Blue Tea Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Blue Tea Market is projected to expand from USD 132.02 Million in 2025 to USD 189.62 Million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.22%. Blue tea is characterized as an herbal infusion primarily obtained from the dried flowers of the Clitoria ternatea plant, renowned for its vivid blue color and distinct ability to shift hues when pH levels are altered. This market growth is fundamentally anchored by a rising consumer preference for natural, plant-based food ingredients and a surging demand for caffeine-free functional beverages that provide antioxidant properties. Rather than representing fleeting consumption fads, these drivers signify a profound transition in health consciousness and a growing desire for clean-label products throughout the global beverage sector.

However, the industry encounters a substantial obstacle regarding the standardization of raw material quality, as supply chain irregularities can result in inconsistent flower potency and pigmentation. This niche sector functions within a robust general trade framework that supports international logistics. Illustrating the strength of export channels utilized for such specialty infusions, the 'Tea Board of India' reported in '2025' that India's total tea exports amounted to 254.67 million kilograms during the 2024 calendar year.

Market Drivers

A primary force driving market expansion is the growing use of blue tea as a natural, clean-label food coloring agent. As regulatory authorities scrutinize synthetic dyes and consumers insist on transparency, food and beverage manufacturers are aggressively transitioning toward stable, plant-derived pigments. The butterfly pea flower is highly valued in this shift due to its rich anthocyanin content, which delivers a vibrant blue hue that endures heat and turns purple with pH adjustments. This visual versatility fosters widespread adoption across various sectors, from premium confectionery to color-changing cocktails, enabling brands to remove artificial additives without compromising aesthetic appeal. According to Food Industry Executive, in July 2025, 64% of consumers expressed a preference for clean-label products made with natural colors, confirming the industry's strategic move toward botanical ingredients like Clitoria ternatea.

Additionally, the market is heavily influenced by escalating consumer demand for wellness and functional beverages. Modern consumers prioritize drinks that offer specific health benefits, such as stress relief and antioxidant support, without the caffeine found in traditional coffee or tea. This "food as medicine" trend has established blue tea as a premium wellness infusion, utilizing its Ayurvedic reputation to attract health-conscious demographics seeking cognitive and relaxation benefits. Underscoring the magnitude of this opportunity, Glanbia noted in February 2025 that the United States functional beverage market 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 reached 220.21 million kilograms, highlighting the robust supply chains available for distributing specialty herbal varieties.

Market Challenges

The commercial scalability of the global blue tea market is severely hindered by the lack of standardization in raw material quality. Since Clitoria ternatea flowers depend on specific agricultural conditions to preserve their anthocyanin content, inconsistencies in the supply chain frequently lead to variations in potency and pigmentation. For a product valued primarily for its vibrant blue hue and color-changing attributes, any deviation in visual intensity directly damages consumer confidence and brand reliability. Consequently, large-scale beverage manufacturers, who require precise aesthetic uniformity for retail shelving, are deterred from incorporating blue tea into mass-market ready-to-drink formulations, effectively restricting the ingredient to artisanal or niche 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, the 'China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs' reported in '2024' that 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.

Market Trends

Cafés, bars, and restaurants are increasingly leveraging the pH-sensitive, color-changing properties of the butterfly pea flower to create visually dramatic, theatrical beverage experiences designed for social media engagement. This trend goes 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 aspects of drinking is supported by industry data; according to Bacardi Limited, in the 'Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report 2025' released in November 2024, 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, in the '2025 What's Hot Culinary Forecast' published in November 2024, 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.

Key Players Profiled in the Blue Tea Market

• 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

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Blue Tea Market has been segmented into the following categories:

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
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Blue Tea Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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