Tea Business News

At the heart of Dubai’s tea trade ecosystem is the DMCC Tea Centre, a purpose-built platform enabling international tea flows at scale. Designed to connect producing regions across Africa, Asia and beyond with key consumer markets in the Middle East, Europe and South Asia, the Centre operates as a strategic gateway for global tea trade.

Our visit to Malaysia’s largest beverage exhibition offered a revealing glimpse into one of Asia’s most dynamic tea and café cultures — driven by young entrepreneurs, bold concepts, and a rapidly evolving consumer market.

As consumers seek novelty and visual appeal, tea menus are evolving far beyond the traditional brew. Looking back at our predictions of trends that would shape the tea sector in 2026, we now delve deeper into how format and flavor expectations from consumers are evolving. The novelties that stand out the most are coming from flavor innovation and iced formats.

Tea may not dominate the beverage landscape in the Gulf the way coffee does, yet its presence in Saudi Arabia is both deep-rooted and evolving. While coffee continues to hold a dominant position in both households and hospitality, tea maintains a distinct and resilient niche. Tea, while secondary, is clearly evolving in both format and presentation.

The UAE’s hospitality sector is navigating a sharp slowdown in international tourism, pushing operators to refocus on local demand. While luxury segments have declined, everyday consumption remains resilient. HORECA distributors are adapting through diversification and stock strategy, while tea brands with strong sustainability positioning are gaining traction—proving that agility and the right portfolio are key in uncertain times.

Fifth edition introduces tea segment amid surging demand, building on record of over 50% onsite sales conversion from previous show. Kuala Lumpur, 30 March 2026 — As Southeast Asia’s café sector experiences explosive growth, the International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS) returns for its fifth edition from 7-9 May 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, offering brands and suppliers a proven platform to capture their share of one of the region’s fastest-expanding markets.

With record-breaking numbers and a renewed global outlook, HOST Milano 2025 once again confirmed its position as one of the world’s leading exhibitions for hospitality, foodservice, and beverage innovation. Held at Fiera Milano, the 2025 edition delivered impressive scale and international reach. According to the official post-show report, the exhibition welcomed 2,235 exhibitors from 57 countries, across 16 halls, attracting 183,000 professional visitors from 156 countries.

Taiwanese bubble tea made a splash in the UK, with bubble tea stores popping up in cities and high streets everywhere in the last 14 years. What’s the drink’s secret to success?

Born in Kuwait, built on authenticity, and scaling through innovation, Karak Tea is redefining how the world experiences the region’s most iconic brew. Karak is not just tea in the GCC—it is identity. Strong, creamy, spiced, and unmistakably bold, it fuels mornings, anchors conversations, and defines roadside café culture across the Gulf. Today, that ritual is no longer confined to traditional teahouses. It has evolved into a fast-growing commercial category—and Karak Tea, bo

Single-origin purity, unmatched freshness, and a purpose-driven philosophy have positioned Dilmah as the undisputed leader in the region’s tea service. In the GCC’s competitive hospitality landscape, excellence is measured in details. And few details matter as much as what is served at the table, in the lounge, or in-room—where a simple cup of tea can either feel forgettable or refined. Dilmah has mastered that difference. Today, Dilmah holds an estimated 60% market share in