Tea is the most popular drink in the world other than water with billions of cups drank every day.
The United Nations, marking the significance and value of the drink globally, not just economically but culturally too, designates May 21 as International Tea Day on 19 December in 2019 according to the UN website.
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.
According to legend, Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled water. Some leaves from the tree drifted into the pot, and Shen Nung, a renowned herbalist, decided to try this accidental infusion. The result was tea. Since then, tea has gained popularity across the globe. Today, tea enthusiasts enjoy a wide variety of types of tea, each with a unique flavour profile and cultural history. But did you know that your favourite tea could reveal personality traits and preferences? This International Tea Day, find out what your preferred brew says about you.
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).
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.
The rest of the world accounts for 17 percent of tea production globally.
Happy International Tea Day to all tea lovers.
