Tea growing countries
Tea is mainly grown in Asia, Africa, South America, and around the Black and Caspian Seas. The four biggest tea-producing countries today are China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Together they represent 75% of world production.
Until the end of the 19th century, production was concentrated in Asia. Tea fever has now gripped various regions such as America and Africa, which have tried to cultivate their own tea in the face of rising global demand. Tea remains the second most consumed drink in the world, after water. As a result, it is now produced in around 40 countries.
It follows that these countries are also the biggest exporters of tea. However, there are exceptions like Japan which, although a major tea producer, exports very little. This is because the high level of consumption within the country accounts for most of local production. On the other hand, Sri Lanka exports a greater share of tea than Japan.