18 June 2007 - According to the Chinese state media, a Chinese beverage company in cooperation with a South African partner will build a USD 20 million bottling plant in Africa to produce herbal tea.
Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Company Limited and the FHC Group in South Africa will reportedly cash in on the fast-growing bottled herbal tea market, which surpassed Coca-Cola and Pepsi by volume of production in China during 2006.
Bottled, chilled herbal tea has become more and more popular after being marketed as a healthy alternative to sodas.
Another Guangdong tea bottling company is planning to set up plants in Brazil, added the media reports.