Top Tea Importing Nations

Global tea consumption rose 13% from 2001 to 3.4 million tons in 2005.

Last month, we looked at the world's leading tea export nations. But which countries drink and export the most of the hot liquid?

For answers, we look to the Intergovernmental Group on Tea. The IGT is part of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

India maintains its position as the world's number one tea consuming nation. Below are FAO statistics for 2004 on tea drinking.

1. India ... 757,000 metric tons (22.5% of global total)
2. China ... 676,253 mt (20.1%)
3. Russia ... 181,680 mt (5.4%)
4. Japan ... 151,400 mt (4.5%)
5. Pakistan ... 134,578 mt (4%)
6. United Kingdom ... 127,849 mt (3.8%)
7. United States ... 100,933 mt (3%).

The list below shows the top tea importing nations.

1. Russia … 172,145 metric tons (17.8%)
2. United Kingdom … 156,311 mt (16.2%)
3. Pakistan … 115,967 mt (12.0%)
4. United States of America … 99,484 mt (10.3%)
5. United Arab Emirates … 65,826 mt (6.8%)
6. Japan … 56,234 mt (5.8%)
7. Morocco … 45,670 mt (4.7%)
8. Germany … 43,409 mt (4.5%)
9. Poland … 32,119 mt (3.3%)
10. Syrian Arab Republic … 30,330 mt (3.1%)
11. Netherlands … 29,155 mt (3.0%)
12. Canada … 18,835 mt (1.9%).$