Core Insights - The beverage market is witnessing a resurgence of sugary tea drinks after a previous trend towards sugar-free options, with sugary tea beverages regaining prominence on social media platforms [1][5][11] Market Trends - Data from QianGua indicates that the topic of "iced black tea" has generated over twice the number of related posts compared to "sugar-free tea" on Xiaohongshu in the past 90 days, with significantly higher exposure and interaction rates [2] - The ready-to-drink tea market, valued at nearly 100 billion, still sees sugary tea holding a 65% market share in offline channels as of June 2025, indicating its strong presence despite the rise of sugar-free alternatives [6] Brand Strategies - Major brands, including leading players and new entrants, are launching a variety of low-sugar and sugary products, with Genki Forest's iced tea becoming a standout item, achieving over 100 million in monthly sales and a 150% market share growth in sugary ready-to-drink tea from July 2024 to June 2025 [5][6] - The introduction of reduced-sugar versions by Genki Forest has led to significant market penetration, with its iced tea reaching the fifth position in the sugary tea segment by August 2025 [7] Consumer Behavior - The primary consumer demographic for iced tea includes working individuals aged 24-40, predominantly male, who are attracted to the product's affordability, refreshing taste, and health-conscious reduced sugar options [8] - A significant 71.4% of consumers prioritize "sugar-free/reduced sugar" labels when purchasing iced tea, while 82.9% prefer reduced-sugar formulations, highlighting a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier options [10] Product Development - Current product development strategies among brands focus on two main approaches: one involves reducing sugar content using real sugar, while the other combines real sugar with alternative sweeteners to achieve a balance between taste and health [13] - The upcoming food safety regulations in 2025 will require brands to transparently label sugar content, pushing them to communicate their sugar reduction strategies more effectively to consumers [14]