When you see “soft drink” on a cafe menu, you possibly will see “hard tea” on it if you’re in the US. The American marketplace has seen a growing popularity in flavored malt beverage (FMB) this summer. The beverage is similar to beer, which is made from a malt base. However, the process method is different.

Hard tea is a kind of alcoholic tea, consisting of malt, selected teas and natural flavors. But it is not the only product with “hard” in its name. For example, Boston Beer from the US has a diverse range of drinks, from beer to hard cider, seltzer, tea and kombucha. The company launched its latest product earlier this year, Wild Leaf Craft Hard Tea.

It’s said that the new product aims to attract more healthy-conscious people who want to lower intake of sugar and carbon. Wild Leaf tea is sourced from Argentina for its unique climate where it grows. Each 12oz bottle has 130 calories with 11g of sugar, 12g of carbs and 4.5 percent of ABV.

There are two flavors available now: Black Tea with Lemon & Honeysuckle and Green Tea with Apple & Honey. The refreshing profile featuring a fruity and aromatic taste is believed to win more customers who seek for beer alternatives.

In fact, Twisted Tea under Boston Beer has been a leader in the hard tea segment on the domestic market for almost 18 years. The market is continuing to grow with more players though the market share is hard to gain.

Hard tea is getting more popular not only in the US but also in other parts of the world. Have you found similar drinks in your city?

All photos from the Internet