after China, and the largest consumer of said beverage, using nearly 30 percent of the world’s tea output. Despite this, the
the most tea globally after China and Sri Lanka. Commercial tea plantations in the country were first established by the British East India Company, which led to large-scale production of the traditionally brewed native tea variety of northeastern Indians. When introduced, tea was a high-status drink. But the booming production and consumption over decades made it economical for everyone to savor the concoction today. Unsurprisingly, tea was the most valued beverage in the retail market and was expected to continue a steady growth path.
Tea production and exports
Indian tea which is a global favorite comes from
Darjeeling in West Bengal and Assam. Most tea varieties found in the country are named after the regions they are cultivated. Due to its geographical origin, Darjeeling tea became the first Indian product to receive a Geographical Indication tag in 2004-2005. More than
1.37 billion kilograms of tea were locally produced across India. Most of the best-selling tea brands procure tea leaves from specific tea estates to retain their quality and authenticity. In addition, the United Arab Emirates was the
leading importer of Indian tea followed by Russia and the United States in the fiscal year 2023. The most popular tea exported was black tea accounting for around 96% of all tea exports from India.
Tea consumption
Tea drinking in India has evolved in many ways. While tea or
Chai (in Hindi) is usually brewed from loose tea leaves, sugar, and milk, a
variety of spices is added to make it more flavorful. Some regional favorites include
masala chai, kadak chai, Bombay cutting-chai, Kashmiri kahwa, and
Sulaimani chai. In the north,
Kulhad chai is popular, named after the traditional, disposable, handle-less clay cup it is served in. The overall
domestic consumption of tea was over 1.16 billion Kilograms in 2022.
Chaiwallahs make and sell fresh tea all day, from their numerous roadside stalls throughout the country’s nooks and corners. These are widely accessible and make up an important part of the unorganized market for tea retail in the country. In recent years, the rise of urbanization and the establishment of tea cafés such as
Chayoos and
Chai Points has led to a diverse growth in how Indians consume tea.
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Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
