Tea Consumption by Country: Which Nations Drink the Most Tea?

Tea is enjoyed around the world, but the answer to which country drinks the most tea depends on how you measure it.

Some countries lead in tea consumption per person, while much larger countries consume more tea in total simply because they have much larger populations.

That means the country with the biggest tea drinkers is not necessarily the country with the largest overall tea market.

Tea Consumption by Country at a Glance

Top Tea-Drinking Countries Per Capita

The following ranking is based on a widely cited international per-capita tea consumption dataset used in our original article.

Turkey has consistently been identified as one of the world’s heaviest tea-drinking countries per person. More recent FAO material also describes Turkey as having one of the world’s highest levels of tea consumption per capita. (FAOHome)

Countries That Consume the Most Tea Overall

Total tea consumption tells a different story.

Large tea-producing and tea-drinking nations such as China and India account for enormous volumes of tea consumption because of their populations and deeply established tea cultures.

Historical FAO consumption data has placed China and India far ahead of most countries in total tea consumption, followed by major markets including Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, Japan, the United Kingdom, and others. (FAOHome)

Which Country Drinks the Most Tea?

If you mean per person, Turkey is generally recognized as one of the world’s leading tea-drinking nations.

If you mean total tea consumed by the entire country, China and India dominate because of their much larger populations and massive domestic tea markets. (FAOHome)

That distinction matters.

A smaller country can have very high tea consumption per person without consuming as much tea overall as a country with hundreds of millions or more than a billion people.

Top 10 Tea-Drinking Countries Per Capita

1. Turkey

Tea is part of daily life in Turkey.

Strong black tea, known as çay, is commonly served in small tulip-shaped glasses and is enjoyed throughout the day at home, at work, and while socializing.

Turkey’s long-standing tea culture helps explain why it consistently ranks among the world’s highest tea-consuming countries per person.

2. Ireland

Ireland has a strong tradition of black tea drinking.

Tea is commonly served with milk and remains part of everyday life, from breakfast to afternoon breaks and conversations with family and friends.

3. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is one of the countries most closely associated with tea.

Black teas such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey remain popular, while traditions such as afternoon tea have helped make tea an enduring part of British culture.

4. Pakistan

Tea, especially chai, plays an important social role in Pakistan.

Black tea is commonly prepared with milk and may include spices such as cardamom, creating a rich and comforting drink enjoyed throughout the day.

5. Russia

Black tea has a long history in Russia and is traditionally associated with hospitality and conversation.

Tea may be served strong and enjoyed with lemon, sugar, preserves, or sweets.

6. Morocco

Moroccan tea culture is famous for sweet mint tea.

Green tea is commonly brewed with fresh mint and sugar and served as a sign of hospitality to family, friends, and guests.

7. Egypt

Black tea is widely consumed in Egypt and is an important part of everyday social life.

Hibiscus tea, known as karkade, is also popular, particularly when served cold in warmer weather.

8. Japan

Japan is known around the world for its green tea traditions.

Sencha, matcha, genmaicha, and other green teas are deeply connected to Japanese food culture and tea preparation.

9. Kenya

Kenya is one of the world’s important tea-producing nations, and tea is also widely consumed domestically.

Strong black tea served with milk and sugar is common in many Kenyan households.

10. Iran

Tea is central to everyday hospitality in Iran.

Black tea is commonly served throughout the day and often accompanies meals, conversations, and visits with friends and family.

Which Countries Consume the Most Tea in Total?

Per-capita rankings tell us how much tea the average person drinks.

Total tea consumption tells us how large the tea market is.

That is why countries such as China and India can consume far more tea overall even when another country drinks more tea per person.

FAO data has historically shown China as the world’s largest overall tea consumer, with India also representing an enormous domestic market. Both countries have long tea-growing traditions, very large populations, and strong everyday tea-drinking cultures. (FAOHome)

Turkey is different.

Its population is much smaller, but tea consumption per person is exceptionally high, which is why it appears so prominently in per-capita rankings.

Tea Consumption Per Capita vs. Total Consumption

The difference is simple.

Total tea consumption measures how much tea an entire country consumes.

Tea consumption per capita divides consumption by population to estimate how much tea is consumed per person.

A country can therefore rank very high in one measurement and much lower in the other.

This is also why tea-consumption rankings can appear different depending on the source, year, and measurement being used.

What Type of Tea Is Consumed Most Around the World?

Black tea remains one of the most widely consumed styles of tea around the world, particularly across Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.

Green tea is especially important in countries such as China and Japan, while regional traditions have created distinctive styles such as Pakistani chai and Moroccan mint tea.

At Weaver’s Coffee & Tea, we offer a range of teas for different tastes, including black tea, green tea, and herbal tea.

Tea Traditions Around the World

The numbers are interesting, but they only tell part of the story because tea consumption is closely tied to culture.

In Turkey, a glass of çay may accompany conversation throughout the day. In Britain and Ireland, black tea remains a familiar everyday drink. In Pakistan, chai brings together tea, milk, spices, and hospitality. In Japan, green tea is connected to both daily drinking and centuries-old traditions.

Moroccan mint tea carries its own ritual of hospitality, while China has an extraordinary range of regional tea traditions built around green, black, white, oolong, and fermented teas.

That diversity is one of the reasons tea remains such an important beverage around the world.

What We Look for in Tea at Weaver’s Coffee & Tea

Tea has been part of John Weaver’s work for more than four decades.

Beginning in 1980, John learned tea tasting and blending while working alongside Alfred Peet and Sal Bonavita. Over the years, he has cupped and compared thousands of tea samples and developed an understanding of how aroma, body, leaf quality, flavor, and balance come together in the cup. (weaverscoffee.com)

At Weaver’s Coffee & Tea, we select tea with the same basic goal that guides our coffee program: it should taste good, remain balanced, and deliver a consistent cup people want to drink again.

Explore Weaver’s Tea →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country drinks the most tea?

Turkey is widely recognized as one of the countries with the highest tea consumption per person. However, the answer changes if you measure total tea consumed rather than consumption per capita.

Which country consumes the most tea per capita?

Turkey has consistently ranked among the world’s highest tea-consuming countries per person in international tea-consumption data.

Which country consumes the most tea overall?

China is one of the largest tea-consuming countries in total volume, with India also representing one of the world’s largest domestic tea markets.

What are the top tea-consuming countries?

Major tea-drinking countries include Turkey, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Russia, Morocco, Egypt, Japan, Kenya, Iran, China, and India. Their rankings differ depending on whether consumption is measured per person or by total national volume.

Why do tea-consumption rankings differ?

Tea-consumption rankings differ because some measure total national consumption, while others measure consumption per person. Rankings can also change depending on the year and data source.

What type of tea is consumed most worldwide?

Black tea is one of the most widely consumed types of tea globally, while green tea is especially important in major markets such as China and Japan.

Related Tea Guides

The History of Black Tea Across the World

The Ultimate Guide to Green Tea

Benefits of Green Tea and Black Tea

Tea Throughout Time

Rooibos Tea: A Comprehensive Guide

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