China Tea Market Overview, 2031

Tea consumption in China has evolved over thousands of years, deeply rooted in agricultural development, cultural traditions, and social practices. Early records trace tea usage to medicinal purposes before it became an everyday beverage during the Tang dynasty, when cultivation methods and brewing techniques were formalized. Regions such as Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Yunnan, and Sichuan emerged as major cultivation centers, producing distinctive varieties that shaped regional preferences. Over centuries, tea became embedded in daily routines, religious ceremonies, and social gatherings, supported by advancements in processing methods such as pan firing, steaming, rolling, and controlled oxidation. The development of green, black, oolong, white, and fermented teas reflected both regional climates and evolving consumer tastes. During imperial periods, tea trade expanded internally through established routes, contributing to economic integration across provinces. The modern era introduced mechanized farming, standardized grading, and improved storage techniques, enabling consistent quality and wider distribution. Urbanization accelerated changes in consumption patterns, with packaged tea and tea bags becoming more common in households and workplaces. The rise of specialty tea houses in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu preserved traditional brewing rituals while introducing modern presentation styles. Technological advancements in packaging and safety inspection improved shelf life and export readiness. Recent decades have seen diversification driven by wellness awareness, premium gifting culture, and younger consumers exploring specialty and flavored teas. Tea in China continues to evolve through innovation while maintaining strong ties to heritage, regional identity, and everyday consumption across residential and commercial environments.

According to the research report, ""China Tea Market Outlook, 2031,"" published by Bonafide Research, the China Tea market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.42% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.Tea demand in China is driven by strong cultural integration, daily consumption habits, health awareness, and product diversity. One of the primary drivers is tradition, as tea is consumed throughout the day in homes, workplaces, and social settings, reinforcing consistent demand across age groups. Cultural practices such as family gatherings, business meetings, and ceremonial brewing sustain long term consumption patterns. Health awareness significantly influences demand, with green, white, and fermented teas associated with digestion, metabolism, and antioxidant benefits. Urban consumers increasingly prioritize wellness oriented choices, supporting demand for minimally processed and functional tea varieties. Convenience also acts as a key driver, particularly in cities where tea bags, ready to brew formats, and bottled tea suit fast paced lifestyles. Premiumization contributes to demand through gifting traditions, with high quality loose leaf teas and region specific varieties valued during festivals and formal occasions. Expansion of tea houses, specialty stores, and café style outlets increases exposure to diverse brewing methods and flavor profiles, encouraging experimentation. Commercial consumption in offices, hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions supports stable year round demand. Packaging improvements enhance freshness, portability, and safety, encouraging repeat purchases. Retail accessibility through supermarkets, specialty shops, and digital platforms broadens consumer reach. Seasonal adaptability further supports demand, as tea is consumed hot in colder regions and cold brewed in warmer climates. These combined drivers reinforce tea’s position as a culturally significant, health oriented, and versatile beverage across residential and commercial environments in China.

Tea consumption in China includes a wide array of black, green, oolong, herbal, white, and specialty teas, reflecting centuries of rich tea culture. Green tea dominates, with varieties such as Longjing from Hangzhou, Biluochun from Jiangsu, and Huangshan Maofeng from Anhui widely consumed in households, offices, and tea houses. Brands like Tenfu’s Tea, China Tea, and local boutique producers are prominent across urban centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. Black tea, including Keemun and Yunnan Dianhong, is popular for both daily consumption and gifting occasions. Oolong teas, such as Tieguanyin from Fujian and Wuyi Rock tea, are prized for complex flavors and aroma, commonly found in specialty tea shops and high-end cafés. Herbal teas, including chrysanthemum, rose, and licorice infusions, are consumed for wellness, digestion, and cooling properties, particularly during summer and in southern provinces such as Guangdong and Guangxi. White tea, including Baihao Yinzhen and Shoumei, is a premium product, sold in specialty stores, luxury hotels, and as gift packs. Other tea types, including fruit-infused and flavored blends, are increasingly adopted among younger consumers and tourists seeking aromatic and novel beverages. Seasonal variations influence consumption, with hot teas favored in northern provinces such as Heilongjiang and cold-brewed teas preferred in southern regions. Tea houses, wellness centers, and hotels provide curated selections, offering both domestic and imported teas to local consumers and international visitors. Residential and commercial adoption of diverse tea types ensures China’s tea market integrates traditional favorites like green and black teas with emerging trends in herbal, white, and specialty teas, reflecting cultural heritage, health consciousness, and evolving urban lifestyles.

Tea packaging in China emphasizes freshness, protection, convenience, and visual appeal. X-ray inspection systems are widely used in packaging facilities, especially for premium teas and export-oriented products, to detect foreign objects and maintain quality. Paper boards are used for outer cartons of tea packages, providing structural integrity and attractive presentation in supermarkets, specialty stores, and cafés across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. Plastic packaging is common for loose leaf teas, herbal blends, and bulk products, preserving aroma, preventing moisture damage, and ensuring safe transport over long distances. Loose tea packaging remains popular in specialty tea shops, traditional tea houses, and wellness outlets, allowing consumers to examine leaf quality and control portion size. Aluminium tins are used for premium teas, white teas, and gift sets, providing protection from light, air, and humidity while enhancing aesthetics. Tea bags dominate household and workplace consumption due to convenience, hygiene, and portion control, with pyramid-shaped tea bags adopted for herbal and specialty teas to optimize infusion quality and aroma. Ready-to-brew sachets are offered for iced teas, functional teas, and specialty infusions, particularly in urban cafés and wellness centers. Sustainability considerations have led to biodegradable and compostable tea bags, particularly in major metropolitan areas. Packaging emphasizes tea origin, harvest season, flavor profile, and brewing instructions to appeal to informed consumers. Transport, storage, and quality preservation influence material choice, and packaging innovation balances functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability, ensuring tea accessibility for everyday consumption, premium experiences, and specialty offerings across Chinese households, cafés, restaurants, and hotels.

Tea consumption in China spans residential and commercial applications, reflecting cultural traditions, wellness trends, and regional preferences. Residential consumption occurs in households across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hangzhou, where green tea dominates daily routines such as breakfast, afternoon breaks, and evening gatherings. Herbal teas such as chrysanthemum, rose, and licorice are consumed for wellness, cooling effects, and digestive support, particularly in southern provinces. Black tea is used both in households and as gifting products for special occasions. White tea and specialty teas occupy premium segments, often consumed during formal gatherings, social events, and in luxury households or hotels. Seasonal patterns affect consumption, with hot teas favored in northern provinces such as Heilongjiang and iced or cold-brew teas preferred in southern regions like Guangdong and Hainan. Commercial applications include offices, cafés, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Offices provide green and herbal teas to employees, while cafés and hotels serve curated menus featuring domestic and imported teas for urban professionals, tourists, and wellness-focused consumers. Hospitals, clinics, and care facilities offer caffeine-free herbal teas to promote relaxation and wellness. Educational institutions provide teas in cafeterias and staff rooms, with black, green, and herbal options. Residential and commercial applications collectively demonstrate the essential role of tea in Chinese daily life, wellness routines, and social customs, with green tea remaining central while black, herbal, white, and specialty teas expand adoption across households, offices, and hospitality venues.

Tea distribution in China operates through supermarkets, specialty stores, convenience outlets, and online platforms, ensuring extensive accessibility nationwide. Supermarkets and hypermarkets such as Walmart China, RT-Mart, Carrefour, and Vanguard serve as primary retail points, offering green, black, herbal, white, and specialty teas across domestic and imported brands. Specialty stores, tea boutiques, and wellness shops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and other metropolitan areas provide access to premium loose leaf teas, matcha, oolong, and curated blends for informed consumers. Convenience stores supply tea bags, ready-to-brew sachets, and bottled teas, targeting commuters, students, and office workers. Online distribution through e-commerce platforms, brand websites, and subscription services has grown significantly, offering imported, functional, and specialty teas that may not be available in physical retail outlets. Foodservice distributors supply hotels, cafés, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions through bulk procurement contracts, ensuring consistent supply and quality across regions. Seasonal promotions, cultural festivals, and tourism influence inventory and sales strategies. Efficient logistics and transportation networks facilitate delivery from production and packaging facilities to retail, specialty, and online outlets nationwide. Multi-channel distribution supports diverse consumption patterns, enabling households, offices, and hospitality sectors to source conventional, premium, and specialty teas efficiently. Retail marketing, loyalty programs, and online campaigns enhance visibility, engagement, and reach. Together, these channels ensure that green, black, herbal, white, and specialty teas are widely accessible across China, reflecting cultural preferences, wellness trends, and evolving consumer lifestyles across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Tea Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Tea Type
• Black tea
• Green tea
• Oolong tea
• Herbal tea
• White tea
• Other tea

By Packaging type
• Paper boards
• Plastic
• Loose tea
• Aluminium tin
• Tea bags

By Application
• Residential
• Commercial

By Distribution Channel
• Supermarkets /hyper markets
• Speciality stores
• Convenience stores
• Online Show more