What is tea concentrate?
Tea concentrate is a ready-to-use liquid tea base — a highly concentrated extraction of brewed tea, packed to be shelf-stable and poured straight into the cup. Instead of brewing a decoction, holding it through the day and discarding what doesn’t sell, your team pours a measured 30 ML, mixes, and serves.
One 30 ML pour carries the tea power of roughly 150–200 ML of fresh decoction. Because the flavour is concentrated into a fraction of the volume, the rest of the cup is free for milk, cream and toppings — which is exactly what gives a concentrate-built drink its thicker, creamier body.
Pour 30 ML, mix, serve. No brewing, no batch wastage, staff trained in 2–3 hours, and the same cup on every shift and in every outlet.
Why QSR chains switch to concentrate
Fresh brewing suits premium, single-site shops that sell through their decoction daily. For QSR chains and cloud kitchens running multiple outlets, concentrate removes the operational headaches of brewing at scale:
- Faster training — 2–3 hours instead of several days. No decoction timing to teach, no filtration steps; staff serve consistently from day one.
- Zero batch wastage — nothing brewed-and-discarded on slow days. You pour only what you sell.
- No storage or commodity headaches — no tea-leaf quality variation, no bulk storage, no exposure to commodity price swings. Inventory simplifies to a few bottles.
- Consistency across shifts & outlets — a standardised 30 ML measure means the same taste every time, whoever is behind the counter (around 99% repeatability).
- Speed at rush hour — ready-to-use means no brewing delay, faster service and a better peak-hour experience.
30 ML = 150–200 ML of tea power
The efficiency comes from concentration. Delivering the tea flavour in a fraction of the volume changes the whole cup:
- More tea flavour in less liquid — a stronger, cleaner taste that doesn’t fade after ice.
- More room for milk & cream — less tea-base volume leaves space for a creamier build and more toppings.
- A stronger, creamier drink — premium mouthfeel, finished with whip cream rather than non-dairy creamer.
- Better cost per cup — concentrated dosing and zero brew wastage improve the margin on every drink.
“30 ML concentrate = 150–200 ML decoction worth of tea power — more flavour, more creaminess, more space for toppings, without dilution.”
Tea concentrate vs fresh brew
An honest, side-by-side comparison so you can judge which model fits your business:
| Component | 🏆 Tea Concentrate | Fresh Brew Decoction |
|---|---|---|
| Volume per 350 ML cup | 30 ML | 150–200 ML |
| Tea flavour | Strong & stable | Varies by batch/operator |
| Drink body | Thick, creamy | Often thinner after ice |
| Creaminess | Whip cream (premium mouthfeel) | Non-dairy creamer |
| Service speed | Seconds | Brew + cool + hold daily |
| Consistency | High (~99%) | Varies by operator |
| Shelf life | 7 days after opening | Same-day use |
| Equipment needed | None | Brewing equipment + cooling |
| Training time | 2–3 hours | Several days |
Neither model is “wrong” — premium artisanal shops often prefer fresh brew. But for speed, consistency and multi-outlet rollout, concentrate wins on operations.
What goes into each cup
The difference shows up in the build. Here’s a typical 350 ML cup in each model:
🏆 Tea Concentrate model
- Boba premix — 15 g
- Tea concentrate — 30 ML (the hero ingredient)
- Milk — 100–150 ML
- Whip cream — 50 ML
- Ice cubes — as needed
- Toppings — popping boba, tapioca, nata de coco
☕ Fresh brew model
- Boba premix — 15–30 g
- Fresh decoction — 150–200 ML (takes up more space)
- Milk — 50–100 ML (less room)
- Non-dairy creamer — 30–50 g
- Ice cubes — as needed
- Toppings — limited space due to large tea base
The tea concentrate range
Each concentrate is crafted for specific drink categories. All come in 1 L and 16 L formats and are FSSC 22000 certified:
Beverage Concentrate Black · best seller
Strong, malty and full-bodied. Best for all milk-tea recipes, chai lattes and brown-sugar boba.
Beverage Concentrate Green
Floral, fruity and light-bodied, with premium positioning. Best for jasmine fruit teas, green-tea lattes and iced green tea.
Matcha Tea Concentrate
Aromatic, delicate and refreshing. Ideal for matcha lattes, matcha frappes and matcha fruit teas.
Mojito Green Tea Concentrate
Lemon-sour, minty and complex (semi-oxidised). Versatile for mojito tea, iced green tea and refreshing coolers.
Hōjicha (Roasted Green) Concentrate
Nutty, toasted and mild. Perfect for hōjicha lattes, frappes, winter menus and dessert pairings.
Volume options: 1 L for small-to-medium cafés, 16 L for high-volume chains and distributors, and bulk for manufacturing and co-packing.
Storage & shelf life
- Before opening — up to 18 months at ambient temperature.
- After opening — refrigerate and use within 7 days.
- Storage — keep cool and dry; refrigerate once opened.
- Certification — manufactured at our FSSC 22000 certified facility; export-ready.
Choose your operating model
Concentrate isn’t all-or-nothing. Tea Planet’s modular approach lets you pick the method that fits each outlet — and change anytime:
- Tea concentrate — fast training, consistency, no wastage. Recommended for QSR chains and fast rollout.
- Fresh brew — traditional brewing and artisanal positioning for premium shops.
- Instant tapioca — 30-second prep for speed and events.
- Freshly boiled tapioca — maximum texture control for shops prioritising the best pearl experience.
The same flexibility gives you control over beverage cost, training complexity, consistency and operational efficiency.
Common questions
How long does it last after opening?
Refrigerate and use within 7 days once opened. Sealed, it keeps up to 18 months at ambient temperature.
Can I use it for both hot and cold drinks?
Yes — concentrate works across hot and iced builds: lattes, frappes, milk teas and fruit teas.
Can I customise flavours?
Yes. Custom and private-label concentrate is available — talk to our team about your recipe and volumes.
Is it suitable for export?
Yes. It’s manufactured at our FSSC 22000 certified facility and is export-ready with full documentation.
What’s the cost per cup?
Concentrated dosing and zero brew wastage typically lower your cost per cup versus fresh brew. We’ll share indicative numbers for your specific recipe on request.
Do I need special equipment?
None. Pour the measured concentrate, mix and serve — no brewing or cooling equipment required.
We supply tea concentrate in 1 L and 16 L formats, FSSC 22000 certified, with 7-day dispatch. Explore our beverage concentrates → or message our team for samples & pricing →