If you work in the tea industry, you’ve probably come across the terms ‘95/5 aromas’ or ‘FTNF’ more than once. These are the aromas used in certified organic flavoured teas.
With these products, it is not enough for the flavour to be pleasant in the cup. Its origin matters too, as does how it can be declared and what it contributes to the product’s positioning.
To talk about 95/5 aromas is to talk about formulation, regulations, transparency and, in many cases, perceived value too.
In this post, we’re going to give you all the information about this type of aroma, so that you understand its importance, know exactly what you’re buying, and can clearly answer your customers’ questions.
What is a 95/5 fragrance?
To fully understand what a 95/5 fragrance is, we should first clarify what a natural fragrance is.
A natural fragrance is one that comes from nature, i.e. it has not been synthetically created by humans. However, this does not necessarily mean that it comes from the ingredient the consumer imagines. For example, a vanilla fragrance does not have to be obtained directly from the vanilla pod; it can also come from other natural sources.
This is where the 95/5 flavouring comes in. It is a subtype of natural flavouring in which at least 95% of the aromatic component comes from the named fruit, plant, spice or ingredient.
The remaining 5% may also come from natural sources, but must not alter the character of the main flavour.
This logic is consistent with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, which reserves terms such as ‘natural strawberry flavouring’ for cases where at least 95% of the flavouring component comes from the named source, i.e. the strawberry.
What does FTNF flavourings mean?
In many cases, 95/5 flavourings are also associated with the term FTNF. This acronym stands for ‘From The Named Fruit’.
Although they are often mentioned together, they are not exactly the same. In a 95/5 flavouring, at least 95% of the flavour comes from the named ingredient. In an FTNF flavouring, 100% of the flavouring substance comes from that ingredient.
In practice, the FTNF acts as a base from which a 95/5 fragrance can then be formulated.
How to recognise them in a recipe or a list of ingredients
This point is particularly useful for shops, brands and distributors who need to read a technical specification carefully or explain a product to the end customer.
When a tea simply lists “natural flavouring” or “natural flavourings”, this does not necessarily mean that the flavour comes from the ingredient the consumer has in mind. It may be a combination of different natural sources.
In contrast, when a specific mention appears, such as “natural strawberry flavouring”, “natural lemon flavouring” or “natural vanilla flavouring”, that designation requires a much more direct link between the flavour and the named raw material. Precisely for this reason, 95/5 flavourings provide a greater degree of transparency.
Why is this flavouring used in organic flavoured teas?
In Europe, the use of flavourings in organic products is subject to a stricter framework than in conventional products.
The EU’s organic production regulations apply specific rules to processed foods, and the European Commission’s technical guidance has emphasised that, within the organic sector, permitted natural flavourings must align with the categories set out in Articles 16.4 and 16.5 of Regulation 1334/2008.
That is why, in organic flavoured tea, 95/5 flavourings play such an important role. It is not a mere technical detail. They are part of how a product is formulated, which must be consistent with what it promises, how it is labelled, and what a customer looking for an organic range expects.
What changed with the organic regulations
Before 2022, flavourings were not treated equally within the organic framework, partly because they were not considered agricultural products in the same sense as is now required in the sector.
This change led to stricter criteria regarding which types of flavourings could be used in processed organic products.
In practice, this made working with organic flavoured teas more demanding. It is no longer just a matter of achieving an attractive flavour profile, but of doing so within a more limited, transparent and much more strictly controlled framework.
An important clarification regarding the famous “5%”
There is often quite a bit of confusion here, so it is worth pausing for a moment.
On the one hand, the “95/5” refers to the composition of the flavouring itself. In other words, how much of that flavouring comes from the named ingredient.
If the flavourings are not certified organic – as might be the case with organic bergamot oil or organic vanilla extract – only 95/5 flavourings are permitted in tea blends, up to a maximum of 5%.
In other words, it is not possible to use 8% flavouring to intensify the flavour. The maximum limit is 5%.
The difficulty of working with FTNF flavourings
Extracting aromas from the specified ingredient requires a large quantity of raw material.
In some cases, the extraction yield is low, fruit availability is limited, and aroma stability may also be compromised.
When used in tea blends, there is an added challenge. The tea itself and the other ingredients have their own character, and when brewed with very hot water, the aroma’s resilience is put to the test.
This helps explain why flavoured organic tea blends require more formulation work and why they cannot always deliver the exact same aromatic impact as a conventional benchmark.
The importance of understanding flavouring in organic teas for a tea professional
For a business in the sector, understanding 95/5 aromas helps to buy better and also to sell better.
It helps to buy better because it allows for a more discerning reading of a recipe, a technical specification or a list of ingredients. It is not the same to find ‘natural flavouring’ as it is to find ‘natural mango flavouring’. In the latter case, the link between the flavour conveyed and its origin is much more direct.
It helps to sell better because more and more customers are asking where the flavours come from, what “natural” really means, and why a flavoured organic tea might cost more than a conventional one. Being able to explain this clearly conveys professionalism and adds value to the product.
It also helps to better position the range. In a specialist shop, a tea shop, an online brand or a private label project, these nuances help to maintain a more coherent premium and organic range. In a market where many products look similar at first glance, knowing how to articulate these differences effectively makes a real difference.
In our online shop for tea professionals, you’ll find a wide selection of organic flavoured tea blends and herbal teas.
