Beyond Premium Tea and Modern Steepware

We proudly offer: Excellent Customer Support | Free Shipping at $300+ | No Order Minimums

tea for spas

Tea is a natural choice for spas, because they are in the business of making people feel good about themselves. Selecting the right beverage can help ease a client into the ideal state, both physiologically and psychologically, to best enjoy the benefits of their spa treatment. We’ve curated some select tea menus for spas from our premium teas and functional botanical blends which you can find in our wholesale collections of Pyramid Tea Bags, Loose Leaf Tea, Iced Tea in Foodservice, Retail-Ready Tea Tins, Retail-Ready Pyramid Tea Bags, and Retail-Ready Steepware.

Suggested spa tea selections:

Spa Collection in Overwrapped Pyramid Sachets:

  • Organic Dragonwell
  • Organic Clouds & Mist
  • 8 Immortals
  • Japanese Orchid Green
  • Organic Meditative Mind
  • Pink Rose Lemonade
  • Blood Orange Smoothie
  • Organic Tumeric Tonic
  • Organic Venus Rising

Petite Spa Collection in Overwrapped Pyramid Sachets:

  • 8 Immortals
  • Japanese Orchid Green
  • Organic Meditative Mind
  • Pink Rose Lemonade
  • Organic Venus Rising

Organic Spa Collection in Overwrapped Pyramid Sachets:

  • Organic Dragonwell
  • Organic Meditative Mind
  • Organic Venus Rising
  • Organic Turmeric Tonic
  • Organic Peppermint

Craft Iced Tea Pouches:

Black Teas:

  • Organic Blue Mountain Nilgiri
  • Mango Tango

Green Teas:

  • Organic Jasmine Petals
  • Boulder Blues

Caffeine-free Herbals:

  • Organic Hibiscus Cucumber
  • Blood Orange Smoothie

 

FAQ for Tea Service in Spas — by Maria Uspenski

1. How would you describe the evolution of liquid beverage refreshments offered in the spa industry over recent years – and specifically tea?

The spa industry is riding on the current wave of premiumization in infused and enhanced waters and teas. There are dozens more options of beverages and serving methods available to the spa industry today than there were just five years ago. Along with the vast choices of new products available to spas comes the responsibility to choose well, both for the clients and the business model. Selecting the right beverage can help ease a client into the ideal state, both physiologically and psychologically, to best enjoy the benefits of their spa treatment. Tea choices and presentations in spas have evolved steadily in the direction of premium selections.

Tea is a natural choice for spas, because they are in the business of making people feel good about themselves. What’s going on in the tea leaf that can makes us feel good? Thanks to a unique amino acid called theanine, tea has pleasing psychoactive effects on the brain. The combined actions of theanine and the caffeine in tea can be summed up as a relaxing agent without sedation. It is this boost in mood and brain activity that provides a sense of relaxation and well being that only tea can provide. Scientific evidence for the relaxing properties of tea shows that drinking a cup of tea may speed up recovery from stress by bringing cortisol levels down. In addition, there is something about drinking tea hot that is irreplaceable. 

We call most things we steep in hot water a tea, but many of them are actually NOT teas, they’re herbals. And in the U.S. we’ve adopted and use freely the name “herbal tea”. Even though they’re not technically teas, herbal infusions have been used traditionally to support specific functions, including circulation, detoxification, adrenals, immunity, energy, relaxation and inflammation.

All real tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What determines whether a tea leaf becomes a black tea, green tea, oolong tea or white tea… it’s all in the processing.

 

2. How have your tea offerings for the spa industry evolved with those times? If you could provide examples of some products you've offered over the years (and how they've been enhanced), that would be good.

At The Tea Spot, we are in the business of empowering people to drink fresh, whole leaf teas every day. Our signature handcrafted blends and single estate teas are at the forefront of today’s premium trends. Spas are keen on staying current with the latest trends in tea, and the products they select most often from our line are the organic and functional botanical blends. Over the past three years we’ve also developed a line of cleanse teas, at the request of local partners and national brands. This category has been very successful for our company, to the extent that it has become an area of focus for future brand developments. Examples of how we’ve enhanced products in this category is by adding active relaxation ingredients like valerian and lavender to create new sleepy teas, and by developing functional blends around key ingredients like matcha, fermented pu’erh, white tea and turmeric. It has worked well for us to lead with those teas which cater to spa clients, as these same teas tend to work their way into the mainstream within several years, in broader consumer markets.

 

3. In your opinion, what serving options work best for your teas in spas? e.g. serve yourself areas; attendants offerings guests a beverage pre and/or post treatment; sampling stations in retail areas?

Preparation, serving and use methods for teas in spas are more varied and innovative than in any other market. Service can vary from basic self-serve teabags and mugs to an upscale presentation of tea already prepared and kept hot in a cast-iron Japanese tetsubin teapot. Spas also present tea as an ingredient - tea can be found in products ranging from skin masks and creams, to lip balms and soaking baths.

Customers enjoy the flexibility of being able to peruse and choose amongst new selections of teas, so having a self-serve station of teas in a waiting area satisfies this approach well. Many of us have discovered new teas and brands in exactly this type of setting. For iced tea, cold brew teas may be served alongside infused spa water options. 

The act of being served a perfectly steeped tea is memorable, however, and having this be a part of your spa service immediately elevates the customer experience. Delivery of an aromatic, relaxing warm cup of tea can be as pampering as any other aspect of the spa treatment. This can create a high-end premium perception with a very low cost of goods to the spa business. 

 

4. Could you detail how beauty/wellness beverages in spas lead to a) greater profits, and b) new and repeat spa clients?

In the current business climate, day spas are looking for quality and affordability. Tea is more than a beverage. Its holistic benefits bring value by delivering an experience which helps transport the client into the unique atmosphere of the spa. This transformation is something which will entice clients to return again and again. Tea’s nourishing qualities help to seduce both visually, aromatically and physically into an immediate state of relaxation and well-being. 

The value of going to a spa is not just the benefit of the treatment - it’s about the overall experience. People like to take their spa experience home with them. By taking the teas served in a spa hoe with them, customers get right back to a vivid memory of the rejuvenating experience the got at the spa. When a spa business is successful at selling tea as a lifestyle to satisfy consumers seeking solutions to promote health and beauty by leveraging top trends, they gain an additional channel of revenue, at good profit margins. 

 

5. What sort of ROI do spas generate from selling beverage products in their retail areas? This is a question to highlight why spas should consider selling retail-packaged teas to customers.

The cost of providing tea in a spa is $0.15 - $0.50 per client, depending on the tea and service method. The tea and teaware products sold in retail in a spa setting are generally marked up 2X, offering a 50-point profit margin.

 

6. Anything else to consider about tea and spas or ways to utilize tea or tea products in spas?

Some wellness spas are successful in running workshops focused on tea. This is both as business opportunity in itself, as well as a valuable service to provide customers training in the alternative health benefits of tea and self care. We have done training sessions, not only for spa staff, but as client sessions for our spa customers. The most popular topic we’re called in to speak on is the holistic healing benefits of tea. When a spa serves tea in traditional ceramic Chinese gongfu tea sets or classic Japanese tetsubin teapots, there’s ceremony and tradition surrounding those preparation methods which clients may seek to learn more about. 

In our home state of Colorado, adaptogenic products are a trending in the spa and wellness arenas. Most spas here today offer homeopathic-based treatments and products. This trend has crossed into spa teas and herbal infusions as well. Specialty tea products with turmeric, to be infused with coconut oil or other activating substances, are something we're seeing grow rapidly for the spa market.

Some wellness spas are successful in running workshops focused on tea. This is both as business opportunity in itself, as well as a valuable service to provide customers training in the alternative health benefits of tea and self care. We have done training sessions, not only for spa staff, but as client sessions for our spa customers. The most popular topic we’re called in to speak on is the holistic healing benefits of tea. When a spa serves tea in traditional ceramic Chinese gongfu tea sets or classic Japanese tetsubin teapots, there’s ceremony and tradition surrounding those preparation methods which clients may seek to learn more about.