Spilling the Tea: 8 Tips for Designing a Custom Tea Label

You want the tea, sis? Let’s talk about marketing.

Because if you’re a tea manufacturer, the reality is that your industry is highly competitive. Like coffee or beer, the space has exploded with start-ups and disruptors over the last decade. People have transformed their hobbies from side hustles to full-time businesses, bringing their DIY spirit into the space. 

Your packaging must be as bold and flavorful as the tea itself. Custom tea labels play a vital role in attracting customers and conveying the essence of your brand. Just think about your experience browsing in the tea section in the store. You go for ones that align with your desires – soothing, pleasing, and calming. You get the idea. 

Your label design contributes to customers’ overall tea-drinking experience. By creating custom tea labels that reflect your brand’s vibe, you’ll grab more customers and inform them of your tea’s unique character. 

That’s all good in theory, but how do you design a custom tea label? Tea has a particular culture around it, and you want to be sure your label taps into customers' expectations while also giving it your own original spin. To help you navigate these choices, we have 8 tips for designing your custom tea labels. 

8 Tips for Designing a Custom Tea Label

Brewing the perfect tea label isn’t easy. You must consider not only the right aesthetics but accurate legalese. After all, this is a product people will consume. 

1. Take care of legal requirements first 

Custom tea labels need to be as informative as they are creative. You must be above board in every department, including the appropriate FDA regulations, ingredients, weight, and allergen warnings. We recommend figuring out everything you need to include before you start designing, so you know how much space you’ll need to allow for labeling requirements. 

It’s a lot to consider, but thankfully, the TeaRetailer has pulled together a thorough explainer of FDA packaging requirements for tea.

2. Your tea is your tea

Your tea has its own personality and has its own story to tell. Your label is the perfect medium to share it. It’s important to highlight the specifics of your brand, whether it’s the tea’s origin, a unique blend of ingredients, or a traditional or non-traditional brewing process. Infuse some visual delight and let your custom label reflect the distinct characteristics that make your tea what it is.

3. Pop off the shelves with eye-catching designs

There’s a lot of tea out there. Yes, we know that yours is better than the competitors, but your marketing strategy can’t rely on quality and taste alone. 

When shoppers browse through the tea section of their local food store – whether it’s a grocery chain or a small independent goods shop – they’re going to judge your label against the competitors. This is doubly true if you’re a new product trying to break into the market. Ensure your custom tea label uses eye-catching designs that reflect your brand's overall aesthetic.

4. Use label space effectively

Simple and informative, that’s the motto here. Use your custom tea label space effectively by providing essential information such as the tea’s name, flavor profile, and brewing instructions. It’s about finding the right balance. Don’t overwhelm the reader with too much text, but capture what makes your tea special. Let the design and tea speak for themselves.

5. Test out different shapes and sizes 

Do yourself a favor and think outside the teapot. Tea labels don’t have to be as predictable as a tea bag. Experiment with different label sizes and shapes that match your brand’s personality – labels shaped like tea leaves, a teapot cutout, or something completely different. Have some fun!

And don’t forget to experiment with different label materials. A glossy label sets a different tone than a matte one, and a clear label can add a premium or minimalist feel to a superbly-designed label. 

6. Pick a font that complements your brand

Choose fonts that reflect the personality of your tea – maybe that’s elegant and sophisticated, playful and whimsical, or bold and adventurous. Experiment with different fonts to capture the message you want to express. Typography is a fun way to quietly infuse your tea label with a certain aesthetic.

7. Color makes a label sing

Don’t forget the power and psychology of color. People associate certain feelings and moods with different hues. The color scheme of your custom tea label will help reinforce what your product is trying to accomplish. For example, non-caffeinated chamomile tea might utilize different shades of purple to signal calmness. Meanwhile, bold reds or oranges might be best for caffeinated black teas.

8. Stick to the basics 

Sorry for being obvious here, but when creating custom tea labels, it’s easy to lose your way when trying to do this or that or that or this. Don’t overthink it. Tea is a simple pleasure, and it doesn’t necessarily need overly flashy designs or carefully crafted custom bottles to get customers’ attention. At the end of the day, remind yourself that you’re making tea, and your packaging should look and feel like tea.

Spill the Tea with Stomp

With these tips and Stomp’s nifty design tools at your disposal, we’re certain that you’ll create a custom tea label that captures the essence of your tea. The label design stage is an exciting opportunity. It’s another chance to express your brand.

We know that creating the perfect custom tea label might seem daunting, but with Stomp on your side, we know it’s a challenge that’s not too steep.

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