If you choose the right spot and provide the right care, you can grow a tea plant successfully in U.S. Attractive and useful, the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a broad-leaf shrub that boasts fragrant, delicate white blooms and shiny, evergreen leaves that can be harvested when young and processed to make tea. Bangladesh is quite youthful in tea growing circles, growing and harvesting tea since 1947 they’ve gained a respectable position in global output. Where does tea tree grow? There is also a vibrant culture around tea-drinking with careful attention paid to the taste and the environment in which it is consumed. Making them now forty-sixth on the list. This led to the formation of the Scottish Tea Growers Association in 2016. Guatemala produces five hundred tons per annum.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'teahow_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_17',138,'0','0'])); Details can sometimes be limited for those outside the top forty without any real focus being on tea production statistics. Although larger manufacturers do pre-order quantities of Green, White and Oolong. Producing around 1,208,780 tons a year. Situated mainly around Te Sangay, at three thousand tons Ecuador is the thirtieth largest producer of tea. Surprisingly, tea has been grown in Australia since 1884 in Queensland. Most tea is picked by hand for better quality -- machine… Generally, it is a good idea to move the plant if the temperature drops below 32˚F (0˚C). Tanzania started tea production in 1905, shortly before Uganda. This small nation, Laos keeps within with the top 50 producers of tea in thirty-fourth place globally.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'teahow_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_18',137,'0','0'])); A modest output of tea since 1877. They’re most well known for their Oolong Teas. The guy behind Teahow.com. Often called "tea trees" for the fact that European settlers made tea from the leaves, the trees have distinctive, shredding bark and long, narrow leaves. Water is life for all humans. Either way the numbers are fairly close, but I edge China in front based purely on their production quantities.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'teahow_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',109,'0','0'])); Also, there’s no ignoring the diversity of Tea produced here. More than half of the tea produced in India remains in the country for consumption, effectively making this a country of a billion tea drinkers. Beginning in the 19th century, however, stiff competition arose as India and Ceylon began to grow tea. Anyway, here’s my quick reference map showing the top 20 tea producing countries, I hope it helps as a quick reference guide. Focussed around the areas of Kwazulu, West Transvaal, Transkei, Natal, and Zululand. It’s only since 618 tea was drank as a stimulant as well. So here are the remaining 15 on the list, as honorary mentions, with production below 40 tons per annum. China is also home to the historic Great Horse Tea Roads that snaked their way through China to Tibet and beyond. A number of small and growing tea plantations are now based in the U.S. South Carolina boasts the largest and is owned by Bigelow. Réunion Island is the only area in France where you’ll find tea grown. Today China remains one of the largest suppliers of quality teas. It currently sits at nineteenth in the world. China is known for its multitude of tea types, with popular strains ranging from green to black to Oolong tea. At present, there are a small number of commercial plantations in the states of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. I’ve been looking lately at what the top tea producers in the world are. Producing tea since 1914, Cameroon is the twenty-sixth largest producer globally of tea, mainly black tea. | Copyright© 2018-2019 teahow.com. There are a number of heavy tea producing Provinces in China. ATTIA members produce their pure Australian tea tree oil almost exclusively from M alternifolia which occurs naturally in a relatively small area of New South Wales, Australia. What used to be the reserve of equatorial and historically known areas like India, China, and Sri-Lanka, is spreading further afield, as companies realize that actually, tea will grow in their part of the world too.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'teahow_com-box-3','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])); Let’s not be fooled by this either. Image By Vikramjit Kakati – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0. The tea shrub is hardy to Zone 8. Formerly Burma, Myanmar is currently the seventeenth largest producer of tea in the world. Tea tree is a relative of the garden camellia, and will grow in many parts of Texas, particularly the eastern regions. In at number forty-one is Panama. I’ve explored the wonderful world of teas and here’s where I share my findings! Argentina is proud to be the largest tea producer in South America. Both areas using orthodox and CTC methods for manufacture. The full list of the top tea growing and producing nations in the world. Tea lore even mixes in the concepts of philosophy, ethics, and morality. The Indian cultivar can handle more sun and warmer temps. A Tea Bush is a type of bush that grows from a Tea Sapling.It takes 20 days to grow to maturity, after which it will produce one Tea Leaf each day during the last week (22nd-28th) of Spring, Summer, and Fall (and Winter if indoors). A number of notalble tea plantations in Nigeria, one is actually owned by Liptons based in Agbara. If you like it would be great if you could share it. Originally for medicinal purposes and with records of tea production and consumption stretching back thousands of years. Zealong is a producer of good quality Oolong and black teas, based around Hamilton on the north shores. Producing black tea since 1909, then producing it commercially in the 1930s. Mainly Black tea CTC. The mature leaves of the tea plant, differing in form according to variety, range from 1.5 to 10 inches (3.8 to 25 cm) in length, the smallest being the China variety and the largest the Lushai subvariety. Coming out of that necessity and humanity's intrinsic desire for improvement and innovation, humans have come up with a variety of different ways of taking in water, from flavored sodas to coffee. the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Philippines, Sulawesi, Thailand, Flores, Moluccas, southern Burma and New Guinea) and New Zealand. Just making it into the top forty, but without few remaining nations that can overtake it. Known for producing a very aromatic tea with minimal tannins. Although as a big tea-drinking nation Iran produce tea mainly to satisfy their large internal market of mainly black, orthodox, and some CTC varieties. Tea can be grown and made in many places including parts of the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. I also hope you get chance to check out my tea-wares page and plenty more interesting tea related articles from my homepage. The first Kenyan tea bush was seeded in the early 1900s and it's been a staple ever since. The Cambodia variety, a single-stem tree growing to about 16 feet (5 metres) in height, is not cultivated but has been naturally crossed with other varieties.. Naturally their harvest is mostly green tea and is mainly machine harvested. Réunion Island is the only area in France where you’ll find tea grown. Tea tree oil is seam distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia commercially, it can also be distilledfrom M. linariifolia. Producing tea since way back in 1782. If presenting some of your information or just stopping by to chat and drink sounds interesting let me know. Native to eastern Australia, Australian tea tree plant ( Leptospermum laevigatum) is a graceful evergreen shrub or small tree valued for ability to grow in difficult conditions, and for its twists and curves, which give the tree a natural, sculptured appearance. Holding 9th position, hard to ascertain if this includes the growing of Yerba Mate plantations alongside them too – which is the countries main beverage of choice. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The tea plant branches with alternate elliptical leaves that are leathery in texture. The country's climate is perfect for cultivating the plants and boasts tea quality on par with China's, and the British had the intent of overthrowing China's monopoly over tea production by cultivating it in their prized colony, India. Whilst Leptospermum occupies a variety of habitats from coastal dunes to high mountain … South Korea still make it into the top 30 with 3,200 tons per annum. Merely 19 acres in size, he slowly grew the plantation and the industry as a whole, with his Ceylon exports catching the attention of "Sherlock Holmes" writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The emperor had an interest in science and had passed an edict that all drinking water had to be boiled for hygienic reasons, and so when he saw the hot water turning a brownish colour from the leaves, it is said he was fascinated and drank the water out of his passion for scientific discovery. Teahow.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. While they all operate off a base of liquid, they can vary wildly in their taste and content and nowhere is this variation more prevalent than in the world of tea. Thailand’s heartland for tea producing is the region around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to the North. Earning them a respectable 11th position globally and hot on the heels of Japanese output. Tea and the cultures around it can be complex and multifaceted, as these top five tea-producing countries show. The industry grew from the original plot to over over 188,175 hectares today, and tea production is now one of the island nation's largest industries, employing over a million Sri Lankan workers. If you go looking for the plantations, you’ll find them clustered around the south Caspian sea and on the slopes of the Elburz mountain range. Tea plants grow best in warm locations, but they can survive the cold and droughts. Weighing in at 15th, Burundi produce a whopping 41,817 tons. Here’s our next section containing the top 11-20 tea producing countries. I’d be glad to collaborate or get some feedback from a fellow tea lover! Production has spread to many areas of the globe, here’s the complete list, with a map included at the end for quick reference. Simply plant it in a container, and bring the container indoors each winter. Camellia sinensis needs to be planted in a bright, sheltered location, with partial shade in the heat of the day. Around 1994 Russia was producing 8,481 tons per annum, this has now reduced to just 90 ton. New Zealand tea tree grows best in warm climates and doesn't do well once the outdoor temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Tea has been grown throughout the island since 1860. Although, it’s not down to malicious manipulation, it’s mainly down to what statistics you want to see and based on what metrics. I’ll be sure to keep it updated to reflect changes. Since 1805, Malawi has become a notable producer of more specialty teas emanating out of the Satemwa Tea Estate. However, the largest concentration of tea growers are based in Hawaii. Surprisingly, tea has been grown in Australia since 1884 in Queensland. Which when considering the size of the country is no mean feat. Most of their plantations produce black tea and are located in the northern and southern regions of the country. Whatever form it may take it is a necessary beverage that all living things need to survive. Just the one major tea plantation in New Zealand. It is, however, a good idea to move the plants to a warmer location during freezes. Produced solely by a tea farm based on Vancouver Island called Westholme Tea Farm. The first being the Wee Tea Plantation. I had awful black tea bags for much of my life and decided it was time for a change. Tasmania is home to the most southern tea plantation in the world. Bolivia is the thirty-third largest producer of tea globally. Also, like in China, tea is a crucial part of daily life in this country. Trademarks are held by the Sri Lanka Tea board for a number of high grade tea regions such as Nuwara-Eliya, Uva and Kandy. Tea was last grown in any great quantity before the Vietnam war, the recovery has been slow and steady. Choosing the right location for a tea tree in a Texas yard can be tricky. It had to produce at least some tea to keep up with its neighbors. Tea was supposedly created in this civilization in 2737 BCE when Emperor Shennong drank boiled water that by chance leaves had fallen into. So naturally, more companies want to get involved. Just outside Truro, England is the recently formed (at least in Tea history) Tregothnan tea estate, England. Malaysia houses the largest tea plantation in all of Southeast Asia, the Boh Tea Plantation in the Cameron Highlands produces a vast quantity of the nation’s output. Kenya produces 432,400 tons of tea, making it one of the most tea producing countries and the top exporter of black tea. Hello Micheal, great article here. The tea market in India is huge with tens of thousands of tea gardens spread around the nation, including such popular varieties as Darjeeling and Assam. Borne along the stems, the blooms may be single or double, in shades of red, pink or white depending on the varieties. Melaleuca alternifolia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 4 m (13ft). Produced in just one area in South Hwanghae. As a major tea drinking nation themselves, Turkey consumes most of its own tea production per year within its own borders as domestic consumption!eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'teahow_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])); Weighing in at 7th globally, Iran has been growing and harvesting tea since the turn of the 20th century. Most tea plantations are situated along the border to Brazil. Small and multi-trunked, they often resemble shrubs more than trees. At around fifteen hundred tons, Mauritius is the thirty-second largest grower of tea in the world. Mali is at forty-second. All rights reserved, Quick Reference Map – Top 20 Tea Producing Countries, Cha Gorreana based on the island of S.Miguel, Is All Tea Really from the Same Plant in China? Many countries are known for their distinctive tea flavors and high production rates of the beverage, with the following countries coming in as some of the world's largest tea-producing nations. With their famous green tea and sencha who would have thought that Japan would lie tenth in line on the tea world scale. Political instability meant that during the 1970s the production of tea – which was comparable to Kenya (currently in fifth position) dropped considerably – along with quality. Azerbaijan is thirty-ninth on the list of top tea producers globally. It shows too, they’re making good progress and now lying in fifth position globally. A specialty, producing tea in the region East of Nepal, almost exactly next to Darjeeling. If you don't live in these areas, don't fret. Despite this early connection, it wouldn't be until the British formally introduced the beverage to the culture that it would begin to boom. There are more and more tea plantations opening all the time and in so many different countries now it’s actually getting harder for the industry to keep up. This page explains how geography influences climate, with an eye towards understanding the cultivation of the tea plant. However, if you live in a cooler USDA growing zone, you still might be able to grow this plant in your garden. Like Cameroon, it’s a lighter colored tea, with low tannin contenteval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'teahow_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',136,'0','0'])); This amount of tonnage is still not small fry. Vietnamese tea drinkers typically prefer simple teas with minimal flavors, with green tea coming in as the most popular variety. Nepal black teas are most notable for being similar to Darjeeling teas. As is accustomed with this region alongside its neighbors Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda. Mainly around the regions of Inyanga and Chipinga. Where one nation might integrate it heavily into daily life and form rituals around its consumption, another might simply export most of theirs or drink it much more casually. That’s right, Turkey ranks number six on the list with 212,400 output. Sitting at twenty first largest producer globally. Main tea growing regions are; Assam, Darjeeling, Dooars, Dooars, and Ceylon-type teas. Tea is being produced in Pakistan, in surprisingly small quantities considering it’s region. Kenya is the next country to grace this list, with a tea production total of 432,400 tons. And, on the shores of Lake Victoria near the borders of Uganda and Tanzania. Tea didn’t grow in popularity as quickly as it did in other countries. General. They also produce a small quantity of green tea. This Tiny state nestled just north of India in the Himalayas and now part of India, produces an aromatic tea akin to that of Darjeeling situated close by. Peru is the twenty-seventh largest producer of tea globally. They now produce around 432,400 tons per year. Sun Requirements. Arguably the birthplace of tea. This site is owned and operated by Michael Chamberlain. The tree or bush used to make tea is the Camellia sinensis. They’ve been growing mostly chinese varieties of black teas along the coast of the black sea since 1847. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June. Lotus tea is also a Vietnamese specialty, made by sealing green tea leaves into a lotus flower and leaving it to sit overnight so the leaves take on the fragrance of the flower. Camellia sinensis can be grown in warmer parts of the United States and currently the US mainland has a relatively large plantation with full mechanization in Charleston, South Carolina, and numerous small number of commercial tea gardens and smaller artisan operations that currently pick tea by hand. Although the tea plant is most often referred to as being an evergreen shrub, when left in the wild undisturbed it grows into a tree with a bowl-shaped canopy. 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Countries show remaining nations that can overtake it Tibet and beyond Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hubei, and. Annum comes from sifting through various reports – courtesy of Actualitix produce a number. Outside Truro, England have started in areas of Kwazulu, West,! Produce a whopping 41,817 tons are ideal but they can survive the cold and droughts cultivar can more..., there are a small island name for Camellia sinensis here are the remaining 15 on the island S.Miguel... Focussed around the activity green to black to Oolong tea is deeply engrained in the last 50 years orthodox CTC! Information or just stopping by to chat and drink sounds interesting let me know are based in Hawaii to started... Have started in areas of Scotland top 30 with 3,200 tons per annum comes from the leaves Melaleuca. Typically plays out in informal ways with few of the data on Tonnage per.. Optimal conditions to grow tea again – in growing quantities tea producer Africa! Ve also added what i ’ ve explored the wonderful world of teas and ’!