Every cup of good tea is the result of remarkable accomplishments by everyone involved in this wonderful, enjoyable product: from the experienced tea farmers in the countries of origin to the skilful pickers, and the individual skilled workers in the gardens who process the fresh tea leaves into high-quality dried tea.
Besides the best-known and largest tea producing countries such as China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka, there are larger and smaller tea growing areas all over the world that offer exciting, attractive varieties. If they meet our high standards of premium quality, they can be found in our portfolio.
The total world tea production in 2018 was 5,896,644 tons. (Source: ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
We have marked the ten largest tea producing countries on the map for you (by production tonnage, Source: ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019). Please click on the coloured parts for further details.
India
Altitude:
Between 200 m (e.g. Assam) and 2,300 m (e.g. Darjeeling) and 2,500 m (Nilgiri)
Annual production:
1,338,630 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Hot from April to May. Humid from June to September during the monsoon. Lowest temperatures December to February (up to 25° C in the south, up to 15° C in the Ganges valley, and sometimes up to 0° C. in the north-west)
Main harvest time:
Darjeeling: spring (first flush), summer (second flush), autumn (autumnal), in northern India: March to November, southern India: year-round
Main cultivation areas:
Northern India: Darjeeling, Assam, Dooars, Sikkim and Terrai
Southern India: Nilgiri and Kerala
China
Altitude:
Varies greatly depending on the province
Annual production:
2,616,000 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
In the summer, a great deal of rain due to monsoon. Except for coastal areas strongly influenced by continental climates with very different climates: very dry deserts, areas with cold winters, temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. There is a risk of typhoons in the south and southeast
Main harvest time:
March/April to September
Main cultivation areas:
Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong including Hainan, Henan
Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon in tea circles)
Altitude:
Low grown (below 650 m), medium grown (between 650 and 1,300 m), high grown (above 1,300 m)
Annual production:
304,006 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Tropical with different rainfall conditions due to the effect of the monsoons. Southwest always moist with two precipitation maxima in May and October. On the northeast and east coast only low precipitation and this between November and December. Annual average temperatures of between 22° C. and 33° C. In Nuwara Eliya (altitude up to 1,900 m) they can drop to freezing.
Main harvest time:
Alternating with the monsoons from June to September and from December to March
Main cultivation areas:
Uva, Dimbula, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy
Japan
Altitude:
Different altitudes in the different prefectures
Annual production:
81,500 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Varies: regions with a cold climate with cold and snowy winters to subtropical zones, additionally influenced by winds. Precipitation maximum between June and July due to monsoons. In summer and autumn risk of typhoons
Main harvest time:
April to September
Main cultivation areas:
Shizuoka, Kyushu, Shikoku, Kyoto/Uji, Honshu, Hokkaido
Indonesia
Altitude:
Java 600 m-1,900 m, Sumatra 650 m-1,500 m
Annual production:
131,000 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Tropical, tempered by sea winds. Average annual temperature 27° C. High humidity. Zones with varying rainfall. Dry season generally from April to October
Main harvest time:
In Sumatra uniform quality throughout the year. In Java production of top quality during the dry season from July to September
Main cultivation areas:
Sumatra, Java
Vietnam
Altitude:
0-650 m
Annual production:
163,000 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Warm to hot temperatures year-round and high humidity throughout the tropical monsoon climate. Most rainfall between May and October with the southwest monsoon
Main harvest time:
End of April to November
Kenya
Altitude:
Between 1,500 and 2,700 m
Annual production:
492,999 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to TC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Climate:
Tropical, humid climate with particularly high humidity. There are two longer rain periods, in spring and autumn
Main harvest time:
All year round
Main cultivation areas/districts: Kericho, Nandi, Limuru-Kiambu, Nyeri and Meru
Turkey
Annual production:
252,000 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
Argentina
Annual production:
80,000 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2018)
Climate:
Rainy area in the north east of Argentina
Main growing area: Province Misiones
Bangladesh
Annual production:
82,134 tons (2018)
(Source: Supplement to ITC Annual Bulletin of Statistics 2019)
