportunities with easily customisable printing surfaces.

Since tea quickly loses its aroma and flavour when exposed to oxygen, resealable packaging is essential for maintaining freshness. Enric recommends adding resealable zippers to pouches for this purpose. “A rigid closure or security seal reinforces the premium image and trust,” he says.

How important is eco-friendly loose tea packaging?

Sustainable loose tea packaging is crucial for appealing to eco-friendly demographics. A 2023 survey found that 73% of tea industry professionals believe sustainability initiatives are already being implemented effectively. Therefore, new and existing tea brands need to ensure their packaging meets these industry standards.

Using sustainable loose tea packaging also helps you attract eco-friendly consumers. They are willing to pay up to 9.7% more for eco-friendly and ethically produced products. This shift is evident in the market, with more than one-third of global tea and ready-to-drink (RTD) launches using eco-friendly packaging solutions.

“Sustainability is important – if something is sustainable and confirmed throughout the chain, then it is a priority,” Enric says. Part of his effort towards this can be seen in QLT’s use of aluminium tins, which are infinitely recyclable and easy for customers to dispose of after use.

However, he also stresses the need for sustainable packaging that is as easy to recycle as it is protective. After all, if a tea company chooses recyclable paper packaging, but it needs a plastic inner lining for freshness, recyclability may be compromised. “Sometimes, we focus on the purity of materials or ecological or other certifications that are not compatible,” he explains. 

Moving forward, he hopes to see more innovation in sustainable loose tea packaging. “We would like packaging to be made with recycled materials, from a circular economy, and also in more innovative ways. Packaging efficiency is essential in the tea chain,” he concludes.

Fortunately, recent developments are making these options more accessible to tea companies. Eco-friendly material options for bags, pouches, and boxes provide tangible sustainability benefits without increasing your packaging costs. This makes them a practical choice for growing businesses to access high-quality sustainable packaging.

Suppliers like MTPak Coffee offer eco-friendly packaging formats for loose-leaf tea. Our range includes everything from premium, eco-friendly aluminium tins to recyclable or compostable pouches for loose-leaf tea.

Our pouches can be made from recyclable materials like LDPE, as well as compostable options like kraft paper or PLA. For added versatility, our cardboard packaging comes in multiple formats, ranging from tubes and mailer boxes to boxes for loose-leaf tea.

Contact the MTPak Coffee team to learn more about our eco-friendly range of loose tea packaging.

FAQ

What is the most protective packaging for loose tea?

Aluminium tins are suitable for completely blocking oxygen, light, and moisture from impacting your tea’s quality. Pouches with inner linings and resealable closures are also excellent for this purpose.

Are tins or pouches better?

It mostly depends on your budget and branding goals. Tins offer a premium look, but can cost more. Pouches are cost-effective and easily customisable to convey your message.

What is the role of sustainability in loose tea packaging?

It is more important than ever as the industry shifts towards eco-friendly practices. Customers are also willing to pay more for tea in easily recyclable or compostable packaging formats.