4. Growth, beyond the favorite flavor
When it comes to iced tea, raspberry is the No. 1 flavor, but sweet tea comes in second. Mentions of sweet iced tea have grown 1.7% on restaurant menus, while raspberry has declined slightly. Peach and mint, while not as prevalent, increased 6.8% and 10%, respectively.
On the menu: McAlister’s Deli has built its beverage program around its trademarked Famous Sweet Tea, but other chains offer it as well, some pumping it up with fruit flavors. Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits, for example, recently launched Peach Legendary Sweet Tea as an LTO.
Casual-dining operators are differentiating their beverage menus by offering housemade iced teas with custom flavors. Logan’s Roadhouse offers hand-shaken iced tea in mango, peach, strawberry and blackberry, elevating the presentation by serving it in Mason jars with pieces of fresh fruit.
Photo courtesy of iStock