30+ tea stats & facts to read while your tea steeps

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Tea’s been around an awfully long time—over 5,000 years in fact. But how many tea facts can you drop on the spot to impress your coffee-loving friends?

Here’s some tea-rivia to ponder about the world’s favorite non-water beverage.

Black, green, oolong, and white tea all come from the same plant [1]
Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world after water [1]
2 out of 5 American households have tea [1]

On average, each American drinks 8.26 gallons of tea annually [2]
As of 2019, black tea accounts for 84% of tea consumed in the US and 75% worldwide [1]
87% of American Millennials drink tea [1]
The vast majority of tea, 75-80%, in the US is consumed iced [1]
Most tea worldwide is grown in mountainous terrain anywhere from 3,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level [1]
Tea was discovered in China and is over 5,000 years old [1]
When made at home, tea costs as low as three cents per serving and up to 10 cents for expensive teas [1]

Tea contains no sodium, fat, carbonation, or sugar and is calorie-free [1]
A strong taste is the most important consideration for consumers when purchasing tea, followed by brand [3]
In 2020 Pakistan was the world’s leading tea importer, followed by the US [4]
China produces the highest amount of tea annually with India and Kenya in second and third place respectively [5]
Lipton and Bigelow are the best and second best selling tea brands in the US [6]
Turkey has the highest per capita tea consumption worldwide [7]
Tea consumption in Russia and the UK has declined since 2009, but has increased in the US [8]

Unilever, which owns Lipton and PG Tips has also recently acquired tea brands T2 from Australia, Pukka Organic Herbal from the UK, and the Tazo brand from Starbucks [8]
The average price of high quality ceremonial grade matcha is $25-30 for a 1oz (30g) tin [9]
The Indian state of Assam is the largest tea producing region in the world [10]
Black tea blends like English Breakfast combine teas from multiple regions and countries, resulting in new flavors [11]
English Breakfast tea is made of teas from India, Sri Lanka, and Keyna [12]
Jasmine and lavender tea have proven sedative effects that can lower heart rate [13]

Cold brew tea eliminates the risk of bitterness and astringency that happens when oversteeping tea [14]
Water plays a big role in tea’s taste, aroma, and quality [15]
Milk tea with boba can contain more sugar than a can of Coca-Cola 16]
It’s believed that the first tea bag was invented in 1901 [17]
96 percent of tea consumed in the United Kingdom comes bagged [18]
In one study, a single plastic tea bag at brewing temperature released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the water [19]
Black tea’s tannins shrink swollen tissue, tighten skin, and draw out fluid to combat puffiness [20]
Japan alone cultivates over a dozen types of green tea [21]

Know of any other fun tea facts or stats? Let me know below!

[1] Tea Fact Sheet 2021. Tea Association of the USA, www.teausa.com/.
[2] Conway, Jan. “Topic: Tea Market in the United States.” Statista, 20 May 2021, www.statista.com/topics/1513/tea-market/.
[3] Kunst, Alexander. “Criteria for Tea Purchases in the U.S. 2019.” Statista, 5 Feb. 2020, www.statista.com/forecasts/1093538/criteria-for-tea-purchases-in-the-us.
[4] Conway, Jan. “Tea: Top Importers Worldwide 2020.” Statista, 19 May 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/258620/main-import-countries-for-tea-worldwide/.
[5] Conway, Jan. “Main Export Countries for TEA Worldwide 2020.” Statista, 7 June 2021, de.statista.com/statistics/264189/main-export-countries-for-tea-worldwide/.
[6] Conway, Jan. “Leading Bagged/Loose Leaf Tea Brand Sales in the U.S. 2020.” Statista, 15 July 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/251951/leading-bagged-loose-leaf-tea-brand-sales-in-the-us/.
[7] Conway, Jan. “Topic: Tea Market Worldwide.” Statista, 2 Dec. 2020, www.statista.com/topics/6922/tea-market-worldwide/.
[8] “The 2020 Global Tea Market Report.” Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, 25 Nov. 2020, www.teaandcoffee.net/feature/25850/the-2020-global-tea-market-report/.
[9] “High Quality Matcha vs. Low Quality Matcha.” AIYA Matcha, aiya-america.com/blog/high-quality-matcha-vs-low-quality-matcha/.
[10] “Government of Assam Industries & Commerce.” About Tea Industries | Industries & Commerce | Government Of Assam, India, industries.assam.gov.in/portlet-innerpage/about-tea-industries.
[11] “Tea Blends.” RateTea, ratetea.com/region/blend/26/.
[12] Gaylard, Linda. The Tea Book: Experience the World’s Finest Teas, Qualities, Infusions, Rituals, Recipes. United Kingdom, DK Publishing, 2015.
[13] Kuroda, Kyoko, et al. “Sedative Effects of the Jasmine Tea Odor and (R)-(−)-Linalool, One of Its Major Odor Components, on Autonomic Nerve Activity and Mood States.” European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 95, no. 2-3, 2005, pp. 107–114., doi:10.1007/s00421-005-1402-8.
[14] Bolton, Dan. “Cold Brew Tea.” World Tea News, 25 Apr. 2016, www.worldteanews.com/Insights/cold-brew-tea
[15] Keating, Brian, and Long, Kim. How to Make Tea. United States, ABRAMS, 2015.
[16] Baker, Jalelah Abu. “Sweeter than Soda? The Hidden Sugars in Bubble Tea.” CNA, 29 Dec. 2020, www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bubble-tea-sugar-content-sweeter-than-coke-soda-11063316.
[17] Lawson, Roberta C, and Mary Mclaren. Tea-Leaf Holder. 24 Mar. 1903.
[18] Bolton, Dan, and Dan Bolton. “Tea Bags: Staid and Stable.” World Tea News, 25 Sept. 2018, worldteanews.com/tea-industry-news-and-features/tea-bags-staid-stable.
[19] “Some Plastic with Your Tea?” Newsroom, 31 Jan. 2020, www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/some-plastic-your-tea-300919
[20] Cronkleton, Emily. “How to Use Tea Bags for the Eyes.” Healthline, 2 Mar. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/tea-bags-for-eyes
[21] https://steepeddreams.com/blog/types-of-japanese-tea

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about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.