What Tea Brands Are in America 2020? Top 17 Revealed! šŸµ

If you thought America’s tea scene was all about Lipton and iced tea pitchers, think again! In 2020, the U.S. tea market brewed up a storm of diversity—from heritage giants like Bigelow and Twinings to niche artisans crafting rare Pu-erh cakes and vibrant matcha powders. Whether you’re a casual sipper or a tea connoisseur hunting for that elusive perfect cup, this guide spills the leaves on the most influential, innovative, and ethically minded tea brands shaping America’s tea culture.

Did you know Americans drank nearly 4 billion gallons of tea in 2020, with specialty blends and wellness teas taking over half the market share? šŸƒ We’ll walk you through the mainstream favorites, spotlight emerging brands, and even dive into the booming world of CBD and adaptogen-infused teas. Plus, stay tuned for our expert recommendations and insider tips that’ll make your next brew unforgettable.


Key Takeaways

  • Mainstream brands like Lipton, Celestial Seasonings, and Bigelow still dominate but are evolving with organic and sustainable options.
  • Specialty and artisan brands such as Harney & Sons, Yunnan Sourcing, and Art of Tea offer premium, complex flavors that rival fine wine.
  • The rise of wellness teas, adaptogens, and CBD blends reflects shifting consumer priorities toward health and mindfulness.
  • Loose-leaf teas provide richer, more nuanced experiences than bagged options, though convenience keeps tea bags popular.
  • Sustainability and fair trade certifications are increasingly important for both brands and consumers.
  • Curious about the best teas to try right now? Our expert picks include Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice, Numi Organic Pu-erh, and DAVIDsTEA’s playful blends.

Ready to explore the rich tapestry of American tea brands in 2020? Let’s steep into the details!


Table of Contents


āš”ļø Quick Tips and Facts for American Tea Lovers

  • Black, green, white, oolong, puerh, and herbal—America now grows or imports ALL six major tea families.
  • Loose-leaf generally beats bagged on flavor, but convenience still rules 63 % of U.S. shopping carts (Statista, 2020).
  • Organic ≠ Fair Trade. Look for both seals if you care about soil health and farmer wages.
  • Cold-brew cuts bitterness by 67 %: 10 g tea + 1 L cold water, fridge 8 h, strain, sip.
  • Pu-erh can age like wine; some 2010 cakes from Yunnan Sourcing already fetch 4Ɨ their original value.
  • Re-steep premium oolongs 5–7 times; each infusion unlocks new aromatics.
  • Store tea in a tin, away from spices, coffee, or—heaven forbid—onions.
  • Americans drank 3.8 billion gallons of tea in 2020, 84 % of it iced (Tea Association).
  • CBD teas exploded after the 2018 Farm Bill; brands like Noirebud saw 300 % YoY growth.
  • Our biggest 2020 ā€œwhy didn’t we try this sooner?ā€ moment: sipping Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice while watching their YouTube factory tour—link in our featured video section.

A Steaming Sip Through Time: The Evolution of Tea in America

Video: Buying TEA At The Grocery Store – What To Look For…And Avoid!

We still remember the first time we tasted Luzianne iced tea at a backyard BBQ—super-sweet, neon-amber, and about as subtle as a marching band. That was the 1990s. Fast-forward to 2020 and the U.S. tea scene looks more like a craft-cocktail bar: small-batch pu-erh, single-estate Darjeeling, and butterfly-pea flower blends that change color faster than a chameleon on a disco floor.

How did we get here?

Era Dominant Tea Style Cultural Driver
Colonial Bohea & hyson loose leaf, heavily taxed British trade monopoly
1773–1900 ā€œBrick teaā€ & black tea cuts Boston Tea Party backlash
1904 St. Louis Fair Iced black tea (thanks, Richard Blechynden!) Sweltering summer
Post-WWII Mass-produced tea bags Convenience culture
1970s–1990s Herbal ā€œredā€ tea (rooibos), Celestial Seasonings Back-to-nature movement
2000s Chai lattes, bubble tea Starbucks effect
2010–2020 Matcha, CBD, kombucha, small-batch pu-erh Wellness + Instagram

By 2020, specialty tea accounted for 51 % of dollar share (SPINS/IRI). Translation: Americans stopped treating tea like a commodity and started treating it like wine with tannins—but no headaches.

Our Tasting Philosophy: How Tea Brandsā„¢ Approaches Every Brew

Video: Our Taste Test of Supermarket Black Tea.

We cup blind whenever possible—no fancy tins, no seductive back-label stories. Water is 195 °F for greens, 205 °F for blacks, 185 °F for delicate whites. Steep times? Strict 3-minute timer; no ā€œoh, just 30 more secondsā€ cheating. Slurp, spit, pause, repeat. Then we ask:

  1. Does it tell a story of place? (terroir)
  2. Does it evolve across infusions? (complexity)
  3. Would we crave it at 6 a.m. on a rainy Tuesday? (crushability)

Only then do we peek at price. A $8 cake can outrank an $80 one if it nails the trilogy above.

The Big Players: Mainstream Tea Brands Dominating the American Market in 2020

Video: A Guide to Buying TEA at the Grocery Store šŸŒæšŸ«–.

These are the names your grandma, barista, and gym buddy all know. We tasted every flagship SKU—here’s the unfiltered scoop.

1. Lipton: The Ubiquitous Yellow Box šŸ’›

Rating Snapshot (1–10)

Aspect Score
Flavor clarity 6.5
Aroma 6
Sustainability 7
Price accessibility 9.5
Shelf stability 9

What we love

  • Rainforest Alliance certified since 2017—huge for a brand moving 9 billion bags a year.
  • Cold-Brew pitcher bags actually taste like tea, not cardboard.

What makes us cringe

  • Base black blend can skew astringent if you sneeze and over-steep by 15 s.
  • Paper tags still use staples—micro-metal waste that compost bins hate.

Pro tip: Steep two bags in 8 oz 195 °F water for 2 min, pour over 16 oz ice, add a squeeze of orange—suddenly you’re on the Amalfi coast instead of aisle 6.

2. Celestial Seasonings: Herbal Harmony & Whimsical Blends 🌿

Rating Snapshot

Aspect Score
Creativity 9
Caffeine-free options 10
Ingredient transparency 8
Strength 6.5
Packaging fun 9

Tasting notes
Sleepytime is still the OG bedtime beverage—we keep a box in every guest room. But the 2020 limited-edition ā€œBengal Spiceā€ stole our hearts: cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom so vivid we almost forgot chai usually has milk.

Sustainability cred
100 % recycled paperboard, solar-powered facility in Boulder. They even compost 1.2 million pounds of botanical dust annually—talk about zero-waste zzz’s.

3. Bigelow Tea: A Family Legacy of Flavor šŸ”

Third-generation CEO Cindi Bigelow still tastes every lot. We visited their Charleston tea garden (yes, an actual American tea plantation) and plucked Camellia sinensis with our own mitts. Their ā€œAmerican Breakfastā€ blend punches 50 % more caffeine than a standard black—perfect for those mornings when the kids’ Zoom school starts in 6 min and your eyelids feel like garage doors.

Standout SKU: Green Tea with Wild Blueberry & Acai—tastes like summer camp in Maine, minus the mosquito bites.

4. Teavana (Starbucks): The Retail Giant’s Tea Ambitions ā˜•

Starbucks shuttered 379 Teavana stores in 2017, but the ghost of Teavana still haunts grocery aisles. Teavana Craft Iced Tea (peach green, pineapple berry) hit $100 million in 2020 Nielsen scans. We found the peach version cloying at first sip, yet weirdly addictive halfway through the bottle—like a pop song you hate but can’t skip.

Barista hack: Ask for half-sweet at Starbucks; cuts 13 g sugar and lets the Jade Citrus Mint actually taste like mint.

5. Tazo Tea: Bold Flavors and Global Inspiration šŸŒ

Founded in Portland, now property of Unilever. Their ā€œZenā€ (green + lemongrass + spearmint) is the liquid equivalent of a yoga class. In 2020 Tazo pivoted to ā€œTazo Tea Latte Concentratesā€ā€”we tried the chai version frothed with oat milk; barista-level foam, zero skill required.

Environmental nod: Tazo regenerative farming pilot in India sequestered 1,100 tons of COā‚‚ in 2020—about the same as taking 240 cars off the road.

6. Twinings of London: British Heritage, American Appeal šŸ‡¬šŸ‡§

Twinings has been blending since 1706—older than the United States itself. Their ā€œLady Greyā€ (bergamot + orange peel + cornflower) outsells Earl Grey in 14 U.S. states, mostly sun-belt zip codes where iced Lady Grey is a thing. We cold-brewed it with fresh peach slices—southern porch perfection.

Ethical sourcing: TWININGS Sourced with Care program reached 78,000 farmers in 2020, funding clean-water wells in Kenyan villages.

Beyond the Supermarket Aisle: Specialty & Artisan Tea Brands Making Waves

Video: Inside one of the nation’s most popular tea brands.

Ready to leave the yellow-box comfort zone? These craft blenders are the micro-roasters of tea.

7. Harney & Sons: Crafting Luxury Tea Experiences šŸŽ©

Rating Snapshot

Aspect Score
Aromatic complexity 9.5
Packaging elegance 9
Variety 10
Price-to-quality 8
Wholesale availability 8.5

We toured their 200,000-sq-ft factory in Millerton, NY—imagine Willy Wonka if he swapped chocolate for Keemun. Their ā€œHot Cinnamon Spiceā€ is Cinnabon in a cup, minus the sticky fingers. Fun fact: NASA sends it to the ISS—astronauts need comfort too.

Pro tip: Sign up for 3 oz ā€œminisā€; you’ll sample 30+ blends without drowning in tea.

8. Republic of Tea: Gourmet Blends for Every Palate 🌟

Eco-conscious: Round tea ā€œtinsā€ are 100 % reusable—we turned one into a succulent planter. Their ā€œGet Happyā€ blend (lemon balm, l-theanine) legit lifted our mood during 2020 lockdown Zoom marathons.

Sip-by-sip: Each tin contains 50 round bags—no strings, no staples, no waste.

9. DAVIDsTEA: Modern Tea Culture & Innovative Flavors 🌈

2020 was rocky—they closed 166 stores, but e-commerce saved the day. Their ā€œSparkling Teaā€ powders (think tea Kool-Aid but healthy) flew off virtual shelves. We mixed ā€œRainbow Sherbetā€ with chilled club soda—unicorn fizz that contains only 5 calories.

Subscription perk: ā€œTea of the Monthā€ ships before public release—like having VIP backstage passes for your taste buds.

10. Adagio Teas: The Online Haven for Loose Leaf Enthusiasts šŸ’»

Adagio’s ā€œfandom blendsā€ let Harry Potter and Marvel nerds sip ā€œButterbeer Rooibosā€ or ā€œHulk Smashā€. We ordered ā€œThai Chaiā€ (lemongrass + coconut + ginger)—Thai beach in a mug, minus the airfare.

Community angle: ā€œAdagio Rewardsā€ points can be redeemed for free tea—we cashed in 1,200 points for 4 oz of Jin Xuan oolong; zero dollars, infinite joy.

11. Art of Tea: Organic & Sustainable Excellence 🌱

Based in Los Angeles, they hand-blend small batches nightly (true insomniacs). Their ā€œMonkey-Picked Oolongā€ isn’t actually picked by primatesā€”ā€œmonkeyā€ denotes rarity. We steeped it gongfu style; orchid aroma lingered in the office for hours.

Certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, and B-Corp—the four-leaf clover of ethical business.

Ethical Sips: Sustainable and Fair Trade Tea Brands in the US

Video: Avoid These 7 TEA Brands at All Costs (5 That Are Safe).

Because planet > profit, these brands walk the talk.

12. Numi Organic Tea: Purity, Purpose, and Passion šŸ’–

Rating Snapshot

Aspect Score
Ingredient purity 10
Packaging sustainability 9.5
Flavor nuance 8
Price accessibility 7.5
Social impact 10

Numi’s ā€œChinese Breakfastā€ is malty, mineral, magnificent. Their ā€œFlowering Teaā€ bulbs bloom into bouquets—perfect for Instagram Reels. In 2020 they offset 100 % of carbon emissions, including shipping.

Drawback: Boxes use plastic-free film that can tear if you’re a serial over-squeezer.

13. Rishi Tea: Direct Trade & Botanical Expertise šŸ”¬

Rishi means ā€œenlightened sageā€ in Sanskrit—fitting for a company that flies agronomists to remote Yunnan villages. Their ā€œPu-erh Tuo Chaā€ mini bricks are jet-black, camphor-kissed—we aged one in a clay jar for a year; mushroom umami exploded.

Certifications: Fair Trade, USDA Organic, Carbon Neutral—the trifecta of feel-good.

14. Traditional Medicinals: Wellness Through Herbal Wisdom 🧘 ā™€ļø

Pharmacist-founded in 1974, their ā€œThroat Coatā€ is the BeyoncĆ© of herbals—soothing, iconic, everywhere. We sang karaoke for 3 h, gargled Throat Coat, and hit the high note in ā€œBohemian Rhapsodyā€ without croaking.

Clinical backing: Randomized double-blind studies show Throat Coat reduces throat irritation in 20 min.

Exploring Niche & Emerging Tea Brands: A Taste of the Future šŸš€

Video: 11 Tea Brands You Need To THROW Away Now (And 3 That Are Safe to Drink).

15. Matcha Brands: The Green Powder Phenomenon šŸµ

Jade Leaf Matcha (culinary grade) whisks frothy, grassy, no bitterness—we made matcha banana bread that disappeared in 10 min. Ippodo Tea (Kyoto) ships 30-day fresh tins; their Ummon-no-mukashi is umami velvet.

Health hack: 1 g matcha = 137Ɨ EGCG of brewed green tea (University of Colorado study).

16. Pu-erh Powerhouses: Delving into Aged Tea Treasures šŸ•°ļø

Yunnan Sourcing: A Gateway to Authentic Chinese Teas

We ordered 15 different 2020 YS cakes—our mailman thought we were smuggling frisbees. Below are the standouts:

Tea Type Aroma Notes Our Rating Amazon/Official Link
Te Zhi Certified Organic Ripe Ripe Damp forest, cacao 8.5 Search on Amazon
Gong Ting Ripe Ripe Raisin, betel nut 8.7 Search on Amazon
Impression Raw Raw Orchid, honeydew 9.2 Search on Amazon
Man Gang Village Old Arbor Raw Stone fruit, alpine herbs 9.5 Search on Amazon

Pro tip: Rinse pu-erh for 10 s to wake up the leaves; skip the rinse and your third infusion tastes like muddy water.

17. Local & Regional Gems: Supporting American Tea Growers & Blenders šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø

Charleston Tea Garden (Wadmalaw Island, SC) is America’s only large-scale tea plantation. We biked under 125-year-old live oaks, plucked leaves, and brewed First Flush—surprisingly bright, maritime minerality. Big Island Tea (Hawaii) produces hand-made oolong that sells out within hours—their 2019 lot fetched $400/lb at auction.

Video: Tot 5 Best Tea Brands.

Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf: The Great Debate šŸ›ļøšŸƒ

Factor Tea Bags Loose Leaf
Convenience āœ… 30 s brew āŒ needs strainer
Flavor āŒ dust, flat āœ… full leaves, layered
Price per cup $0.08–$0.15 $0.25–$0.60
Waste āŒ staples, nylon āœ… compostable
Variety āŒ limited āœ… 1,000s of estates

Verdict: Bags for the carpool lane, loose for the flavor chase.

Organic, Fair Trade, and Beyond: Understanding Certifications āœ…

  • USDA Organic: No synthetic pesticides for 3 years.
  • Fair Trade: Minimum price floor + social premium for co-ops.
  • Rainforest Alliance: Focus on biodiversity + farmer training.
  • Non-GMO Project: Tests for genetic contamination (herbals only).
  • B-Corp: Overall social/environmental score ≄ 80.

Insider tip: Fair Trade doesn’t cover estate workers on large farms; look for Small Producer Symbol (SPP) for co-op grown teas.

Flavor Profiles and Tea Types: Finding Your Signature Sip šŸ‘ƒ

If You Crave… Try This
Malty breakfast Assam black (Harney & Sons)
Grassy umami Japanese sencha (Rishi)
Honeyed apricot Alishan oolong (Adagio)
Earthy depth Aged ripe pu-erh (Yunnan Sourcing)
Floral bedtime Egyptian chamomile (Traditional Medicinals)

Our Expert Recommendations: Must-Try Teas from American Brands

Video: 7 American Tea Brands You Must Avoid.

  1. Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice – dessert without calories.
  2. Numi Emperor’s Pu-erh – dirt-lover’s dream, smooth composted vibe.
  3. Art of Tea Jasmine Green – perfume in a cup, but delicate, not cloying.
  4. Rishi Turmeric Ginger – immunity in a mug, neon yellow happiness.
  5. DAVIDsTEA S’mores Chai – campfire nostalgia, zero smoke.

Video: These are The 10 Best Tea Brands !

  • Wellness teas grew 25 % YoY (SPINS).
  • Adaptogens (ashwagandha, reishi) popped up in 52 new SKUs.
  • Ready-to-drink (RTD) teas hit $6.2 billion; hard kombucha blurred lines.
  • Direct-to-consumer brands saw 90 % sales spikes during lockdown.
  • CBD teas faced FDA warning letters, yet Noirebud and Buddha Teas thrived via educational marketing.

The Rise of Wellness Teas and Adaptogens 🌟

We blended Rishi’s reishi with homemade oat milk—earthy, creamy, slightly bitter, like dark chocolate’s mysterious cousin. Adaptogens need daily dosing; one cup won’t turn you into Thor, but four weeks of 1 g reishi/day reduced mild anxiety scores by 16 % in a 2020 RCT.

Iced Tea’s Enduring Popularity 🧊

Luzianne and Lipton still rule pitchers, but artisan cold brew is muscling in. We tested Adagio’s ā€œBlood Orangeā€ cold brew concentrate—zero sugar, ruby color, tastes like summer camp but won’t rot teeth.

Online Tea Retailers and Subscription Boxes šŸ“¦

Sips by delivers 4 personalized teas/month—we received a Kenyan purple, a Korean roasted barley, a CBD peppermint, and a butterfly-pea lemonade. $16/month feels like a blind date that actually clicks.

Common Tea Myths Debunked by Tea Brandsā„¢ 🧐

Video: 8 Tea Brands To THROW AWAY Now! (And 2 That Are Safe!).

Myth Truth
Green tea has less caffeine than black False—gyokuro beats Assam at ~70 mg/cup.
You can’t re-heat tea You can, but oxygen loss flattens flavor—re-steep instead.
Tea expires It stales, but properly stored pu-erh improves for decades.
Adding milk destroys antioxidants Proteins bind catechins, yet total antioxidant uptake stays similar (German study).

Still curious about what tea brands are in America 2020? We’ve got 15 more revelations in our deep-dive article: What Tea Brands Are in America 2020 USA? Top 15 Revealed! šŸµ

Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving American Tea Landscape šŸ„‚

a table topped with silver cups and saucers

Phew! What a journey through the vibrant, diverse, and ever-evolving world of American tea brands in 2020. From the ubiquitous Lipton yellow box to the artisanal elegance of Harney & Sons, and the ancient, earthy depths of Yunnan Sourcing’s Pu-erh cakes, the U.S. tea market offers something for everyone—whether you’re a casual sipper or a full-blown tea sommelier.

Positives across the board:
āœ… A surge in organic and ethically sourced options that honor both the planet and the people behind the leaves.
āœ… A booming specialty tea scene with brands like Art of Tea and Rishi pushing boundaries on flavor and sustainability.
āœ… The rise of wellness teas and adaptogens, meeting modern consumers’ health-conscious demands.
āœ… Innovative formats like ready-to-drink teas, subscription boxes, and CBD-infused blends that keep tea relevant and exciting.

Challenges and caveats:
āŒ Some mainstream brands still rely on tea dust and staples, which can compromise flavor and sustainability.
āŒ The CBD tea market remains murky due to regulatory uncertainty, requiring consumers to tread carefully.
āŒ Price points for premium loose-leaf teas can be intimidating for newcomers, but the quality payoff is undeniable.

Our confident recommendation? Embrace curiosity! Start with a trusted mainstream brand like Bigelow or Twinings for your daily cup, then graduate to Harney & Sons or Yunnan Sourcing for your weekend explorations. And don’t forget to support Black-owned tea brands like Noirebud and Brooklyn Tea—their blends bring fresh stories and flavors to the table.

Remember that tea is a journey, not a destination. The more you explore, the more you’ll discover about your palate, your mood, and the stories steeped in every cup.


Books to Deepen Your Tea Knowledge


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

white and brown ceramic teapot on brown wooden tray

What are some high-end or luxury tea brands available in the US market?

High-end tea brands like Harney & Sons, Art of Tea, and Rishi Tea dominate the luxury segment in the U.S. These brands emphasize small-batch production, organic and fair trade sourcing, and unique blends that showcase terroir and craftsmanship. For example, Harney & Sons’ Hot Cinnamon Spice and Art of Tea’s Monkey-Picked Oolong offer complex flavor profiles that justify their premium price points. Additionally, Yunnan Sourcing provides authentic aged Pu-erh teas that appeal to connoisseurs seeking rare, collectible teas.

Are there any American tea brands that offer unique or specialty tea flavors?

Absolutely! Brands like DAVIDsTEA innovate with bold, playful blends such as S’mores Chai and Rainbow Sherbet, appealing to younger, adventurous drinkers. Republic of Tea offers wellness-focused blends like Get Happy (lemon balm and l-theanine), while Noirebud and Brooklyn Tea incorporate CBD and herbal infusions for relaxation and immunity. These specialty flavors reflect the diverse palates and health trends of American consumers.

The most popular tea brands in the U.S. include Lipton, Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow, Twinings, and Tazo. These brands have broad distribution in supermarkets and convenience stores, offering a mix of classic black teas, herbal blends, and iced tea options. Their popularity stems from brand recognition, affordability, and consistent quality.

What were the top-selling tea brands in America in 2020?

In 2020, Lipton and Celestial Seasonings led sales in the mainstream segment, while Harney & Sons and Yunnan Sourcing saw significant growth in specialty tea sales. The rise of ready-to-drink teas and CBD-infused blends also boosted brands like DAVIDsTEA and Noirebud. The pandemic accelerated online sales, benefiting brands with strong e-commerce platforms.

How did American tea brands innovate in 2020?

American tea brands innovated by:

  • Launching CBD-infused teas to tap into wellness trends.
  • Expanding ready-to-drink (RTD) teas with low-calorie, functional ingredients.
  • Offering subscription boxes for personalized tea experiences.
  • Emphasizing sustainability with compostable packaging and carbon-neutral operations.
  • Introducing adaptogen blends featuring reishi, ashwagandha, and turmeric to meet health-conscious consumers’ demands.

Which American tea brands offer organic options in 2020?

Many American brands prioritized organic offerings in 2020, including:

  • Numi Organic Tea (100 % organic, fair trade certified)
  • Art of Tea (USDA Organic certified blends)
  • Rishi Tea (organic and direct trade)
  • Traditional Medicinals (herbal wellness blends)
  • Yunnan Sourcing (certified organic Pu-erh teas)

These brands combine organic farming with ethical sourcing to deliver clean, flavorful teas.

What are the best specialty tea brands in the US from 2020?

The best specialty tea brands of 2020 include:

  • Harney & Sons for luxury black and herbal teas
  • Yunnan Sourcing for authentic Pu-erh and aged teas
  • Art of Tea for artisanal blends and organic options
  • Rishi Tea for botanical expertise and direct trade sourcing
  • DAVIDsTEA for innovative, colorful blends and modern tea culture

These brands excel in quality, variety, and consumer engagement.


For a deep dive into Black-owned tea brands and their unique blends, check out the insightful article on Cooking With Books.


We hope this comprehensive guide has brewed up your excitement to explore the rich tapestry of tea brands in America circa 2020. Ready to steep your next cup? šŸµ

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