By Ma Zhenhuan

SHANGHAI - The Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest beverage maker, has launched a new innovative tea-flavored beverage in China to enhance its product portfolio and further tap the huge beverage market.

Coca-Cola's Sprite brand on Thursday launched Spritea, a carbonated blend of local green tea flavors.

"With Spritea, we plan to further enhance the Sprite brand in China," said Andres Kiger, senior marketing director of Coca-Cola Greater China.

Ella Liu, Sprite Brand director for Coca-Cola in China said the new tea beverage has been on the company's agenda for more than a year.

"We have spent a lot of time and resources through massive consumer testing to fine-tune the taste of Spritea, including having the right amount of sweetness and percentage of bubbles," she said, adding that the company is confident that Spritea will be welcomed by Chinese consumers."

With Chinese consumers' enduring love for tea, ready-to-drink tea consumption in China has increased over 30 percent annually in recent year.

And in general, tea and sparkling beverages make up over 20 percent of the entire Chinese beverage sector.