We Saw Tariffs Coming a Year Ago — What’s Next for Tea? 🍵
In May of last year, I used the word “tariff” with my team for the very first time.
The writing was on the wall. 🧱
The election landscape was clear, and the economic plan tied to one side was already laid out. 🗳️📊
We made the call: begin raising prices in small, strategic phases to protect our margins before the hit came. 📈
Those price increases went fully into effect two weeks ago.
Not because we’re psychic 🔮
But because we were paying attention. 👀
And now here we are: 💥 A 100% tariff on Chinese imports — including key ingredients for the tea industry — is no longer a theory.
💥 It’s a reality.
For Revival Tea Company, that preparation gave us time.
It gave us room to adjust.
But it didn’t come without sacrifice.
Our most anticipated 2025 launch — a water-dissolvable chai powder two years in development — is now on hold. 🧪❌
We finally found a partner in China who could produce a version we were proud of.
And now? The math doesn’t work. 💸
That hurts.
But what hurts more is knowing many in the tea industry haven’t taken steps to adapt.
So what’s next for tea? 🫖
The truth is, this will shake the foundation of tea in the U.S.:
- 💀 Retailers built on slim margins won’t survive
- 🚫 Brands overly dependent on Chinese sourcing will hit a wall
- 💰 Prices will rise — for everyone
- ❓ Consumers will begin asking: Why is my tea more expensive? What’s in it? Where is it from?
The brands that will lead the next era of tea are the ones pivoting now, not waiting it out. 🔧⚙️
At Revival, we’re already working on: 🌿 Major supply chain shifts
🤝 New domestic partnerships
🧉 Ingredient innovation
🇺🇸 And redefining what American-grown tea can look like in a post-tariff world
We can’t just hope tariffs go away. 🙏
We need to build businesses that thrive either way. 💪
This isn’t a crisis —
It’s a catalyst. ⚡
For us, it’s already unlocking a bolder vision for the future of tea in America.
And I can’t wait to share what’s next. 👊
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