Top 10 Tea-Producing Countries in the World

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Tea is one of the most favorite beverages across the world and is known for its unique flavors and aroma that make your day and satisfy your craving. The production of tea is also considered one of the crucial factors for the country’s economic development. There are the top 10 tea-producing countries in the world that are widely known for planting the best kind of tea exported to different countries. 

The world tea supply chain involves countries such as China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and more that produce tea in large amounts and supply it to different parts of the world.  

Here in this article, we will list the countries that produce the largest amount of tea that might be in your cup, which you are taking every evening to refresh your soul and energize your body. 

The Largest Tea Producer in the World 

China is holding the first place in producing tea, and it is known for its rich tea culture in which it is growing the top-quality tea leaves. The country is individually accountable for producing 40% of the total tea production in the world. China is one of the top 10 tea-producing countries in the world, which reaches an impressively 2.4 million metric tons annually. 

China has the best climate conditions for growing tea plants, and the Yunnan district touches the areas of Guangdong and Zhejiang. The country uses the oldest cultivation methods that the ancestors of the tea production families used. 

China, the largest tea producer in the world, offers some great varieties of tea quality with different tastes, like the smoky Lapsang Souchong and Robust Keeman and the magically delicate Green Gunpowder, all having a unique flavor profile. China’s mystery of the art of tea cultivation and processing is not just a story; instead, it is a real story of the finest tea quality and production.

Top 10 Tea Producing Countries in the World

China is the only producer of approximately 2,400,000 metric tons annually and holds the title of the largest tea producer in the world in 2024, followed by India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. 

China

China is the world’s largest tea producer, producing 2,400,000 metric tons of tea in a year and is known as the birthplace of tea. China produces different varieties of tea, such as green, white, oolong, and pu-erh, attracting global tea enthusiasts.

China has been at the forefront of the production of tea in the world; its rich culture of planting tea is popular in some regions like Fujian and Yunnan, where they can produce high-quality offerings in the market around the world. 

The climate conditions that are required for the production of tea are perfect in the regions of China and act as a key support in the top position of producing tea.

India

India is the second-largest producer of tea in the world, having the capacity to produce over 900,000 metric tons of tea. Apart from being the being the largest producer, it is also the highest-consumption nation of tea, and almost every house has a cup of tea with their snacks.

It is known for producing some unique flavors of tea like Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri varieties that attract tea enthusiasts from all across the world. Every variety of tea gives a different feel and taste, like the Asaam one gives robust and malty brews to the Darjeeling’s delicate and aromatic profiles. 

India’s chai-making cuisine is different as it requires high-quality milk added to the tea and goes to the cup to gain an international stage, and almost all Indians are used to making tea like this.

Kenya

It is the third-largest producer of tea and among the list of top 10 tea-producing countries in the world. Kenya produces around 305,000 metric tons of tea in a year and is a significant key player in Africa’s tea landscape. 

Kenya’s brisk black tea is very famous in the world, where it plants the tea in high-altitude regions such as the Rift Valley. This country has done some of the innovative steps of the “CTC” (Crush, Tear, Curl) method, which yields teas well-suited for blending and teabag production.

The tea cultivation and production mark the important signature of producing the largest amount of tea in the world under its highly suitable climate conditions and traditional values.

Sri Lanka

Shifting from Asia to Sri Lanka, which is one of the top 10 tea-producing countries in the world and produces around 17% of the world’s tea crop grown in some of the highly growing regions of the central mountains. 

It individually produces about 300,000 metric tons of tea in a year, and some special varieties are available, like Dimbula, Kenilworth, and Uva, which come under Ceylon. 

The tea crop was first introduced here in 1867, and from then on it has continuously grown the tea of the best quality.

Turkey

Turkey is the fifth-largest producer of tea in the world and grows 175,000 metric tons of tea a year. The specific regions of Turkey in the Middle East make it one of the best areas for growing high-quality tea.

They are known for producing Riza tea, which is more similar to the region of the same tea, which is found on the Black Sea coast. Despite having a large control over tea plantations, the country is also known for larger consumption.

Indonesia

Stepping to the next number in the list of the top 10 tea-producing countries in the world, we have found Indonesia for its major contribution to the production of tea in the world.

It is growing 157,000 metric tons of tea a year, which is about 10% of the total tea production in the world. Here the tea crop was introduced by the Britishers, similar to the Indian breads and tastes.

Mostly black and green tea are planted in Indonesia, which is also used for drinking purposes in the nation and other parts of the world. 

Indonesian tea is also popular for having high levels of catechin, which is a natural phenol and antioxidant that help to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep maintaining a healthy gut and heart.

Vietnam

This is the independent nation, which is also known for producing the largest tea in the world, and it is in seventh place in tea production. The French people introduced the crop to them during the period of colonial rule. 

The country produces around 117,000 metric tons of tea per year, and in some of the main regions of Vietnam, like Yen Bai in North Vietnam, all types of tea, such as green, black, and white, as well as some specialty teas flavored with flowers, including lotus tea, are produced.

Japan

Japan is on the list of the top 10 tea-producing countries in the world, and it produces around 89,000 metric tons of tea, mostly green tea, in the regions of Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Uji.

Japan has a great culture related to tea, and it is used as the main beverage in the country where the functions are organized for the different tastes of tea. 

Dating back its existence, we have to go to the 6th and 7th centuries, when a Buddhist monk introduced the tea plantation, which quickly became one of the most favorable drinks in the country.

Today, Japan’s largest exporters of tea, Green Sencha and Green Matcha, are the most tea producers in the world.

Iran

Searching for the largest tea producer in the world, we found a country in the Indian Ocean, ‘Iran’, which has a large capacity to produce tea, and it produces around 84,000 metric tons of tea a year.

Tea became a popular drink in today’s life, and this was introduced in the country in the 15th century with the help of trade tradition with silk clothes, after which it is a part of the Iran celebration.

The crop was not found in Iran until 1899, when King Prince Mohammad Mirza smuggled the tea bushes from India into their territory and started a plantation, and the first factory was established in 1934.

Argentina

Tea production in the world is the most profitable agricultural product in all the world, and in a list of high tea-producing countries, Argentina is one of the countries that produces 70,000 metric tons of tea a year.

The region of South America is widely known for coffee production, but the natural climate condition of the country also gives a reason for tea plantations in the world. 

Tea was introduced in 1920 in Argentina, and later on, scientists started experimentation with the plant, which gave birth to many different types of tea, which are widely famous for their unique taste and benefits.

Here tea lovers can find mostly hybridized green tea and black tea, which are grown in the regions of Misiones, Corrientes, Formosa, Chaco, and Tucuman.

Conclusion

Revising the list from China, the largest producer of tea in the world, to Argentina, securing 10th position in the list. Every tea lover should enjoy the ship of tea grown in the different countries of the world. The tea plantation and cultivation based on the climate conditions and natural support provide a suitable atmosphere for healthy growth.