India Tea Market Overview, 2031

Tea consumption in India has a long-standing cultural and historical significance, with origins tracing back to indigenous herbal brews and later influenced by Chinese tea practices. Commercial tea cultivation began during the British colonial era, with plantations established in Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri regions, producing black tea that became a staple beverage for households and social gatherings. Brands such as Tata Tea, Brooke Bond, Wagh Bakri, and Tetley popularized packaged tea, making it widely accessible across urban and rural areas. Over time, green tea, herbal blends, and specialty teas entered the market, particularly in metropolitan regions like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, driven by health awareness and international exposure. Cafés, wellness centers, and modern retail outlets have promoted functional and premium teas, including tulsi, chamomile, ginger, and fruit-infused varieties, catering to evolving consumer preferences. Seasonal consumption patterns influence demand, with hot teas preferred during cooler months in northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and iced teas popular in southern regions like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Tourism, global tea trends, and social media exposure have introduced matcha, white tea, and specialty infusions, expanding consumer awareness and premium consumption. Regulatory frameworks, food safety standards, and quality certifications have strengthened confidence in both domestic and imported teas. Today, India’s tea market blends tradition and modernity, balancing staple black tea consumption with emerging wellness, herbal, and specialty options. The market has evolved from household-centered consumption to a structured, multi-segment industry serving residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors, reflecting cultural heritage, regional diversity, and changing lifestyles.

According to the research report, ""India Tea Market Outlook, 2031,"" published by Bonafide Research, the India Tea market is anticipated to grow at more than 9.59% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.The Indian tea market is driven by cultural traditions, rising health consciousness, urbanization, and evolving lifestyles. Urban centers such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata have rising disposable incomes, increasing demand for premium, specialty, and imported teas. Health-focused consumers are adopting green, herbal, and functional teas including tulsi, chamomile, ginger, hibiscus, and lemongrass, valued for wellness, immunity, and digestion. Tourism and exposure to international café culture introduce new flavors, brewing methods, and specialty infusions, encouraging consumers to explore premium and functional teas. Retail expansion across supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialty stores, convenience outlets, and online platforms ensures widespread availability in urban and semi-urban regions. Brand marketing and promotional campaigns by Tata Tea, Brooke Bond, Tetley, and Wagh Bakri enhance awareness, engagement, and experimentation with herbal, fruit-infused, and premium blends. Seasonal consumption patterns affect demand, with hot teas preferred during northern winters and iced or cold brew teas favored in southern tropical regions. Packaging innovations such as pyramid tea bags, aluminum tins, and ready-to-brew sachets improve convenience, product longevity, and quality retention, supporting adoption in households, offices, and hospitality venues. Social media influence, influencer marketing, and wellness trends motivate younger consumers to adopt functional and specialty teas. Food safety regulations and quality certifications reinforce trust in domestic and imported teas. Collectively, cultural heritage, health awareness, urbanization, tourism, retail expansion, and packaging innovation act as key drivers shaping India’s dynamic and evolving tea market.

Tea consumption in India is deeply rooted in culture, tradition, and daily routines. Black tea dominates consumption, particularly Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri varieties, which are produced in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu respectively. Popular brands such as Tata Tea, Brooke Bond, and Wagh Bakri are widely available across supermarkets, local markets, and cafés. Green tea has grown in popularity, especially among urban, health-conscious consumers in metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, with brands like Tetley and Typhoo offering sencha, jasmine, and matcha variants. Oolong tea occupies a niche segment, primarily found in specialty cafés and premium retail stores catering to connoisseurs seeking nuanced flavor and moderate caffeine. Herbal teas including tulsi, chamomile, ginger, hibiscus, and lemongrass are widely consumed for wellness, immunity, and digestive support, particularly in urban households and offices. White tea is positioned as a premium product, favored for delicate flavor and minimal processing, often targeted at affluent consumers in cities and resorts. Other tea varieties include fruit-infused and spiced blends with cardamom, cinnamon, and tropical fruits, appealing to younger consumers and households seeking aromatic and flavorful beverages. Seasonal consumption patterns influence preferences, with hot teas preferred during cooler months in northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and iced teas favored in southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu during hot seasons. Tea cafés, wellness centers, and hotels provide curated tea menus featuring domestic and imported teas for tourists, expatriates, and urban consumers. India’s tea market balances traditional black tea consumption with emerging green, herbal, white, and fruit-infused options. Residential and commercial consumers increasingly adopt specialty and wellness-oriented teas, while black tea remains central to daily consumption across households, workplaces, and hospitality venues nationwide.

Tea packaging in India is designed to ensure freshness, convenience, premium appeal, and compliance with food safety standards. X ray inspection systems are used in larger production and packaging facilities to detect foreign objects and maintain product quality, particularly for export-quality and high-end domestic teas. Paper boards are widely used for outer cartons, providing structural integrity, recyclability, and visual appeal in retail environments. Plastic packaging is prevalent for loose leaf teas, herbal blends, and bulk products, protecting against moisture and preserving aroma during transport across India’s diverse climates. Loose tea packaging is popular in specialty stores, cafés, and wellness shops in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai, allowing consumers to inspect leaf quality and control portion sizes. Aluminium tins are used for premium teas, gift-oriented products, and specialty blends such as green, white, and herbal teas, offering protection from air, light, and humidity while enhancing presentation. Tea bags dominate household and workplace consumption due to convenience, hygiene, and standardized portions. Pyramid-shaped tea bags are increasingly adopted for herbal and specialty teas to improve infusion quality. Ready-to-brew sachets are offered for iced tea and cold brew applications, particularly in cafés and wellness-focused outlets. Environmental awareness has promoted biodegradable and compostable tea bags, supported by brands such as Tata Tea, Brooke Bond, and Tetley. Packaging emphasizes tea origin, harvest season, flavor profile, and brewing instructions, appealing to informed consumers. Transport, storage, and shelf life considerations influence material selection. Packaging innovation in India balances aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and convenience, ensuring accessibility for everyday, premium, and specialty teas across households, cafés, restaurants, and hospitality venues while supporting traditional consumption and emerging wellness and specialty tea trends nationwide.

Tea consumption in India spans residential and commercial applications, shaped by cultural traditions, wellness trends, and urban lifestyles. Residential consumption occurs in households across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and other urban centers, where black tea dominates daily routines during breakfast, afternoon breaks, and evening relaxation. Herbal teas such as tulsi, chamomile, ginger, hibiscus, and lemongrass are widely consumed for digestive support, immunity, and relaxation, particularly in urban households and wellness-focused consumers. Green tea consumption is growing in metropolitan areas, driven by health-conscious households, café culture, and wellness trends. White tea and specialty blends occupy premium niches, often consumed during social gatherings or formal occasions. Seasonal variations influence consumption, with hot teas preferred during cooler months in northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and iced or cold teas favored in southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Commercial applications include offices, cafés, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Offices provide tea for employees, predominantly black and herbal varieties. Hotels integrate tea into breakfast services, room amenities, and wellness offerings, emphasizing premium or imported teas. Cafés and tea houses serve curated menus featuring loose leaf, single-origin, and specialty teas for urban professionals, tourists, and wellness-conscious consumers. Hospitals and aged care facilities provide caffeine-free herbal teas for patient wellness. Universities, schools, and conference centers serve tea in cafeterias and staff areas. Tourism, wellness programs, and seasonal events influence commercial consumption. Residential and commercial applications collectively illustrate tea’s integration into daily routines, wellness practices, and social rituals. Black tea remains central while green, herbal, white, and specialty teas continue to expand adoption across households, offices, and hospitality venues throughout India.

Tea distribution in India operates through supermarkets, specialty stores, convenience outlets, and online platforms, ensuring nationwide access. Supermarkets and hypermarkets such as Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, Spencer’s, and More serve as primary retail points, offering black, green, herbal, and fruit teas across multiple price segments, including private label and organic options. Specialty stores, organic shops, and tea boutiques provide access to premium loose leaf teas and curated blends, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad, enabling boutique and imported brands to reach informed consumers. Convenience stores supply ready-to-drink iced teas and single-serve tea bags targeting commuters, students, and urban populations. Online distribution through e-commerce platforms, brand websites, and subscription services has grown steadily, providing access to imported, specialty, and functional teas not widely available in retail stores. Foodservice distributors supply hotels, cafés, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions via bulk procurement contracts, ensuring consistent quality and supply. Seasonal demand, promotional campaigns, and tourism activity influence inventory planning and distribution strategies. Efficient logistics and transport networks facilitate nationwide delivery from production and packaging facilities to retail, specialty, and online outlets. Multi-channel distribution ensures accessibility for conventional, premium, and specialty teas, enabling households, offices, and hospitality sectors to source products efficiently. Retail marketing, loyalty programs, and online promotions enhance visibility, engagement, and consumer reach. Together, these channels support diverse consumption patterns and provide access to black, green, herbal, white, and specialty teas throughout India, reflecting evolving lifestyles, wellness trends, and consumer preferences across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors nationwide.

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