In many cultures having tea in the morning is a typical part of life. Although there are many alternative beverages, tea is among the most consumed next to water. The benefits of drinking tea range from energy boost, weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, decreased risk of heart attack, and lower stress levels to reduced intestinal inflammation and better digestion. Statistics show that approximately 2 billion people consume tea daily worldwide, and the number is expected to upsurge. And according to a study by the U.S. Tea Association, approximately 80% of Americans have tea in their households. With the alternative of flavored teas, the love for tea in the country has drastically increased. Consequently, tea-producing countries are reaping major benefits. Keep reading to learn more about tea, where and how it’s produced.
1. Vietnam
With a history of more than 2000 years of planting tea, Vietnam is ranked sixth in global tea production. Although its history hasn’t been well recorded, tea drinking was and continues to be an indispensable part of the country’s culture. And while green tea is what the country is mainly associated with, farmers here grow almost all types of real tea. Why green tea? You may wonder. That is because it’s very agreeable with the country’s climate and soil. Although you can still grow other teas in Vietnam, the produce from green tea tends to be much higher as the leaves are large in size.
According to studies, most people in the country prefer tea to coffee. Another popular tea type is scented tea with oolong and green teas, which have been the most commonly scented teas in the country by use of lotus and jasmine flowers. Although it might sound easy, the process of infusing tea requires a set of skills that farmers have acquired over the years. Other stems/flowers used to make herbal or scented teas in the country are ginger, chrysanthemum, artichoke, Aglaia and chamomile. Small amounts of white and black teas are too grown in the country. The next time you’re enjoying some iced or hot tea from Vietnam, know that you’re not only supporting the country’s economy but also directly impacting the lives of Vietnamese farmers, hence eradicating poverty.
2. China
China tops the list as a major producer, exporter and consumer of tea, with approximately 95% of respondents in a study stating that they drink the beverage daily. A study in 2020 stated that more than 45% of the tea consumed globally is from the country. That’s almost half of global tea production. For centuries, people in this region have been using tea for medicinal purposes. Just like in Vietnam, green tea is China’s major export.
On the other hand, the country’s primary tea import is black tea. The climate and soil in the South of China supports the growth of all kinds of tea. However, farmers here prefer growing oolong tea. In contrast, temperatures at the North of Yangtze River are lower, hence less precipitation, making green tea more preferable since its leaves are smaller. Rain on the south of the rivers is abundant, and although some farmers grow black and oolong teas, green tea is plentiful.
Last but not least, farmers in the South West region grow yellow, black, Pu’er, green, and flower teas thanks to the moderate and stable climate. Other popular types of tea from China are dark and fermented tea. The next time you visit the country, don’t forget to pass by the China National Tea Museum, where you can familiarize yourself with the country’s tea history and classification.
3. India
In the second position after China is India. Aside from being a top producer, it’s also among the top tea-consuming countries since approximately 80% of tea produced is used up by the domestic people. Although tea trees can be found in other parts of the country, the northern part is recognized as the country’s major producer thanks to the sloping hills, moderate temperatures, and porous sub-soil. Many tea types are exported from the country, including green, regular and herbal teas. However, black tea is India’s top export. Mixing tea with milk and sugar is the most common method of tea preparation in India, commonly known worldwide as the English breakfast tea.
4. Turkey
On the 5th position worldwide in Turkey. Aside from its unique cultural heritage, the country’s population consumes more tea than any other region globally. The country’s primary tea type is black tea, commonly known as Rize or Turkish tea. In Turkey, the most common way to prepare the beverage is by adding water and sugar to taste. Along with other barriers, the country has put in place very high tea tariffs to protect the domestic tea market. Some of the most preferred and popular teas in the country are Earl Grey, sage, blossom and linden tea.
5. Kenya
Kenya tops the list as the top tea-producing country in Africa and the top black tea-producing country globally. The rich, deep, reddish volcanic soil, in conjunction with the sunny climate on the country’s highlands, makes for perfect environments to grow the tree. More than 60% of tea plantations in the country are owned by small-scale farmers and the remainder by large-scale producers. The distinctive robust flavor, amber brownish color and quality of tea from the country ranks it among the best worldwide. Moreover, thanks to the sweeping ridges where the trees are grown, Kenyan tea is said to have super high levels of antioxidants. Aside from black tea, farmers also produce other types of tea, including yellow, green and white teas. Although Kenyans consume tea, most of the farmers grow it as a cash crop for export to countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Egypt, the U.K., Nigeria and the United Emirates. Other countries include Pakistan, Poland, Sudan and Yemen. To prepare the beverage, Kenyans love to add water, sugar and milk.
6. Sri Lanka
Number six on the list and the 4th largest tea producer globally is an island in the south-east of India where tea is the primary source of foreign exchange. Due to the contrasting climate and elevations, each region on this island produces uniquely flavored tea. Although black tea is the country’s major export, green tea is still grown here. And since the use of pesticides is minimal in this part of the world, the country has the potential to produce the cleanest tea globally. The country’s white tea, also referred to as golden or silver tea, is among the most expensive teas worldwide due to its premium flavor. And in the year 2020, the island was second after China concerning the earnings from tea export. Some countries that majorly import tea from Sri Lanka are Russia, China, Iraq, UAE, Iran and Turkey. Keep in mind that these are some but not all the countries.
7. Indonesia
Last but not least is Indonesia, producing approximately 157,000 tonnes of tea per annum. Aside from being a major export from the country, you could say that the beverage is Indonesians’ main drink. Although in most country’s tea is consumed in the morning or evening, here, the beverage can be enjoyed any time of day. Aside from black tea, which is quite common among households, vanilla and jasmine-scented teas are pretty standard among Indonesians.
Other significant tea producers include Argentina producing approximately 70 000 tonnes, Tanzania with an estimate of 40 000 tonnes and Iran producing just under 90 000 tonnes of tea. Although consuming tea has numerous benefits, moderate intake is recommended. Drinking too much tea could have adverse side effects.
