Out the Box

NOW THAT'S A GOOD IDEA

Hard tea

The tea-based alcoholic beverage is a sector that is just taking off and has huge potential for growth.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Tae-based booze.

ALCOHOLIC TEA?

Yep. Tíos Drinks is a range of premium low calorie, low sugar and vegan readyto-drink sparkling hard teas (alcoholic tea) made with brewed organic white tea, premium alcohol (4.4% abv) and natural ingredients, served in recyclable 250ml cans. The range is a first for the UK market, combining tea with high quality spirits, rum and tequila, for a not-so-guilty pleasure. It currently consists of three flavours that provide teabased twists of three popular cocktails: White Tea Mojito, White Tea Margarita, and White Tea Light & Stormy.

WHO THOUGHT THAT UP?

The idea was created by Danish sisters Cecilia and Segolenne Roux and fiancé Mark Andersen, the co-founders of Tíos Drinks. The name Tíos means uncles and is in honour of the family tradition of Margarita night.

TELL ME MORE

Hard Tea or tea-based alcoholic beverage is a sector that is just taking off and has huge potential for growth. The UK hard seltzer market is expected to be worth £75m by 2023, recent figures suggest.

Tíos says it aims to use sustainable materials where possible without compromising on quality or taste. All cans are made of recyclable aluminium and the can labels are compostable. The water used is from a local borehole and the production site is carbon neutral. Packaging is kept to a minimum and is FSC certified.

The brand is also vegan and has no allergens and the white tea is organic and fair trade. The tequila (from Jalisco, Mexico) and white rum (from Madagascar) are high quality spirits and all extracts – garden mint, lime, lemon and orange – are natural. Tíos uses a blend of natural sweeteners – stevia and erythritol – to maintain a low level of sugar.

SOUNDS EXPENSIVE

It’s not too bad. The range retails at £2.99 for a single 250ml can or £35 for a 12-multipack.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

The company said: “We wanted to create an exciting and tasty alternative to the increasingly popular flavoured alcoholic sparkling waters or hard seltzers as well as the sugary, calorific pre-mixed drinks, wines and beers. It’s the best of both worlds perfect for the mindful pleasure-seeker.

“We are transparent about all the products we use, and our aim is to always use sustainable materials where possible without compromising on quality and taste.”

I WANT A SECOND OPINION

Two Thirsty Gardeners blog said: “Tíos Hard Tea is an excellent alternative to seltzers with a little more punch to the flavour.’’

Cosmopolitan magazine said: “Hard [teas] are the alcoholic, low calorie drink you need to know about.’’

Chatting Food Magazine said: “Perfect with ice, and sunshine.”

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

Stick the kettle on and visit the Tíos website at https://tiosdrinks.com/

Stick the kettle on and visit the Tíos website.