Tea is one of the most regularly drank beverages in the world. Nearly 297 billion liters of tea are consumed every year. The extent of tea popularity can be determined from the fact that it is the second most-consumed drink after water. The drink is mainly popular in the South Asian region. Still, globalization and the presence of the people from the Indian subcontinent in different parts of the world have led to tea skyrocketing popularity. In most households in the subcontinent, tea is the first thing that people look for just after waking up. The high demand for tea has led to the discovery of different tea flavors.
In the Indian subcontinent, tea is mainly prepared with milk. However, with people becoming more and more health-conscious, lemon tea and black tea have also become popular. Despite this, tea made with milk remains the top favorite of people whether you go to a roadside stall or a 5-star restaurant. Cardamom Tea, Ginger Tea, Clove Tea, Chocolate Tea, and Dry Gourd Tea are some popular tea flavors consumed by millions in different parts of the region. With such an increase in demand, the production is bound to increase, which has resulted in the business in the tea sector booming. While more than 60 countries produce tea today, we’re going to look at the top 8 of them.
8. Argentina:
Argentina is the 8th biggest tea producer globally and the biggest producer of the beverage in South America. Misiones and Corrientes are the regions where the maximum tea is produced in the region. Tea was introduced in the farming sector through a government initiative in the 1920s. Yerba mate is the type of tea that is locally produced and is most popular in the region. The tea produced in Argentina is mainly exported to countries like the United States, UK, and European nations.
7. Indonesia:
Indonesia is one of the largest tea producers in the South Asian region. The demand for tea here is also very high. The country produces nearly 144,000 tonnes of tea every year. The tea plantation was introduced in Indonesia by the Dutch East India company. Black Tea and Green Tea are the types of tea that are mostly produced in the region. The type of tea grown here is similar to the one grown in Assam.
6. Vietnam:
Just like Indonesia, Vietnam is another major tea producer in the region. It produces nearly 240,000 tonnes of tea annually. The techniques of tea plantation were introduced to the Viets by the French colonizers. Vietnam produces black tea, green tea, white tea, and the most special — lotus tea. Yen Bai territory in Northern Vietnam is the region where most of the tea is produced.
5. Turkey:
Turkey is the only nation in Europe that is a major tea producer. As the Indian subcontinent, Turkish people are also very fond of tea, so tea is produced here in such a huge quantity. Over 250,000 tonnes of tea is produced in Turkey every year. However, Turkey is not a major tea exporter as most of the tea produced here is consumed by the Turkish people. Riza tea, a special kind of Black tea, is a specialty of Turkey. The maximum amount of tea production in Turkey happens in a small area near Rize, which is located in the black sea at the end of Turkey’s western coast.
4. Sri Lanka:
India’s neighbor in the South is another major tea producer despite being a small island nation. Tea holds a major share of Sri Lanka’s economy. 35,000 tonnes of tea is produced in Sri Lanka every year. Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are the two main regions where you can see dense tea plantation fields over a large area. Sri Lanka exports tea to countries like Russia, UAE, Syria, and Turkey. Nearly 1 million people depend on tea production for their employment in the country.
3. Kenya:
While Africa is mainly known for Coffee beans and chocolate production, Kenya is the biggest tea producer in the continent. In fact, it is the third-largest tea producer in the world. Tea was introduced in Kenya as early as 1903. Still, its production at a large scale started in 1924 when big private firms entered the market. Kericho, Nandi, and the Nyambene Hills are the regions accounting for the highest tea production. Over 500,000 tonnes of tea is produced in Kenya annually.
2. India:
India is the second-biggest producer globally, but it goes without saying that Indians are the biggest consumers of tea in the world. After blood and water, tea is the third fluid that runs in the veins of Indias :P. The tea produce is sold in the domestic market as well as exported to different countries. The Indian ‘chai’ has gained popularity across the world. The tea from Assam is the main contributor to India’s tea production. 1,250,000 tonnes of tea is produced in India every year.
1. China:
China is the biggest tea producer in the world. It is believed that it was China that introduced the world to tea. The country accounts for nearly 40% of global tea production. Yunnan, Zhejiang, and Guangdong are the main regions where tea is produced in large amounts. Over 2,400,000 tonnes of tea are produced by China annually. It is also the biggest exporter of the beverage in the world.
