An ambient stable tea-based beverage having a pH of from 1 to 4.5 comprising from 0.01 to 3 wt% tea solids, from 100 to 300 ppm sorbic acid, from 100 to 300 ppm benzoic acid and from 100 to 280 ppm of a polyphosphate having the formula M-[-MPO.sub.4--).sub.n-M, where n is from 5 to 22 and M is independently selected from the sodium and potassium atoms is provided.