Main Tea Producing Countries

Tea is grown and produced in many countries around the world. Some of the largest and most prominent tea-producing countries include:

• China: China, or the Yunnan province to be more precise, is the birthplace of tea and China is the world's largest producer and consumer of Camellia sinensis.
• India: India is one of the world's largest tea-producing countries with tea grown in the states of Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. India mainly produces black tea.
• Kenya: Kenya is a major producer of black tea, with a large portion of its production exported to Europe and other regions.
• Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon): Sri Lanka is known for its high-quality Ceylon tea, which is considered some of the best in the world.
• Turkey: Turkey is a significant producer of black tea, which is primarily consumed in the country and neighboring regions.
• Japan: Japan is famous for its green tea, particularly Matcha, which is used in traditional tea ceremonies.
• Vietnam: Vietnam is an old producer of mainly green teas, with a growing focus on export. Since we have roots and friends in Vietnam, our best teas are directly sourced there.
• Indonesia: Indonesia is a significant producer of tea, with a focus on black tea for export to Europe and other regions.

These are just a few examples of the many countries around the world that produce tea. Each country has its own unique tea-growing conditions and production techniques, which result in a wide variety of teas with different flavors, aromas, and characteristics.

At RealiTea, we focus on teas from East Asia. (mostly) Vietnam, China and Japan. Please take a look at the list of teas if you are interested in our selection.

Traditional Tea-Growing Countries

These countries have a long history of tea cultivation and are known for their unique tea varieties:

• Vietnam – Produces green, and oolong teas, with a growing reputation for high-mountain teas.
• China – The birthplace of tea, producing green, black, oolong, white, yellow, and dark (pu-erh) teas.
• India – Famous for Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas.
• Japan – Known for green teas like Sencha, Matcha, and Gyokuro.
• Sri Lanka (Ceylon) – Produces robust and aromatic black teas.
• Taiwan – Specializes in high-quality oolong teas.

Non-Traditional but Established Tea-Growing Countries

These countries adopted tea cultivation later but have built strong tea industries:

• South Korea – Known for delicate green teas like Jeoncha and Ujeon.
• Nepal – Produces teas similar to Darjeeling but often bolder in flavor.
• Thailand – Grows oolong and green teas, especially in the north.
• Indonesia – Produces mainly black tea, often used in blends.

New and Emerging Tea-Producing Countries

These regions have started cultivating tea more recently, often focusing on specialty or artisanal teas:

• Kenya – A major black tea producer, known for strong CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) teas.
• Turkey – Grows black tea in the Rize region, consumed mainly domestically.
• Iran – Produces black tea, primarily in the north near the Caspian Sea.
• Argentina – Grows black tea, mainly for export and blends.
• Georgia – A historic tea producer experiencing a revival in high-quality teas.
• Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda – Emerging African producers focusing on black tea.
• United States – Small-scale production in Hawaii and South Carolina.

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