Top Tea Leave Producing Countries

Tea leaves, primarily derived from the plant *Camellia sinensis*, are cultivated extensively in several countries, with China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka ranking as the top producers worldwide. The history of tea farming dates back thousands of years, with its origins rooted in ancient China, where tea was first consumed as a medicinal beverage as early as the Shang dynasty (16th–11th centuries BCE). The cultivation and appreciation of tea spread to Japan during the Tang dynasty (7th–10th centuries CE), and later reached South Asia when the British established large-scale plantations in India and Sri Lanka during the 19th century colonial era. Today, China leads global tea production, specializing in green and specialty teas, while India is renowned for its robust black teas from regions like Assam and Darjeeling. Kenya has emerged as Africa's leading tea producer, focusing on high-yield, export-oriented farming, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is celebrated for its aromatic Ceylon teas. Together, these countries shape the global landscape of tea cultivation, blending centuries-old traditions with modern agricultural practices.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat