ISO 6079:2021

Instant tea in solid form - Specification

This document specifies the requirements for instant tea in solid form. This document does not apply to: a) instant tea containing non-tea carbohydrates as bulking or filling agents (normally referred to as “filled instant tea”); b) preparations of instant tea containing added aromatic material unless these instant teas are derived exclusively from the plant Camellia sinensis; c) decaffeinated instant tea; d) instant tea derived from other forms of tea including herbal teas or infusions.

Thé soluble sous forme solide — Spécifications

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Nov-2021
• ICS: 67.140.10 - Tea
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 34/SC 8 - Tea
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 34/SC 8/WG 12 - Instant tea in solid form
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 22-Nov-2021
• Due Date: 09-Dec-2022
• Completion Date: 22-Nov-2021

Relations

• Revises: ISO 6079:1990 - Instant tea in solid form - Specification
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 6079:2021 - "Instant tea in solid form - Specification" is the international standard that defines requirements and test methods for instant tea powders derived exclusively from Camellia sinensis. This second edition (2021) supersedes ISO 6079:1990 and updates scope, terms and definitions, and chemical-characteristic limits. The standard covers both cold water soluble and hot water soluble instant teas (the latter includes green instant teas) and excludes filled instant teas, decaffeinated products, instant teas with non-tea additives used as bulking agents, and herbal or other non-Camellia sinensis infusions.

Keywords: ISO 6079:2021, instant tea specification, instant tea in solid form, Camellia sinensis.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and exclusions: Clarifies what constitutes instant tea in solid form and explicitly excludes filled instant tea, added aromatic materials not derived exclusively from Camellia sinensis, decaffeinated products, and herbal/infusion-derived instant products.
• Definition: Instant tea is defined as dried water‑soluble solids obtained by aqueous extraction of tea leaves, buds and stems from suitable varieties of Camellia sinensis, including permitted process aids and food additives.
• Product types: Distinguishes two product types - cold water soluble and hot water soluble instant teas.
• Chemical characteristics (Table 1):
  • Moisture content: maximum 6% (mass fraction) - test by ISO 7513 (loss in mass at 103 °C).
  • Total ash (dry basis): maximum 35% for cold water soluble, maximum 20% for hot water soluble - test by ISO 7514.
• Sampling and testing:
  • Sampling per ISO 7516.
  • Test methods referenced in the standard (ISO 7513, ISO 7514) must be used to confirm conformity.
• Physical characteristics: Colour, clarity, free‑flow and compacted bulk densities and flowability are not rigidly specified - these are left to agreement between supplier and packer. ISO 6770 is referenced for bulk density test methods.

Keywords: moisture content instant tea, total ash instant tea, ISO test methods, sampling instant tea.

Applications and who uses it

• Manufacturers: to design, control and certify instant tea production to international specifications.
• Packers and distributors: to agree on physical parameters (bulk density, flowability) and ensure product compatibility with packaging systems.
• Quality control laboratories: to perform sampling and chemical analyses according to ISO 7516, ISO 7513 and ISO 7514.
• Buyers, retailers and regulators: to verify product conformity, labeling claims and safety parameters.
• Standards and compliance teams: to integrate ISO 6079:2021 requirements into procurement, specifications and conformity assessment.

Keywords: instant tea manufacturers, quality control, ISO compliance.

Related standards

• ISO 7513 - Determination of moisture content (loss in mass at 103 °C)
• ISO 7514 - Determination of total ash
• ISO 7516 - Sampling
• ISO 6770 - Determination of free‑flow and compacted bulk densities

Using ISO 6079:2021 helps ensure consistent product quality, clarity in supplier‑packer agreements, and internationally recognized testing procedures for instant tea in solid form.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 6079
Second edition
2021-11
Instant tea in solid form —
Specification
Thé soluble sous forme solide — Spécifications
Reference number
© ISO 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General . 2
5 Sampling . 2
6 Chemical characteristics .2
7 Test methods . 2
Bibliography . 3
iii
Foreword
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www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34 Food products, Subcommittee SC 8,
Tea.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 6079:1990), which has been technically
revised. The main changes are as follows:
— an exclusion clause has been added in the Scope;
— Clause 3, Terms and definitions, has been revised;
— the requirements for chemical characteristics of instant tea in solid form (see Table 1) have been
changed.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
Products derived from varieties
...