Hellas Farms LLC launched Tuvunu (pronounced “too-voonoo”), a ready-to-drink Green Mountain tea that can be served hot or cold, in the U.S. market. 

A family-run business spanning three generations, Bigelow Tea Co., Fairfield, Conn., was founded more than 70 years ago when Ruth Campbell Bigelow created a zestfully flavored Constant Comment tea. Succeeding generations of the family have carried on the tradition of innovation, and today, the company produces 1.7 billion tea bags annually.

Japanese scholar and author of “The Book of Tea” Okakura Kakuzo once said, “Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.” Over the course of time, the evolution of tea has become even more complex as the beverage has seen new formats emerge as well as growth in natural and organic trends.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch and Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. announced that they are working together to produce, bottle, distribute and market the first Teavana ready-to-drink (RTD) teas expected to launch in the United States in the first half of 2017.  

Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., a provider of ingredient solutions, announced that Health Canada granted approval of its quillaja extract (type 2) as an emulsifying agent for oil-based coloring formulations, unstandardized oil-based flavoring preparations and other unstandardized oil-based ingredients.

New York-based Runa LLC announced that AcademyAward-winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio recently invested in the company and will join the company’s advisory board. Other investors include actor and comedian Marlon Wayans, actor Adam Rodriguez and professional tennis players John Isner and Steve Johnson, the company says. This group joins existing Runa supporters, including actor Channing Tatum, who was an early investor, it adds.

Wholesome Tea launched Blue Buddha Organic Wellness Tea. 

We kicked off our 2016 Readers’ Choice poll with a plethora of great new products from which to choose. 

Financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2015 were released by Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. Full-year reported net revenue declined 4 percent while organic revenue grew 4 percent.