TOP 10 TEA PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD 2021

Ever because it was first found in China in 2737 BC tea has been some of the standard drinks internationally. At this time tea is cultivated everywhere in the world, primarily in Asia and Africa, nonetheless, it’s commercially produced by greater than 60 international locations. Right here’s a listing of the highest 10 tea-producing international locations on the planet in 2021.

It could appear by completely satisfied coincidence that tea was first found (not less than because the story goes…) by Chinese language Emperor Shen Nung, who first tasted the beverage when he and his troopers had been busy sheltering underneath a tree.  A number of windblown leaves fell right into a pot of boiling water, which in flip infused into the water and tea as a beverage grew to become a actuality.

Whether or not or not this story is a little bit tall doesn’t actually matter, regardless of the reality of its origins tea quickly grew to become a staple inside Asian tradition, as a drink, a medicinal treatment all and a symbolic a part of spiritual rituals.

Because the 8^th century tea has steadily unfold alongside quite a few commerce routes via the Center East and Himalaya into northern India, ultimately reaching these shores by the 17^th century by way of Holland.

So let’s journey a little bit and go on a world journey of tea discovery to seek out out who’re the highest 10 tea producing international locations on the planet…

THE TOP 10 TEA PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

10. ARGENTINA – 70,000 TONNES

Whereas South America is extra extensively identified for espresso manufacturing, we’re going to cross the Pacific and fly over to Argentina, which produces just below 90,000 tonnes of tea. They primarily produce black tea types of Indian origin.

Tea was launched within the 1920’s when the Argentine authorities started to induce farmers to experiment with a variety of various crops. Hybridised black and inexperienced teas had been launched to the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, Formosa, Chaco and Tucuman.

When it comes to home consumption, Yerba Mate (which is earthy and bitter when it comes to style profile) is the preferred tea in Argentina.

9. IRAN – 84,000 TONNES

Heading throughout the Indian Ocean we discover ourselves within the Center East, within the unlikely tea producing nation of Iran and the Caspian sea area of Gilan, which produces just below 84,000 tonnes of tea.

Tea first appeared as a drink in that area within the 15^th century, as a result of commerce alongside the well-known Silk Highway and it shortly grew to become standard. Nonetheless, the crop wasn’t grown within the nation till 1899 when Prince Mohammad Mirza smuggled tea bushes from India into town of Lahijan and commenced cultivating the crop, with the primary fashionable tea manufacturing unit being established in 1934.

8. JAPAN – 89,000 TONNES

Heading throughout to the Pacific we head to Japan, which produces round 89,000 tonnes of largely inexperienced tea within the areas of Shizuoka, Kagoshima and Uji. Tea has huge cultural significance in Japan; it’s their hottest drink and is central to tea ceremonies.

Tea could have been launched to the islands as early because the 6^th century by Buddhist monks. The drink shortly grew to become aligned with spiritual ceremonies with accounts of tea being served by the Emperor Shōmu to 100 monks. Tea seeds are thought to have first arrived in Japan in 805 and 806, with the burgeoning tea trade catching the eye of the 52^nd Emperor, Saga, throughout his reign between 809 and 823. Additional seeds had been imported, tea cultivation started and the remainder as they are saying is historical past.

At this time Japan’s hottest tea exports are Green Sencha and Green Matcha nonetheless most of what’s produced is Japan is definitely consumed domestically.

7. VIETNAM – 117,000 TONNES

Heading throughout Asia we discover Vietnam, the place the French launched the crop to them throughout their interval of colonial rule. Vietnam produces within the area of 117,000 tonnes of tea per 12 months.

The Yen Bai province in North Vietnam cultivates all kinds of tea leaves together with inexperienced, black, and white, in addition to some speciality teas flavoured with flowers together with lotus tea.

6. INDONESIA – 157,000 TONNES

Heading offshore we head to Indonesia, which produces 157,000 tonnes of tea yearly. The crop was launched within the 1700’s by the Dutch East India Firm throughout colonial rule, producing largely black and inexperienced teas from Indian Assam varieties. The Indonesian local weather permits these tea varieties to thrive.

Indonesian teas are famend the world over for his or her excessive ranges of catechin, a pure phenol and antioxidant, which performs a big position in serving to to sustaining a wholesome intestine and coronary heart.

5. TURKEY – 175,000 TONNES

This time we discover ourselves within the Center East, particularly to Turkey, which traditionally sat squarely on the traditional trades routes between east and west. At quantity 5 on our listing Turkey grows 175,000 tonnes of tea.

Notably, they develop Riza, which is a tea from the area of the identical title discovered on the Black Coastline. Regardless of a comparatively modest harvest individuals in Turkey drink extra tea per particular person than another nation on the planet (which as Brits, we discover laborious to consider!).

4. SRI LANKA – 300,000 TONNES

Heading again to Asia and to Sri Lanka, which produces just below 300,000 tonnes, round 17% of the world’s tea crop grown within the central mountains. Sought teas like Dimbula, Kenilworth and Uva are cultivated right here resembling Ceylon.

The British in a bid to compete with China‘s tea manufacturing launched the crop in 1867 and ever for the reason that nation has produced a number of the world’s best single origin teas.

3. KENYA – 305,000 TONNES

Asia doesn’t have all of it its personal means, as we head throughout the Indian Ocean to the highest tea producing nation in Africa, Kenya, which harvests just below 305,000 tonnes of tea every year. Kenya claims the accolade of the world’s prime black tea producing nation, with teas grown within the Kericho area, the Nyambene Hills and Nandi.

Tea was first launched to Kenya in 1903 by GWL Caine and totally commercialised by 1924 for Brooke Bond by Malcolm Bell who was despatched out for that particular goal.

2. INDIA – 900,000 TONNES

900,000 tonnes are produced in India yearly making it the world’s second largest producer of tea with the crop being grown in bulk throughout Darjeeling, Nilgiri and Assam.

The crop was first launched commercially by the British in 1824 to compete with neighbouring China’s tea manufacturing monopoly.

The enterprise labored. India was producing essentially the most tea for over 100 years. Nonetheless the number one on our listing reclaimed its prime spot on the planet rankings on the flip of the 21^st century.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS – INTERESTING TEA EXPORTERS WHO DIDN’T MAKE THE TOP 10

Whereas these international locations don’t make our prime 10 tea exporters these international locations nonetheless produce all kinds of unique and fragrant teas.

Regardless of the dominance of the bigger exporters different international locations are busily ready within the tea rising wings; together with Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

Even Nice Britain is getting in on the act with the primary ever crop grown being and harvested at Tregothnan Property, Cornwall, in 2005.

Watch this area; you by no means know Farrer’s could even plant a tea property within the Lakes.

1. CHINA – 2,400,000 TONNES

Unsurprisingly China is prime of the charts because the religious residence of the standard cuppa and tops the listing because the world’s largest tea producing nation.

China produces some 40% of the world’s tea weighing in at 2.4 million tonnes. It’s primarily grown within the provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, and Zhejiang. Whereas it’s the largest exporter and grower of tea, China produces a number of the finest teas on the market together with Lapsang Souchong, Keemun and Green Gunpowder.

TOP 10 TEA EXPORTING COUNTRIES