The discovery and initial development of tea can be found among the history pages of ancient China and Japan. But with the globalized trade of loose tea leaves and historical innovations such as the tea bag, it has come to enjoy popularity on a world-wide scale. The main areas of production have shifted too, with a few big surprises at the helm of global export. According to the latest complete statistics, this is the current top 5 of biggest tea-producing nations in the world.
China
The nation where it all began is still the biggest current cultivator and manufacturer of both loose tea and bags. Due to radical changes in the agricultural sector the past few decades, the extensive state-owned farming communes of yore have turned into smaller individual household farms, leading to a significant decrease in the total production. However, despite these changes, China still produces more than 30% of all tea in the world. China's tea market also increasingly relies on export as, nationally, the beverage is still predominantly sold as loose tea, which proves difficult to fit into today's fast-paced Chinese lifestyle.
India
India boasts the rare status of being both the second biggest tea-producing country and the nation with the largest total tea consumption in the world. Despite a recent drop in cultivation figures because of chronic land shortage, the world's number two is still responsible for more than 20% of all global production. The cultivation of leaves in India still revolves around huge multinational plantations, which allow large amounts of plants to be grown at a minimal cost. Especially the increased consumption of regional loose teas in the West is keeping India ahead of the competition.
Kenya
Perhaps surprisingly, Kenya is the third largest manufacturer of tea in the world and the only African country to feature in the top 5. Kenyan tea is largely used for consumption in bags with only a small portion sold as loose tea. With an overwhelming margin, the black variety is the main type produced in the Kenyan highlands and on central privately-owned farms. Kenyan black tea is known for its high-quality flavour and many regular brands and blends found on supermarket shelves originate in this African country. Not surprising, therefore, that almost 10% of all tea is Kenyan-made.
Sri Lanka
Most tea lovers are familiar with the famous Ceylon variety, which originates in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan tea is still hailed as one of the best in the world thanks to the favourable climate on the island and their preference for the orthodox production process, which is especially significant in the production of high quality loose tea. The traditional black Ceylon variety remains an international favourite, but flavoured blends and organic loose tea are also cultivated and exported. All in all, Sri Lanka represents almost 9% of the total export of the world's second favourite drink.
Turkey
Most people would probably name coffee as Turkey's national drink. However, this popular holiday destination is an equally important player in the production and export of black tea. Because pesticides and other harmful chemicals are used very little in the main Turkish plantations on the coast of the Black Sea, the tea cultivated there is said to be much healthier than that of other countries. On top of that, Turkish tea in general and especially black loose tea offers great value for money.
Emily Harvey is freelance writer interested in health and well-being related subjects. She is a devoted lover of loose tea and usually goes online to buy tea of finest quality at fantastic prices.
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