Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world and accounts for a huge percentage of the global beverage market. Apart from its affordability, tea can be consumed by almost anyone in the society without any side effects. The word drinks more than 5.9 billion cups of tea each day, a consumption rate that continues to rise each year. Tea has now outpaced its closest rival, coffee, as the world’s most consumed beverage after water. According to statistics provided by the International Tea Committee (ITC), the global production of tea increased by 40% from 2001 to 2011. The production of tea currently stands at 4.3 million tons annually. So which countries have the largest tea growth in the world? How much volume of tea do they produce each year? Here are the top 10 countries with most tea growth in the world according to 2011 statistics.
10
Japan
Japanese green tea has witnessed an upsurge in demand. In 2011, the country produced 95,012 tons of tea to rank as the 10th largest tea producer in the world.
9
Argentina is one of the biggest tea producers in South America. Other big producers in South America are Peru and Brazil. In 2011, the country produced 95,012 tons of tea to rank as the 9th country with the most tea growth.
8
Indonesia
Tea has been associated with the Indonesian culture for close to 200 years now. Indonesians consume tea as their most preferred beverage. In 2011, the country produced 142,400 tons of coffee, making it the 8th largest producer of tea in the world.
7
Iranian tea is loved for its flavor and aroma. Tea has historically been considered to be a luxury in the country. Most of the tea produced in the country is for commercial and industrial purposes. In 2011, Iran produced a total of 162,517 tons of tea, making it the 7th country with most tea growth in the world.
6
Vietnam
Most of the tea produced in Vietnam is for commercial and industrial use. Vietnam is one the largest tea producers in Asia and the world. Approximately 133,000 hectares of land is used for tea cultivation. In 2011, Vietnam produced 206,600 tons of tea.
5
Tea is part and parcel of the Turkish culture. Offering a cup of tea to a guest is a long standing cultural aspect of the Turkish people that gestures friendship. Turkey has approximately 187,309 hectares utilized for tea farming. According to 2011 statistics, Turkey produced 221, 600 tons of tea, making it the fifth largest producer in the world.
4
Tea forms a crucial segment of the Sri Lankan economy. Tea production in the country is mainly done by professional manufacturers. The country has over 188,000 hectares dedicated to tea production. Statistics provided by the ITC indicate that Sri Lanka produced 327, 500 tons of tea in the year 2011, making it the fourth biggest country with most tea growth in the world.
3
Tea is a very important cash crop in Kenya, and ranks as the 3rd main foreign exchange earner after horticulture, and tourism. Over 60% of the tea is produced by small scale farmers. More than 157,720 hectares of land are dedicated to tea farming in Kenya. According to 2011 statistics, the country produced 377,912 tons of tea.
2
India comes in second as the country with most tea growth in the world. The Indian Tea Board statistics show that most of India’s tea is grown in the Brahmaputra Valley. The growth of tea in India is distributed in 15 states with an area of about 1 million hectares. In 2011, India produced 966,733 tons of tea to take the second slot in the list of tea producing countries in the world.
1
China is by far the largest tea producing country. With a tea growth area totaling to 1.86 million hectares, the country produces tea both on large and small scale. Tea has been enjoyed in China since the ancient times. In 2011, China produced 1,640,310 tons of tea, accounting for more than 30% of the total world production.