Boba, also known as bubble tea, is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. The beverage typically consists of brewed tea mixed with milk and the novel addition of tapioca pearls (the bubbles).

The tapioca pearls add flavor, a chewy texture, and an eye-catching visual appeal that has helped boba gain popularity through social media.

The term “boba” can refer to the pearls themselves or the whole drink in general.

Boba was introduced to the U.S. market in the 1990s, and over the past 30 years has established a loyal fan base for those who have been in the know. Over the past few years, boba has seen more mainstream traction, with steady growth in popularity across the country. Interest from several national chains has contributed to boba’s rise in popularity.

Dunkin Donuts debuted a boba offering in 2021, branding the pearls as “Popping Bubbles.” Sonic Drive-In added “Bursting Bubbles” to their menu the same year. Peet’s Coffee Shops introduced a beverage add-in similar to boba in 2022 called “Jelly” – the main difference being the “Jelly” add-ins were cubed-shaped, rather than spherical bubbles.

In all three cases, the boba offerings were added to the menu as an “add to any cold drink” feature. The connection to cold drinks is also a main contributing factor for the increase in boba popularity.

As those within the coffee, café, and specialty beverage industries are aware, the cold drink market has exploded in recent years. As of last year, 75% of Starbucks beverage sales were from cold drinks.

It is evident that consumers are choosing cold drinks, and demanding a higher degree of customization for their beverages.

Boba offers a strategic opportunity to synergize with the cold drink trend. For café operations and their distributors, adding a boba offering is a great way to easily add value to any cold drink offering, and command premium pricing on the menu.

Boba is not strictly limited to tea and coffee drinks either. It’s also becoming a popular add-in for energy drinks, flavored lemonades, sodas, and more.

Passion Fruit Boba is one of several flavors available from Third Street

Houston’s is your source for popping boba that is easy to add to any cold drink menu. We recently brought on Third Street Chai as a vendor partner – their line-up of boba products offers multiple flavors and are ready-to-use. Third Street boba does not require any special equipment, preparation, or training – instantly increase the value of cold drinks without any hassle.

Visit our Third Street page to learn more about how boba can add value for you and your customers.

Not a Houston’s customer? Inquire about becoming one today.

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A type of milk tea beverage made from brewed black tea and milk, Thai Tea is distinguished by its identifiable deep orange coloration and its balanced sweet/spice flavor profile. Typically served as an iced drink, Thai Tea is sweetened with sugar and often spiced with ingredients such as star anise and cardamom. Coconut milk is popular as a non-dairy alternative, too.

The increased popularity of iced Thai Tea may be connected to the rise in the overall trend toward iced beverages within the coffee industry. A 2022 study reported that over 70% of sales at Starbucks were from cold beverages. It’s clear that customers around the country are reaching for new and novel iced drinks to kick off their morning or provide an afternoon or evening energy boost.

The eye-catching bright orange color of Thai Tea may also factor into the drink’s rise in demand. In a similar fashion to how the now-iconic copper mug created buzz for the Moscow Mule cocktail, once customers see the vibrant orange color of Thai Tea, they may feel compelled to ask about it and give it a try.

The deep orange coloration also makes for the type of striking “Instagrammable” photo coveted by café and coffee shop operators everywhere. In-store and digital buzz have worked together to vault Thai Tea into the awareness of consumers nationwide.

Thai Tea is a favorite of café and restaurant staff as well. The drink makes for a great add-on to increase the check total on a food order, and also functions as a means to draw customers in the doors. Thai Tea is not easily replicable at home – it holds a unique position on the menu as something a customer can only get if they go out.

A number of companies have created Thai Tea concentrates and powders, making ingredient storage easier, and drink preparation a breeze.

Houston’s carries Thai Tea offerings from established café brands like Big Train and Mocafe, as well as Thaiwala. Though a new brand within the market, Thaiwala’s founder is the same creator behind Oregon Chai.

With an appealing taste and visual presentation customers love, and advantages for café owners & staff, it’s likely Thai Tea will be a menu staple for years to come.

Read more about other industry trends on the Houston’s Blog.

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One of Urnex’s stated mission goals is striving to uphold the highest standards of quality, consistency, and effectiveness within the industry. In alignment with this goal, Urnex employs an internal team of chemists and product technicians, as well as manufacturing and coffee professionals.

Urnex looks to distinguish themselves in the market by having this level of in-house expertise and experience. By investing in a deep understanding of coffee equipment, and creating products based on proprietary formulas, Urnex is able to offer a cleaning solution for nearly every brewing need.

Popular Urnex offerings include cleaning powder, liquid, and tablets for milk frothing systems, espresso machines, coffee pots, urns & brewers, ice machines, grinders, tea brewers, and more. By offering a wide range of products, often in multiple case sizes, Urnex is able to serve businesses of all types, from local coffee shops to large corporate café equipment manufacturers.

As any barista, café owner, or other coffee professional knows, cleaning is one of the most important factors in maintaining a successful business. Having clean equipment allows a business to yield better-tasting drinks, keep equipment running smoothly, and extend equipment lifespan, all while upholding health & safety standards.

In addition to being well-formulated for effectiveness, Urnex also strives to make cleaning products which are easy-to-use, making cleaning tasks more efficient for baristas and café staff.

Houston’s is your source for a wide slate of Urnex cleaning offerings, as well as a full line-up of other café and coffee industry supplies. Everything from drinkware and disposables to flavor syrups, alternative milks, and other consumables such as frappé & smoothie mixes can be found online at https://www.houstons-inc.com/catalog/index.php

Urnex offers helpful cleaning guides on their website.

Read about our other valued partner vendors on the Houston’s Blog.

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Mylk Labs is also a woman-owned and Asian American & Pacific Islander-owned company started in California with the goal of sharing healthy and convenient meals for all. Founder Grace Cheng drew upon her background as a world-traveling fashion model and saw an opportunity in the market to share her go-to everyday nutritious and energy-sustaining breakfast.

The lineup of Mylk Labs offerings currently encompasses five varieties:

• Cultivated Blueberry & Vermont Maple
• Granny Smith Apple & Sunflower Cinnamon
• Roasted Almond & Himalayan Pink Salt
• Sun-Ripe Strawberry & Madagascar Vanilla
• Toasted Coconut & Cassia Cinnamon

Each variety is Non-GMO project verified, certified gluten free, and vegan – all of which are dietary and ingredient factors that continue to see increased popularity and impact within the market in recent years.

In alignment with their stated company focus on responsible ingredient sourcing and dietary consciousness, Mylk Labs highlights their “reverse formulation” approach to product creation: nutrition first, then taste. Each variety is made using only 4-6 ingredients per cup.

Grace Cheng, Founder of Mylk Labs

Mylk Labs oatmeal begins with a foundation of whole, simple, nutritious ingredients, and is then fine-tuned with additional ingredients for taste and texture, rather than fortifying a processed product with nutrients in later steps.

Houston’s is the source for premium oatmeal offerings including Mylk Labs, which synergizes well into our portfolio of offerings for the café, restaurant, and specialty beverage industries. The easy storage and transportation of premium oatmeal cups are beneficial factors for distributors, and carrying an easy order add-on or grab-and-go breakfast option can be advantageous for café and restaurant operators.

Visit our web catalog to view the offerings and learn more.

Read about our other valued vendor partners on the Houston’s Blog.

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Reàl Infused launched back in 2006 with a single product: Coco Reàl. Coco Reàl was the first cream of coconut product on the market which was shelf stable and dispensed through a convenient and comfortable plastic squeeze bottle.

Through the course of research and development for their other brands, American Beverage saw an opportunity within the industry. Prior to Coco Reàl’s entry into the market, most cream of coconut was packaged in aluminum cans – similar to condensed milk or canned soup.

In speaking with professional mixologists and bartenders, the team at ABM heard the familiar tale of opening a fresh can of cream of coconut to mix a piña colada for a single guest order. Because it is an inconsistently requested cocktail, by the time the next piña colada was ordered sometimes days later, the remainder of the coconut can had expired in the fridge.

By coupling a shelf stable product with a bartender friendly squeeze bottle, Coco Reàl was a hit – easy portioning and the potential for reducing wasted product.

On the heels of Coco Reàl’s success, ABM expanded the lineup of Reàl flavor offerings. Today, the roster includes more than 20 varieties: Strawberry, Mango, Peach, Guava, Raspberry, Ginger, Agave Nectar, Banana, Pumpkin, and more.

Creatively flavored margaritas, daiquiris, craft sodas, customized lemonades, iced teas, and more are only a squeeze away – and all products are shelf stable, with no refrigeration required even after opening.

While Reàl Infused Syrups were born out of ingenuity and opportunity, they are not a gimmick. Central to ABM’s values are the principles of integrity and quality. As such, Reàl Infused Syrups are touted as offering the most “true to fruit” authentic taste, aroma, and texture – and that’s because they’re made of real fruit. Most varieties use 48-49% real fruit in each bottle.

All of these factors combined spell a win-win through all touch points within the specialty beverage industry. Authentic taste is a favorite among customers. Easy usage and product waste reduction are important factors to bartenders and bar owners. Long shelf life, and easy storage and transportation are attributes that make a positive impact for distributors.

Reàl Infused Syrups aren’t strictly for the bar industry either. Many of the offered flavors have potential beyond cocktails and mixology. The Pumpkin Puree, Hazelnut, and Vanilla varieties have myriad applications in the specialty coffee industry. The window for Pumpkin Spice Lattes grows wider and wider each year, and Hazelnut and Vanilla infused coffee drinks are all-season favorites nationwide.

Houston’s is the source for the lineup of Reàl Infused Syrups and ABM’s other well-respected brands, as well as glassware, garnishes, cleaning supplies, and everything else for the specialty beverage, foodservice, and coffee industries.

ABM offers a wide variety of recipes and inspiration on their website.

Read about other industry news on the Houston’s Blog.

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Both companies have an established annual tradition of naming a Flavor of the Year – shining a spotlight on a trending taste, global flavor, or new innovation. The Flavors of the Year have been unveiled for the new year 2023: Monin with Hot Honey Syrup and Torani with Toasted Black Sesame Syrup.

While christening a syrup the “Flavor of the Year” generates interest for the end consumer, it also serves as a benefit to distributors and bar & café operators. For a distributor, a Flavor of the Year can increase average order value as a novel add-on, and for the operator, serving a limited time offering can command premium pricing, and can increase customer engagement through a unique creation that generates buzz.

Monin Hot Honey Syrup

Hot Honey Syrup is made with organic wildflower honey and real jalapeño pepper for a unique and complex combination of sweet and spicy.

Reviewing Monin’s featured Hot Honey drink recipes, there is strong focus on iced beverages: iced teas, lemonades, margaritas, and other cocktails. It’s evident that the unique bite of the syrup can elevate an ordinary drink to an extraordinary experience.

Hot Honey Syrup is not limited to the bar industry; Monin does offer a frappé recipe, and the Flavor of the Year could also be intriguing in the realm of customized energy drinks – another growing category within the café industry.

Torani Toasted Black Sesame Syrup

Torani describes Toasted Black Sesame Syrup as a perfect combination of sweet and savory, balanced with an earthy, nutty finish. Toasted Black Sesame Syrup also has a bold dark color – a rich black, as the name suggests.

The syrup is also an entry in Torani’s Puremade line – meaning it is made with pure cane sugar and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

A clear coffee & café focus is evident in reviewing Torani’s featured Toasted Black Sesame drink recipes. It’s well known that there has been a shift toward cold drinks in the café industry, and Torani has leaned into that trend with Black Sesame Cold Brew, Boba Milk Tea, and Iced Matcha Latte among the suggestions.

Houston’s Has It

Whether you’re a distributor or operator in the bar industry, café industry, or both, Houston’s is your source for these innovative flavors, as well as the entire rainbow of syrups and sauces offered by Monin, Torani, and other trusted gourmet brands.

Visit our web catalog to view the offerings and see what benefits the Flavors of the Year can have for you and your customers.

Read about other industry trends on the Houston’s Blog.

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The Flavors of Winter

Within the coffee industry, it’s well known that winter is a popular time for special limited time offerings with seasonal ingredients. Throughout the season, nostalgic and well-loved flavors take center stage, creating decadent, comforting, and eye-catching café drinks.

For many customers, the winter season is closely connected with holiday fare and comforting treats. Flavors such as peppermint, holiday cookie, and white chocolate are trending this winter season.

Peppermint

Candy canes and peppermint hard candies are ubiquitous during the winter holidays. With iconic red and white striping, and fresh mint flavor, peppermint is well-suited to making a comforting winter beverage with an appetizing visual element.

Peppermint pairs well with hot & cold espresso drinks, as well as tea & hot chocolate. Crushed peppermint is often used as a garnish for a pop of color.

This winter, many national coffee chains prominently feature peppermint on their seasonal menus. Starbucks and Dunkin both offer a Peppermint Mocha, and Black Rock Coffee Bar has brought back their Peppermint Bark White Mocha. Dutch Bros offers a Peppermint Mocha, which can also be ordered in cold brew form.

Cookies

Cookies are another holiday staple wrapped in tradition. For many people, baking and decorating holiday cookies evokes nostalgic memories of spending time with family.

This winter season, many café menus feature flavors such as cookie butter, gingerbread, and sugar cookie. Some creative drinks even feature whimsical garnishes such as sprinkles or cookie pieces.

The popularity of cold drinks has soared over the past few years. This past quarter, Starbucks reported that a whopping 75% of beverage sales have been cold drinks. In alignment with that trend, many featured drinks are designed to be prepared and consumed cold this season.

While the nostalgic draw of holiday cookies may be focused on a warm, fresh baked aspect, cafés and national coffee chains are leaning into the cold trend for their cookie beverage offerings.

Two national chains feature cookie-flavored cold brew – Dunkin with Cookie Butter Cold Brew, and Black Rock with Christmas Cookie Cold Brew – while Starbucks offers an Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte topped with red and green sprinkles.

White Chocolate

White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. In contrast to dark chocolate and milk chocolate, white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids.

Both Starbucks and Dunkin offer Toasted White Chocolate mochas and lattes, with caramelized notes adding depth of flavor. The Black Rock Peppermint Bark White Mocha, mentioned earlier, features white chocolate for a double layer of holiday connection.

Alt Milks

When it comes to preparing a hot or iced latte, cafés today feature more variety than ever. Real dairy milk and dairy alternatives such as oat, almond, coconut, macadamia, and soy cater to the dietary needs and preferences of any customer.

Some menus even feature alternative “oat nog” this season, providing a plant-based option for an indulgent holiday favorite.

Houston’s Has It

Houston’s carries a full portfolio of syrups, sauces, and shelf stable milks to provide the wide palette of ingredients for winter beverage creation. Our trusted vendors like Torani, Monin, 1883, DaVinci, and Barista 22 offer the essential holiday flavors of Peppermint, Cookie Butter, and White Chocolate, among others.

Houston’s also carries hot tea, hot chocolate, espresso supplies, cleaners, drinkware, and even Pirouline chocolate hazelnut cookies for garnish.

For a suite of offerings to bring winter delight to your customers, Houston’s is your source.

Read about other industry trends on the Houston’s Blog.

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Masala chai, typically shortened to “chai” in the US, is a fragrant spicy tea beverage, traditionally made by brewing black tea infused with a mixture of aromatic herbs in milk and water.

The drink originated in India an estimated 5,000 years ago, and a variety of spices have been used in various combinations throughout the centuries. Cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, peppercorns, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, ginger, honey, and vanilla are elements common to an authentic chai experience.

In the US, chai first gained popularity in 1994, appearing on café and coffee house menus. With overall steady growth through the past three decades, chai consumption spikes between October and January each year – with customers opting for hot chai beverages during the fall and early winter months.

Chai has also become a favorite offering among café industry distributors and operators. With innovations in shelf-stable packaging, as well as easy-to-store concentrates and powders that yield an authentic cup, chai looks to be a regular menu feature for the foreseeable future.

With the hot chai latte being one of the most popular preparations, the comfort of a warm mug of spiced tea has appeal for fall and winter seasonal menus. Many of the traditional spices used in chai are familiar to American consumers through classic winter holiday recipes and seasonal pies, cookies, and other comforting treats: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, honey, vanilla, etc.

Creative baristas may also customize chai lattes with a variety of flavored syrups, sauces, and garnishes for a premium experience.

Another advantage chai offers is its versatility. In addition to a traditional warm preparation, or creative custom chai latte, chai is a popular choice to be served over ice, as well.

In addition to its seasonal tie and versatility, chai may also serve as an alternative to coffee for consumers looking to regulate caffeine consumption. Black tea contains less caffeine per serving compared to a cup of joe.

Statistics show that chai beverages have a high growth rate among vegan consumers, as well, with the healthful perception and plant-based ingredients of black tea, spices, and a dairy alternative, such as oat or almond milk.

Chai may also offer something just outside the ordinary for many. The idea of “culinary tourism” has gained popularity the past few years. With a global pandemic disrupting the travel industry, individuals shifted focus toward seeking micro-adventures within the home or through to-go orders from a neighborhood cafe, even though physical travel was limited. Chai proved to be a way to experience a mini “vacation in a mug” to another culture in an easily accessible manner.

It is certain that chai has broad appeal and versatility. And while consumption peaks during fall and winter, the iced beverage trend ensures that chai will remain a favorite among customers, operators, and distributors in all seasons, for a long time.

Perhaps it will be a menu mainstay for another 5,000 years.

Houston’s carries chai offerings ranging from powders, concentrates, and sachets to steep from trusted vendors like David Rio, Maya Tea, Smith Teamaker, Numi, Kerry Foodservice, Mocafe, Cappuccine, Two Leaves and a Bud, and others.

Read more about industry trends on the Houston’s Blog.

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The name Kerry is well known within the beverage and foodservice industries as an innovator, delivering a wide variety of operator-friendly offerings, while maintaining a high quality experience for the end customer.

Originating as a dairy operation in southwestern Ireland in 1972, Kerry has grown over the past 50 years to serve a global market. Kerry Foodservice U.S. operations encompasses a slate of well-known café-focused specialty beverage brands such as DaVinci Gourmet, Big Train, Oregon Chai, and Island Oasis, which are present throughout cafés and specialty coffee shops nationwide.

DaVinci Gourmet

The DaVinci Gourmet brand originated in Seattle, WA, a city often cited as the epicenter of the U.S. craft coffee movement. DaVinci is perhaps best known for its line of flavored syrups – from barista staples such as vanilla and hazelnut, to unique offerings like cheesecake and cookie dough syrups, for something just outside the ordinary.

The DaVinci family also features sauces, like caramel and chocolate, for decadent flavor and eye-popping visual presentation.

A wide range of smoothie and frappé mixes also fall under the DaVinci Gourmet name. And in alignment with the Kerry spirit of innovation, the emerging category of fruit refreshers is also represented, with Mango Dragonfruit and Watermelon Lime among the flavor offerings.

Big Train

Big Train comprises a line of frozen beverage mixes with a focus on ease of use – the “blend and pour” convenience is a favorite feature among busy café and coffee shop operators.

Iced and blended coffee beverages have surged in recent years, with some nationwide chains reporting over 50% of sales are now from cold beverages. Frappés are big business, and Big Train offers an extremely wide variety to cater to any taste. As a partner to the specialty coffee industry, Houston’s carries over 50 Big Train blends, including mochas, lattes, blended espresso, frozen hot chocolate, horchata, protein drinks, and chai.

Oregon Chai

Chai is another coffee shop category that has been trending in recent years. Under the Kerry family of brands, Oregon Chai features a roster of chai concentrates and powders which offer a great taste experience for the end customer, and, importantly, easy preparation and storage for the operator.

A number of different flavors are offered, including vanilla, extra spicy, salted caramel, and sugar free.

Island Oasis

Kerry’s Island Oasis brand may be strongly associated with the bar industry, with margarita and pina colada mixes as featured offerings. However, there is certainly room in the café industry for Island Oasis shelf-stable fruit purees, especially as summer approaches with rising demand for smoothies, craft lemonades, and other fruit-based drinks.

The hallmarks of Island Oasis include the use of only premium natural ingredients, and no high-fructose corn syrup.

Enduring Partnership

It is evident that Kerry aims to be an all-encompassing partner to the beverage industry, with a focus on operator-friendly features such as ease-of-use, shelf-stable packaging, and a wide range of brands and varieties.

By valuing innovation, Kerry sets a foundation of seeking to align with industry trends and the evolving needs of operators moving into the future.

Read about our other vendor partners on the Houston’s Blog.

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With high retail brand-recognition, Lactaid is well known to consumers as being a lactose-free milk option, which may be more digestion-friendly compared to traditional dairy milk. For Houston’s position as a nationwide distributor to café and restaurant suppliers, the primary advantage is that Lactaid is now available in shelf-stable packaging.

Lactaid packed in aseptic containers does not require refrigeration until opened, and has a shelf life of 9 months. While plant-based alternative milks have been sealed in aseptic packages for years, it’s only recently that real dairy milk has been given the same treatment. Packaging technology has progressed enough to ensure safe unrefrigerated storage of dairy milk.

It is estimated that the aseptic packaged segment of the dairy industry will reach sales near $25 billion by the year 2024. It’s no surprise that the category is surging. While the demand for non-dairy alternative milks has skyrocketed over the past few years, there remains a large segment of consumers who do want their lattes, frappes, and chai made with real dairy milk.

Aseptic packaging is the distributor and operator’s dream come true in meeting that demand. Aseptic containers ensure a safe product, reduce waste due to spoilage, and save money on the bottom line as refrigeration (and its associated expenses) is not required.

Lactaid is produced by HP Hood, a family-owned dairy company that can trace its roots all the way back to 1846, when Harvey Perley Hood set up shop in Charlestown, Massachusetts. True to their roots, Hood remains a family-owned operation today.

Hood produces offerings in the non-dairy alternative milk category as well. Almond Breeze almond milk and Plant Oat oatmilk are two trusted brands which align with the proven growth trend of plant-based product demand within the café industry.

In 2019, sales of almond milk grew to $1.3 billion, representing 250% growth since 2010, per Nielsen. Oatmilk had a banner year in 2020, with sales exploding by 317% over its prior year.

Houston’s carries specially formulated “barista” editions of Almond Breeze and Plant Oat, which stand up well to the steaming process for eye-catching latte art and microfoam production on par with real dairy milk. These varieties are also packaged in aseptic containers for long shelf life and no refrigeration required.

With important innovations in product packaging, dairy milk can now join plant-based alternative milk in our customers’ warehouses. It’s certainly a dream come true for distributors, suppliers, and those consumers who are looking for real milk in their café beverages.

For more foodservice industry trends, visit the Houston’s Blog.

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