Steeped Perfection: Top-Rated Tea Brands Worth Sipping

Tea enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for brands that offer quality, taste, and authenticity. Across the globe, numerous tea brands stand out for their commitment to producing exceptional blends that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. From time-honored traditional brews to innovative and aromatic blends, these brands take pride in providing an unparalleled tea-drinking experience. Interested in discovering which brands make the cut for the best tea options? Explore our curated list below.

Illustration of tea

Best brands of tea in 2025

Twinings

Twinings is a leading tea brand that has established a strong global market presence, available in over 100 countries, including the UK, the US, and several European nations. In the UK, Twinings overtook PG Tips as the best-selling brand in 2019, driven by its premium offerings such as Superblends and Cold In'fuse teas, which boosted sales by $13 million (PS10.5 million). The brand has increased its market share to 21% in the UK, reflecting a 13.8% increase over the past five years, and has outperformed the market with a 9.4% growth rate. Twinings' commitment to innovation and quality has resonated well with consumers, with 4.84 million people consuming its herbal, fruit, or green tea products in 2023. The brand's traditional black teas and innovative blends continue to capture the attention and loyalty of tea enthusiasts worldwide. For more details, visit their official website.

Harney & Sons

Harney & Sons Fine Teas is a renowned family-owned and operated tea company, founded in 1983 by John Harney in Salisbury, Connecticut. The company is celebrated for sourcing its teas from the most prestigious tea gardens worldwide, including China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. With a commitment to traditional tea-making techniques and innovative blending methods, Harney & Sons produces over 300 high-quality tea varieties, including black, green, oolong, and herbal teas. The company has an estimated annual revenue of $22.1 million and employs over 88 people, making it a significant player in the global tea market. Harney & Sons is known for its exceptional customer service and strong online presence, catering to specialty shops, gourmet retailers, and restaurants globally. For more information about Harney & Sons, check out their dedicated page.

Tazo

Tazo Tea Company, founded in 1983, is a prominent producer of unique black, green, and herbal teas, known for its strong market share and steady revenue growth. With an annual revenue of $24.6 million and a revenue per employee of $573,209, Tazo demonstrates faster revenue growth than the industry average. The company has seen significant employee growth, though recent data shows a -47.8% employee growth rate from the first known quarter. Tazo's commitment to quality is reflected in its better-than-industry-average web traffic rankings. The company offers a variety of tea products, including hot and iced teas, lattes, K Cup pods, tea bags, and sachets. For more information about their diverse tea selection, visit the Tazo Tea website.

Teavana

Teavana, acquired by Starbucks in 2012 for $620 million, is poised as a significant player in the global tea market, aiming to capitalize on the $90 billion industry. The brand plans to open 1,000 locations worldwide, strategically targeting millennials who have been exposed to diverse tea cultures. Despite facing vigorous competition from dominant brands like Lipton, Teavana specializes in bagged and loose-leaf teas, although it holds only a 3.1% market share in this segment as of 2013. Teavana's strategy includes launching unique products such as the Oprah Winfrey Chai Tea to attract a broader customer base. However, the brand faces challenges in shifting American preferences from ready-to-drink teas to specialty teas. For more insights on Teavana's market conquest, you can read the detailed analysis in this Starbucks and Teavana article.

Celestial Seasonings

Celestial Seasonings is a leading producer of tea, known for its extensive range of herbal, green, black, and wellness teas. The company, founded in 1969 by Mo Siegel, has seen significant growth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with US retail sales of packaged tea rising by 16.8% in the 52 weeks to January 2, 2021. Celestial Seasonings holds a 45% share of the U.S. herbal tea market and serves over 1.6 billion cups of tea annually. The brand has introduced numerous innovative products, such as the TeaWell line, which has driven market share growth and attracted new consumers, with 74% of green and black tea sales coming from new consumers. Its flagship blends, including Sleepytime and Red Zinger, have been highly successful, with Sleepytime being the bestselling specialty tea of all time.

Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea has solidified its position as a leading brand in the UK black tea market, achieving a record 36.7% market share in 2023 and a 38.9% value share in the standard black tea category as of the last 12 weeks. The brand has consistently outperformed its rivals, including Twinings, Tetley, and PG Tips, and has seen significant growth, with volumes increasing by 11% and revenues rising to £295.7m in the year ended October 2023. For more information on their products, visit their website.

Bigelow

Bigelow Tea is a leading brand in the U.S. tea market, holding a significant market share of 17.6% in the bagged/loose leaf tea segment as of 2023. The company is renowned for its high-quality tea products and has been a major player in the industry, with sales of approximately $189 million in 2020. Bigelow Tea is part of the competitive tea market, which includes other major brands like Twinings and Dilmah. The brand's success is attributed to its innovative product launches and strong distribution network. Bigelow Tea continues to be a favorite among tea consumers, contributing to the growing U.S. tea market expected to reach $2,035.3 million by 2030. For more detailed insights, explore market share statistics of bagged/loose leaf tea in the U.S..

Numi Organic Tea

Numi Organic Tea is a leading brand in the organic tea market, known for its high-quality, USDA-certified organic and Fair Trade certified teas. In 2021, Numi Inc had $13.2 million in organic tea sales, holding a 16.4% market share in the organic green tea segment and a 10.7% share in the organic black tea market. Founded in 1999 by Ahmed Rahim and Reem Hassani, Numi is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, using biodegradable and recyclable packaging. The company was also the largest brand purchaser of Fair Trade Certified teas in the U.S. in 2010. Numi's product range includes various types of tea, such as green, black, white, oolong, and herbal teas.

Lipton

Lipton is a leading global brand in the tea industry, boasting a significant market share of 32.6% in the U.S. iced tea segment, followed by Snapple and Nestea. With a distribution network spanning approximately 110 countries, Lipton sources tea from reputable plantations in China, Kenya, India, and Sri Lanka. As of 2021, Lipton was valued at approximately $7.1 billion, reflecting its strong market presence and recognition. The brand is jointly owned and marketed by Unilever and PepsiCo since 1972, contributing to its continued success. Lipton dominates the premium tea segment in Pakistan, holding a 24.4% market share as of 2018. For a detailed market analysis, you can visit their dedicated analysis page.

DAVIDsTEA

DAVIDsTEA, a leading North American tea merchant, has faced recent challenges despite its reputation as a premium tea producer. In Fiscal 2023, the company reported sales of $60.6 million and a net loss of $13.8 million, with an adjusted EBITDA of negative $5.4 million. However, DAVIDsTEA saw mid-single digit growth in brick-and-mortar sales during the fourth quarter and the first 12 weeks of Fiscal 2024. The company has also launched a cold brew ready-to-drink sparkling iced tea collection aimed at the multi-billion-dollar ready-to-drink market. Despite economic headwinds, DAVIDsTEA remains optimistic about growth opportunities, particularly in the wholesale channel and through new product launches.