Tea drinking in India dates back to 750 B.C. and could be described as serendipity when the locals used wild native plants for brewing this beverage.
Gradually other varieties of tea originated. At present, Darjeeling tea and Assam tea remain the most popular varieties of Indian tea in India as well as worldwide.
Tea isn’t simply tea in India but it is like a staple beverage here and a day without it is impossible and incomplete.
Indians prefer their steaming cup of tea because for them it acts as an energy booster and is simply indispensable. This popular beverage has a lot of health benefits too as its antioxidants help to eliminate toxins and free radicals from the blood.
In India, tea is a very popular beverage and Indians love their cup of tea. The importance of tea drinking in India cannot be confined to words, Indians have to have their cup of hot steaming tea first thing in the morning in order to stimulate their senses and refresh themselves. In fact some even argue that tea as a beverage enjoys much more preference as compared to coffee in India. Tea is like a comfort drink for many Indians, especially on rainy days, you can always catch them savouring a steaming cup of tea along with pakoras.
India is the world’s largest producer of tea and most of the tea production in India takes place in West Bengal and Assam. Tea is popular all over India mainly as an evening drink as well as breakfast drink but nothing complements a family get-together or a college reunion more than an endless supply of tea throughout the day. In fact it is so popular that it is a cultural norm tea to offer tea to guests and visitors instead of alcoholic drinks.
Although in recent years many people have shifted to imbibing tea liquor, the age-old tradition is to blend the tea liquor with a little bit of milk, add sugar in accordance with one’s taste and then sip it contentedly.
Almost everywhere you go in India you are sure to find tea or ‘chai’.
Though India is the second largest country in terms of tea consumption, there is no organised chain of tea cafes in India. Tea Trails is the first chain of tea cafes in India with carefully curated finest teas from around the world and food to pair with each team in the menu.
Over the years, tea drinking has become an integral aspect of the India culture. It is considered as a way of life. Remove tea drinking from India and you remove the basic essence of this vibrant and lovely country.
- Potential of Tea industry
According to figures from the International Tea Committee, the global consumption of tea jumped 60%. The Tea industry in the country is valued at 19,500 Cr & is likely to touch 33,000 Cr by 2015.
The flavoured Tea market is expected to grow by 25% annually in India.
The Growth drivers for an exponential growth are:
- Value Added Variants of Tea – Tea in value added formats and new exciting variant will increase its appeal as well as consumption. Promoting more flavours like fruits and herbal tea into tea like ginger, lemon, elaichee, etc. This will add up a new arena into tea industry.
- Health & Wellness – Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about health issues and it has been playing a determining role in the choice of food products. With the passage of time and excellent marketing techniques, consumers are now better aware of the health benefits of flavoured and green tea.
- Emerging Consumer Demands – Drinking habits and lifestyles have changed in the last 3-4 years and people are now willing to pay more for quality tea. However increasing consumer attention to the quality of products, growing brand loyalty and active promotions by manufacturers reflect a shift from unbranded to the branded products. A positive sign is that with rising demand from consumers, tea exports are likely to increase. The potential of domestic market should be utilised because India is the biggest consumer of the tea, but per capita tea consumption is very low than the other countries.
- Convenience/Availability– Consumer demand easily accessible, quick and simple food and beverages that fit into their busy lifestyles. A predominant force driving tea’s popularity is its convenience, and ready-to-drink tea and single serve pods provide the ultimate convenience to consumers.
Tea is having 90% market penetration in our country. 83.8% of all urban households consume tea at home. Only one in 12 urban households drink coffee. Even in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which have the strongest coffee drinking culture in this country, the amount of money spent on tea consumption is far higher.
What about consumption outside home?