Tea is the most popular drink in the world other than water. It beats out coffee and beer, which hold second and third place.
May 21 is designated as International Tea Day by the United Nations, marking the significance and value of the drink globally, not just economically but culturally too.
Tea plays a meaningful role in many societies. From Tibetan po cha to a good old English breakfast brew, tea is considered a unifying and hospitable beverage.
While the exact origins of tea are unknown, it is believed to have originated in northeast India, northern Myanmar and southwest China, according to the UN. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China 5,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest beverages in the world.
How to say tea around the world
Across the globe, nearly all words for tea can be derived from the root words “cha” or “te”.
In many parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the word for tea is derived from cha.
- In Mandarin: 茶 (chá)
- In Arabic: شاي (shāy)
- In Turkish: çay
- In Hindi: चाय (chāi)
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In Western Europe, many countries use some derivative of te. For example, “tea” was introduced into the English language as a result of trade routes in the East. The word was taken from China, where it was pronounced “te” in the Hokkien dialect.
- In English: tea
- In French: thé
- In Spanish: té
- In German: tee
Who produces the most tea globally?
The tea plant is usually grown in tropical and subtropical climates where its cultivation and processing support the livelihoods of millions of people.
According to the latest data from the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal‘s Global Tea Report, China produces nearly half of the world’s tea (48 percent). India is the second largest producer, accounting for 20 percent of world production, followed by Kenya (8 percent), Turkiye (4 percent) and Sri Lanka (3 percent).
The rest of the world accounts for 17 percent of tea production globally.
How much tea is consumed daily worldwide?
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world tea consumption reached 6.5 million tonnes in 2022, growing from previous years.
Consumption in China, the largest consumer of tea, reached 3 million tonnes in 2022, representing 46 percent of global consumption.
India, the second largest consumer, accounted for a share of nearly 18 percent at 1.16 million tonnes in 2022, followed by Turkiye with 250,000 tonnes, Pakistan with 247,000 tonnes and Russia with 133,000 tonnes.
According to the FAO, tea consumption expanded by 2 percent in 2022 compared with 2021 and further increased in 2023.
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However, tea consumption in countries in Europe and North America has been declining due to increasing competition from other beverages while for Russia, tea imports have been negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine.
Five odd teas around the world
To mark this year’s International Tea Day, here are five somewhat unusual teas from around the world and how to make them:
Butter tea (po cha)
Found in: Tibet and other Himalayan regions
What’s odd?: It’s in the name. Made with yak butter, black tea and salt, butter tea is broth-like. Apparently, there is a tradition where the host will refill your cup with butter tea until you refuse or until they stop filling it, signalling it’s time for you to leave.
Kombucha – is it tea?
Found in: China, Japan and the Koreas
What’s odd?: Kombucha is considered a tea. It’s a fermented tea made using a jelly-like SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Kombucha fans often name their SCOBYs, treat them like pets and pass them to friends like family heirlooms.
Butterfly pea flower tea
Found in: Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam
What’s odd?: It is known as blue tea because of its colour, which then changes to purple when lemon juice is added. It’s caffeine free and made from a concoction of floral petals from the blue pea flower.
Baobab leaf tea
Found in: sub-Saharan Africa
What’s odd?: Baobab leaf tea is traditionally used in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa as a mild herbal remedy and nutritional drink.
Unlike most herbal teas, which are often floral or fruity, baobab leaf tea has a mildly earthy or even slightly bitter taste, a bit like spinach water.
Guava leaf tea
Found in: Philippines, Central America, Africa
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What’s odd?: The tea is made from the leaves of the guava tree, which have an earthy flavour. In Philippine culture, it is said to have medicinal benefits for soothing stomach aches and bathing wounds.