How To Produce Tea Drinks: Industrial Process And Equipment Guide

1. Why Industrial Tea Drink Production Matters

Tea drinks have become one of the most consumed ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages globally, driven by growing consumer demand for natural, healthy, and refreshing alternatives to carbonated soft drinks. While traditional brewing methods are still popular at home, large-scale production of tea drinks requires a standardized and efficient industrial process to meet commercial volume, consistency, and hygiene standards.

In the industrial setting, tea drink manufacturing involves specialized equipment designed to handle extraction, mixing, filtration, and packaging with precision. Compared to manual or small-scale production, industrial tea drink manufacturing significantly reduces variability, while boosting productivity and shelf-life stability. This article explores the end-to-end process of how tea drinks are made in modern manufacturing environments, focusing on the essential stages and machinery involved.

2. What Is a Tea Drink?

A tea drink is a ready-to-drink beverage made by brewing tea leaves and then combining the resulting tea extract with other ingredients, such as sweeteners, fruit juices, or flavorings. Unlike traditional tea, which is typically enjoyed hot or brewed at home, tea drinks are designed for convenience and consistent taste, making them a popular choice in the beverage market.

These drinks come in various forms, including sweetened iced tea, flavored tea, and tea-based drinks with added functional ingredients. The production process ensures that the tea drink has a balanced flavor, clarity, and consistency across large batches, catering to high demand while maintaining a premium-quality product. The goal is to provide a refreshing, flavorful beverage that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime, with the same taste every time.

3. Tea Drink Production Process

The tea drink production process begins by heating and slow-cooking tea leaves in a large stainless steel mixing tank to extract the flavor of the tea leaves. This method effectively and continuously preserves the natural aroma and taste of the tea leaves.

3.1 Brewing the Tea

The first step is to brew the tea leaves. A large amount of tea leaves are placed in a food grade industrial stainless steel mixing tank, water is added and heated to the ideal temperature. The SS mixing tank is designed to evenly distribute heat and continuously stir to ensure that the tea leaves are fully extracted, and the final result is a tea extract with a strong taste and unique flavor.

3.2 Filtering the Extracted Tea

Once the tea is brewed, the next step is to filter out the tea leaves and any remaining particles. This requires the use of a pipeline filtration system that can effectively separate the liquid tea extract from the solid residue. This filtration method ensures that the final tea beverage is clear and transparent, without any unnecessary solids, providing a smooth and consistent taste.

3.3 Mixing with other ingredients

Once the tea extract is filtered, the next step is to mix it with various ingredients such as sweeteners, flavorings and juices. The ingredients are added directly to a stainless steel mixing tank equipped with a heating function to maintain the right temperature for optimal mixing. This ensures that all components are mixed smoothly, ultimately resulting in a balanced and consistent flavor for each batch of tea beverage.

3.4 Cooling and Insulation

Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, the tea beverage is cooled to the required temperature. The cooling process can be carried out through the cooling layer of the stainless steel mixing tank, which speeds up the cooling process. The cooling step is crucial for the next stage of the tea beverage - filling and packaging - while also maintaining its flavor and ensuring consistency.

3.5 Filling and Packaging

Finally, the cooled tea beverage is conveyed to the filling machine, where it is automatically bottled or canned. After filling, the container is sealed and labeled and is ready for market.

4. Tea Drink Manufacturing Equipment

The production of tea drinks requires specialized equipment to ensure efficiency, consistency, and high-quality results. Several key machines and systems are involved in the process, from brewing the tea to filling the final product into containers.

4.1 Food Grade Stainless Steel Mixing Tanks

Food grade stainless steel mixing tanks are one of the most important equipment in tea drink production lines. These stainless steel mixing tanks are not only used to brew tea leaves, but also to mix tea extracts with other ingredients such as sweeteners, flavorings, and juices. Stainless steel is favored for its durability, easy cleaning, and low reactivity, ensuring that the final product maintains its quality and flavor. IMMAY's stainless steel mixing tanks for tea drinks are designed to handle large amounts of liquid while precisely controlling brewing temperature and time. In addition, our stainless steel mixing tanks are equipped with a high speed mixing system to ensure that all ingredients are evenly mixed, which is essential for producing tea drinks with consistent taste and rich flavor.

4.2 Pipeline Filtration Systems

After brewing, the tea extract is filtered to remove tea leaves and any other solid particles. This is achieved using pipeline filtration systems, which effectively separate the liquid tea extract from the solids. The filtration process ensures that the tea drink remains clear, smooth, and free from any unwanted residue. The continuous operation of pipeline filtration systems makes them ideal for large-scale production, as they maintain consistency and efficiency.

4.3 Filling Machines

Once the tea drink is fully brewed, mixed, and cooled, it is transferred to bottle filling machines, where it is automatically bottled or canned. These machines are designed to handle large volumes and provide high-speed filling to meet demand. The filling process ensures that the tea drink is transferred into containers accurately and efficiently. After filling, the containers are sealed to preserve the product’s freshness and integrity, and they are ready for packaging and labeling.

4.4 Labeling and Packaging Equipment

After filling, labeling and packaging equipment applies labels to the containers, ensuring that product information and branding are clearly displayed. This equipment also seals the containers and groups them into cartons for easier handling and transport. Automated packaging lines can streamline the process, making it quicker and more efficient, preparing the tea drinks for distribution to the market.

6. Conclusion

Producing high quality tea drinks at scale requires a reliable process and the right equipment. From brewing tea leaves in food-grade stainless steel mixing tanks to filtering, blending, and finally packaging the finished tea beverage, every step must be precisely managed to ensure flavor consistency and production efficiency. IMMAY offers a comprehensive range of tea drink production equipment, including advanced mixing tanks, pipeline filtration systems, and filling and packaging machines. Our solutions are designed to support manufacturers in creating flavorful, well-crafted tea beverages for the market.

If you're planning to expand your tea drink production or optimize your existing setup, consult with IMMAY’s equipment experts to find the best configuration for your specific needs.