Rupee Beer Innovates with First-of-its-Kind Indian Darjeeling Hard Tea

Perfectly Brewed to Pair with Indian, Spicy & Global Flavors.

New York, NY — Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water — and now, it's getting a bold and exotic new twist. Rupee Beer, the award-winning craft beer brand inspired by Indian flavors, is expanding into the booming hard tea category with the launch of the first-ever Indian Darjeeling Hard Tea.

Often referred to as the "champagne of teas," Darjeeling tea has deep roots in Indian history, first cultivated in the mid-1800s in the foothills of the Himalayas. Rupee's latest innovation pays homage to India's enduring love for chai, offering a refreshing fusion of lemon, cooling mint, and delicately spiced notes from freshly brewed Darjeeling black tea leaves.

Following the recent debut of its first-of-its-kind non-alcoholic brew in North America — launched during Diwali, India's largest cultural celebration — this new SKU marks another milestone in Rupee Beer's mission to reimagine how beer and beyond can pair with bold, global cuisines including Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern dishes.

"India is a tea-loving, tea-obsessed land," says Van Sharma, Co-Founder of Rupee Beer. "We wanted to brew something that celebrates that heritage — a refreshing, boozy, easy-to-enjoy beverage that both beer drinkers and beyond-beer consumers will love."

The hard tea category — alcoholic beverages brewed with tea, natural flavors, and sweeteners — is experiencing explosive growth. Valued at approximately $2.56 billion in 2023, the global market is projected to reach $11.9–$19 billion by 2032, driven by millennial and Gen Z consumers seeking low-alcohol, convenient, and natural-tasting drinks.

Rupee Beer, already recognized as a thought leader in its category by Forbes, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, Food & Wine, and Eater, continues to expand its U.S. distribution network. Rupee Darjeeling Hard Tea will be available through select distributors and direct-to-consumer in 45 U.S. states.

With this latest launch, Rupee Beer continues to lead with innovation — crafting unique, globally inspired beverages designed to pair with the world's boldest flavors.