Blue Tea Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Loose Leaves, Powder, Others), By Type (Conventional, Organic), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 132.02 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.22%
Fastest Growing Segment	Organic
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 189.62 Million

Market Overview

The Global Blue Tea Market will grow from USD 132.02 Million in 2025 to USD 189.62 Million by 2031 at a 6.22% CAGR. Blue tea is defined as a herbal infusion derived primarily from the dried flowers of the Clitoria ternatea plant, celebrated for its brilliant blue hue and unique color-changing properties when altered by pH levels. The market is fundamentally supported by the growing consumer inclination toward natural, plant-based food ingredients and an increasing demand for functional beverages that offer antioxidant benefits without caffeine. These drivers are distinct from temporary consumption fads, as they reflect a deeper shift in health awareness and a preference for clean-label products across the global beverage industry.

However, the sector faces a significant challenge regarding the standardization of raw material quality, as supply chain inconsistencies can lead to variations in the flower's pigmentation and potency. This niche market operates within a thriving broader trade environment that facilitates international distribution. For instance, demonstrating the vitality of the export channels often utilized for such specialty infusions, according to the 'Tea Board of India', in '2025', India's total tea exports reached 254.67 million kilograms during the 2024 calendar year.

Key Market Drivers

The increasing utilization of blue tea as a natural and clean-label food colorant is a primary force propelling market expansion. As regulatory bodies increasingly scrutinize synthetic dyes and consumers demand greater transparency, food and beverage manufacturers are aggressively shifting toward stable, plant-based pigments. The butterfly pea flower is particularly valued in this transition for its high anthocyanin content, which provides a vibrant blue hue that remains stable under heat and uniquely shifts to purple with pH adjustments. This visual versatility drives widespread adoption in diverse sectors, ranging from premium confectionery to color-changing cocktails, allowing brands to eliminate artificial additives without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. According to Food Industry Executive, in July 2025, 64% of consumers indicated a preference for clean-label products formulated with natural colors, validating the industry's strategic pivot toward botanical ingredients like Clitoria ternatea.

Furthermore, the market is heavily influenced by the escalating consumer demand for functional and wellness beverages. Modern consumers increasingly prioritize drinks that deliver specific health outcomes, such as stress reduction and antioxidant support, without the stimulating effects of caffeine found in traditional tea or coffee. This "food as medicine" trend has positioned blue tea as a premium wellness infusion, leveraging its traditional ayurvedic reputation to capture health-conscious demographics seeking relaxation and cognitive benefits. Highlighting the massive scale of this opportunity, according to Glanbia, in February 2025, the United States functional beverage market alone was valued at $50 billion. This niche segment benefits from active global trade networks; according to the Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka, in 2025, cumulative tea exports for the first ten months of the year totaled 220.21 million kilograms, demonstrating the robust supply chains available for distributing specialty herbal varieties.

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Key Market Challenges

The lack of standardization in raw material quality poses a severe impediment to the commercial scalability of the global blue tea market. Because Clitoria ternatea flowers rely on specific agricultural conditions to maintain their anthocyanin content, supply chain inconsistencies frequently result in variations in pigmentation and potency. For a product valued primarily for its vibrant blue hue and color-changing attributes, any deviation in visual intensity directly undermines consumer confidence and brand reliability. Large-scale beverage manufacturers, requiring precise aesthetic uniformity for retail shelving, are consequently deterred from incorporating blue tea into mass-market ready-to-drink formulations, effectively restricting the ingredient to niche or artisanal segments.

This constraint limits the market's volume despite clear indicators of rising international demand for floral infusions. Demonstrating the robust appetite for this broader category, according to the 'China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs', in '2024', the export value of flower tea increased by 5.11% year-on-year, outperforming traditional tea segments. However, without established quality benchmarks to ensure consistent coloration across these export volumes, the blue tea sector struggles to fully capitalize on this favorable trade momentum, leaving significant revenue opportunities unrealized as major buyers hesitate to commit to long-term contracts.

Key Market Trends

Cafés, bars, and restaurants are increasingly capitalizing on the pH-sensitive, color-changing properties of butterfly pea flower to create theatrical, visually striking beverage experiences designed for social media engagement. This trend moves beyond simple refreshment to offer consumers an interactive mixology spectacle, where the addition of citrus transforms a drink's hue from deep blue to vibrant purple. This focus on the visual and experiential aspect of drinking is substantiated by industry data; according to Bacardi Limited, November 2024, in the 'Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report 2025', consumer interest in herbaceous ingredients within the North American on-trade sector grew by 15% in 2024, reflecting a broader demand for complex, botanical-forward cocktail presentations that justify premium pricing.

To address the mild and somewhat earthy flavor profile of pure blue tea, manufacturers are aggressively developing hybrid formulations that blend the flower with dominant, familiar ingredients such as lemongrass, ginger, and mint. This product innovation strategy not only improves palatability for mass-market consumers but also aligns the ingredient with the surging popularity of its native culinary heritage. Validating this regional flavor momentum, according to the National Restaurant Association, November 2024, in the '2025 What's Hot Culinary Forecast', Southeast Asian flavors secured the top three spots in the global dishes category, creating a highly receptive market environment for authentic Thai and Vietnamese-inspired blue tea blends.

Segmental Insights

The Organic segment is currently emerging as the fastest growing category within the Global Blue Tea Market, fueled by a rising consumer preference for clean-label wellness beverages. As health enthusiasts increasingly consume Butterfly Pea Flower tea for its antioxidant properties and caffeine-free benefits, there is a concerted shift away from conventionally grown products that utilize synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This demand is further reinforced by rigorous compliance with certification standards established by regulatory bodies such as the USDA, which instills greater confidence in product purity. Consequently, buyers are prioritizing organic options to ensure a safe and chemical-free consumption experience.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global blue tea market, primarily driven by rising consumer demand for natural and caffeine-free beverage options. This dominance is significantly strengthened by favorable regulatory developments, specifically the approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of butterfly pea flower extract as a permitted color additive. This regulatory clarity has encouraged beverage manufacturers to incorporate the ingredient into various product lines. Additionally, the strong preference for herbal teas and clean-label products across the United States and Canada continues to support sustained market expansion in the region.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Bigelow Tea announced the nationwide expansion of its Butterfly Pea Flower tea line, following a successful year-long exclusive pilot. The company made its "Sapphire Bay" and "Vanilla Midnight" herbal blends available to major retailers across the United States. These caffeine-free products, which feature the butterfly pea flower as a key ingredient, were marketed for their unique blue hue and color-changing characteristics. This move signified a major mainstream adoption of blue tea ingredients by a leading legacy tea manufacturer in the North American market.
• In March 2025, Starbucks Reserve unveiled its spring menu, which featured the introduction of the "Butterfly Tea Spritz" and a "Citrus Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Tasting Journey." These innovative beverage offerings utilized the butterfly pea flower tea's natural ability to change color from blue to purple when interacting with acidic ingredients like lemonade. The launch at select Roastery locations highlighted the incorporation of this vibrant botanical ingredient into premium coffeehouse experiences, leveraging its visual theatricality and antioxidant profile to attract customers interested in experiential and functional drinks.
• In October 2024, Octavius Tea, a premium tea purveyor, expanded its wellness portfolio with the launch of a new Butterfly Blue Pea Flower Tea. This product was introduced to cater to the increasing consumer demand for natural, antioxidant-rich beverages that offer both visual appeal and health benefits, such as stress reduction. The launch featured the tea in pyramid tea bags and loose-leaf formats, emphasizing the color-changing properties of the butterfly pea flower when mixed with citrus. This development underscored the industry's shift towards functional botanical blends.
• In April 2024, Blue Tea, a direct-to-consumer herbal tea brand, formed a strategic collaboration with IndiGo Airlines to enhance the in-flight beverage experience. Through this partnership, the company began serving its range of flower-based herbal teas, including its signature butterfly pea flower blends, to passengers on select flights. This initiative was part of the brand's broader strategy to expand its consumer base and promote the consumption of caffeine-free, Ayurvedic beverages within the travel sector. The collaboration also highlighted the growing acceptance of niche herbal infusions in mainstream service industries.

Key Market Players

• Lake Missoula Tea Company
• Revival Tea Company
• Redplum Pvt Ltd.
• Tucson Tea Company
• Asheville Tea Company
• Noble Roots Urban Garden LLC
• Hale Tea Co.
• Blue Willow Tea
• Yum Cha Tea Company
• Sancha Tea

By Product	By Type	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Loose Leaves Powder Others	Conventional Organic	Online Offline	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Blue Tea Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Blue Tea Market, By Product:

• Loose Leaves
• Powder
• Others

• Blue Tea Market, By Type:

• Conventional
• Organic

• Blue Tea Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Online
• Offline

• Blue Tea Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE