Which Countries Drink the Most Tea? Hint: It’s not China
While popular belief would put China as the top consumers of tea, the truth is actually a bit different when you look at tea consumption per capita. China is the largest consumer of tea with roughly 1.6 billion pounds consumed per year, but when you look at tea consumption per person, China doesn’t even make it into the top 5.
According to a 2016 study, the top 5 countries that rank the highest in average annual tea consumption per capita are…
China ranks #19 on the list with only 1.25lbs of tea consumed per person while the United States ranks #34 with .5lbs consumed per person. The lowest ranking was Mexico with .03lbs consumed per person.
Total global sales of tea in 2019 were estimated at roughly 6.4 billion US dollars. Although China doesn’t have the most tea drinking citizens, it is the biggest exporter of tea in the world, exporting roughly 2.5 million metric tons of tea which equates to 2.02 billion US dollars. That’s 32% of total tea exports.
With that being said, China is also the most diverse of tea producers, offering almost every kind of tea, unlike other exporting countries. Therefore, most likely the large majority of tea you consume comes from China.
Here is a list of our most popular styles of Chinese teas with the most amazing names.
Clouds & Mist Green Tea – Organic
Honestly, what a cool name for a tea, but it’s also very apropos considering one sip of this tea will send you floating through the soft mist of mystery across the Chinese Huaguo Mountains. Ok, not literally, but you get the idea. This subtle and suspicious tea with its dark leaves whispers notes of grapes, apples, and plums while remaining mysteriously smooth and woodsy.
Black Dragon Pearls Black Tea
While the name is quite intriguing, so is this tea with its perfectly rolled leaves that expand when steeped to unfurl its dark, full bodied flavor. This tea is smooth, strong and malty with a sweet and subtle aftertaste. Our Black Dragon Pearls come from Yunnan, China’s most biodiverse and stunningly beautiful province.
Monkey Picked Oolong Tea
Despite the name and the legend, no monkeys were harmed in the making of this tea. It is, by far, the most exquisite and highest grade tea of its kind. The complex flavors of this ancient tea offers a smooth, buttery flavor with hints of apricot and honey sweetness. This tea is clean and refreshing and one of the highest rated teas we sell.
Jasmine Pearls Green Tea – Organic
These beautiful hand-rolled Jasmine Green Tea leaves offer a light, sweet brew with a very profound jasmine presence. No wonder they called these little bundles of joy Jasmine pearls. Once steeped, these floral and fragrant packages open up for a perfect light-bodied tea for slow sipping and savoring. In fact, in northern China it is the custom to welcome guests by serving them a cup of jasmine tea. We get it.
Dragonwell Green Tea – Organic
Dragonwell Tea is one of our most recent additions to the fusion line up. This light, golden green tea is one of the most well-known and popular teas within China coming from the Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. This soft, earthy tea is produced through the use of pan-firing which contributes to its savor. Purchase today and be the first to review the tea meant for rulers.
Looking for more from China, click the link below.
