The most consumed manufactured drink in the world is tea. After plain water, tea is among the world’s most widely consumed beverages, enjoyed hot or cold across nearly every region.
True tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen plant native to East Asia. Green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh teas all come from this species; their differences mainly result from how the leaves are processed and oxidized. Herbal drinks such as chamomile and rooibos are technically infusions, not tea from the tea plant.
Tea drinking has deep roots in China. An early credible record dates to the third century, and tea became especially popular during the Tang dynasty. Portuguese merchants and priests helped introduce it to Europe in the 16th century, after which it became central to British and other European cultures.
Production is concentrated in Asia and Africa. In 2022, China led global tea production, followed by India, while Turkey recorded the highest per-capita consumption.