TeaHQ

China

The origin of tea as a cultivated crop and the only country producing all six Camellia sinensis categories at scale, from Fujian white to Yunnan dark tea.

中国East Asia86 growing regions145 teas in the catalogueAlso called People’s Republic of China

Production, trade and price

MeasureYearValueBasisPublished by
Consumption20243,400,000 t
modelled
FAO's Tea Country Balance Sheet (TCBS) system, as reported in FAO's 2026 beverage price study. TCBS counts MADE TEA — finished, dried, processed tea — which is why FAO's 7.1 million tonne world total here is roughly a fifth of the 31.4 million tonnes the FAOSTAT crop series records for green leaf. Apparent consumption of MADE TEA — a balance-sheet residual of production plus imports minus exports and stock change, not a survey of what people drank. China's own consumption, which the report puts at nearly 50 percent of the world total.
The report prints this to the stated precision and no further; it is a rounded published figure, not a count.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Exports2024382,694 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20243,645,423 ha
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20243,740,000 t
modelled
FAO's Tea Country Balance Sheet (TCBS) system, as reported in FAO's 2026 beverage price study. TCBS counts MADE TEA — finished, dried, processed tea — which is why FAO's 7.1 million tonne world total here is roughly a fifth of the 31.4 million tonnes the FAOSTAT crop series records for green leaf. China's harvest, which the report says is 'over 50 percent of global production'.
The report prints this to the stated precision and no further; it is a rounded published figure, not a count.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Production (green tea)20242,060,000 t
modelled
FAO's Tea Country Balance Sheet (TCBS) system, as reported in FAO's 2026 beverage price study. TCBS counts MADE TEA — finished, dried, processed tea — which is why FAO's 7.1 million tonne world total here is roughly a fifth of the 31.4 million tonnes the FAOSTAT crop series records for green leaf. Green tea only, as MADE TEA. This is a subset of China's 3.74 million tonne total for the same year, not an additional quantity.
The report prints this to the stated precision and no further; it is a rounded published figure, not a count.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Production202416,298,900 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Share of global exports202421 %
modelled
Share of world made-tea export volume in 2024, as reported by FAO. India overtook Sri Lanka to become the third largest exporter in this year.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Export value20231,861,225,000 USDFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export value' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves'. FAO publishes this in thousands of US dollars; TeaHQ scales it to whole US dollars, an exact conversion. It is the customs value of made tea shipped, free on board, and includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country. Published as 1,861,225 thousand USD.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2023376,930 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports: tea that merely passed through the reporting country is counted as its export.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20233,441,944 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production202315,429,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea. It is roughly four to five times the made-tea figure the same country's tea board publishes.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Yield20234,483 kg/ha
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Yield' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in kilograms per hectare, computed by FAO from the production and area figures rather than reported directly. Because production is GREEN LEAF and the area may be planted rather than harvested, this is green-leaf yield per hectare planted and is not comparable with a made-tea yield. FAO states that yields of permanent crops 'are not as reliable as those for temporary crops'.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Consumption20223,000,000 t
modelled
FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea Secretariat figure, MADE TEA. Published in tonnes exactly as printed. Consumption here is apparent disappearance from the IGG's own balance, not a survey of what anyone drank.
The IGG puts China at 46 percent of global consumption in 2022.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea, Rome
Exports2022386,871 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20223,404,531 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production202214,569,900 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20223,340,000 t
modelled
FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea Secretariat figure, MADE TEA — the finished dried product, not the green leaf FAOSTAT's crop domain counts. The IGG compiles it from member-government returns supplemented by FAOSTAT and other sources. Published in million tonnes and scaled here by an exact factor.
FAO IGG/Tea Secretariat data, complete to 2022; the paper's 2023 commentary is preliminary and is not recorded.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea, Rome
Exports2021384,097 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20212,713,510 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production202114,227,400 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20213,100,000 t
estimated
FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea Secretariat figure, MADE TEA — the finished dried product, not the green leaf FAOSTAT's crop domain counts. The IGG compiles it from member-government returns supplemented by FAOSTAT and other sources. Published in million tonnes and scaled here by an exact factor.
The brief puts China at 47 percent of global output in 2021. FAO IGG/Tea Secretariat data as at the May 2022 brief; later FAO releases revise these years.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Markets and Trade Division, Rome
Exports2020361,799 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20203,228,511 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production202013,239,800 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20202,900,000 t
estimated
FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea Secretariat figure, MADE TEA — the finished dried product, not the green leaf FAOSTAT's crop domain counts. The IGG compiles it from member-government returns supplemented by FAOSTAT and other sources. Published in million tonnes and scaled here by an exact factor.
FAO IGG/Tea Secretariat data as at the May 2022 brief; later FAO releases revise these years.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Markets and Trade Division, Rome
Exports2019385,783 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20193,197,086 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production201912,640,700 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2018380,860 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20182,997,460 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production201811,840,600 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2017367,550 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20172,860,120 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production201711,135,900 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2016336,618 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20162,391,803 ha
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production201610,516,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2015331,751 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20152,127,420 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production201510,357,400 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2014307,480 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20141,996,014 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20149,537,400 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2013332,172 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20131,869,018 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20138,737,700 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20131,920,000 t
modelled
FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea Secretariat figure, MADE TEA — the finished dried product, not the green leaf FAOSTAT's crop domain counts. The IGG compiles it from member-government returns supplemented by FAOSTAT and other sources. Published in million tonnes and scaled here by an exact factor.
FAO IGG/Tea Secretariat data, complete to 2022; the paper's 2023 commentary is preliminary and is not recorded.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea, Rome
Exports2012319,357 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20121,748,508 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20128,138,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2011327,650 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20111,658,760 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20117,448,800 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Exports2010307,777 tFAOSTAT TCL element 'Export quantity' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. Tea crosses a border only as MADE TEA, so this counts finished dried tea and is not on the same basis as the FAOSTAT production series for the same country and year, which counts green leaf. FAO compiles this domain substantially from national customs returns via UN Comtrade, and it includes re-exports.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Harvested area20101,440,590 haFAOSTAT QCL element 'Area harvested' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in hectares. FAO's methodology note warns that for permanent crops such as tea 'data may refer to total planted area' rather than area actually harvested, so this is the area under tea and not necessarily the area picked in the year. The associated crop is measured as green leaf.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20106,647,500 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20095,957,900 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20085,542,300 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20075,122,700 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20064,531,800 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20054,128,200 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20043,701,700 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20033,414,100 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20023,314,800 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20013,124,500 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production20003,050,300 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19993,023,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19982,983,200 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19972,764,400 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19962,676,700 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19952,645,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19942,659,000 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19932,693,500 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19922,520,500 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production19912,447,200 t
estimated
FAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell E, a value estimated by the publishing agency rather than reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1990562,369 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1989557,006 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1988568,973 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1987534,578 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1986484,358 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1985455,540 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1984438,365 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1983424,858 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1982421,051 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1981368,223 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1980328,479 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1979304,155 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1978293,854 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1977278,403 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1976258,258 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1975237,092 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1974222,173 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1973210,639 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1972196,229 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1971179,984 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1970163,468 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1969148,248 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1968142,418 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1967137,403 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1966127,510 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1965121,330 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1964110,306 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production1963105,104 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production196293,753 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division
Production196197,064 tFAOSTAT QCL element 'Production' for item 667 / CPC 01620 'Tea leaves', in tonnes. FAO's QCL methodology note states the domain 'contains production data for primary products', so this counts GREEN LEAF as plucked, not made tea, and runs roughly four to five times the made-tea figure a national tea board publishes for the same year. Every point in this series is on that one basis, which is what makes the series comparable with itself and not with a tea board's.
FAOSTAT flags this cell A, an official figure reported by the country.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division

Figures are reproduced as their publisher stated them and are not converted, averaged or ranked. Where two publishers disagree, both rows appear — these come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea, Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Markets and Trade Division, Rome. The largest single trap in tea statistics is that FAO’s series counts green leaf as plucked while national tea boards count finished made tea, and the two differ by roughly a factor of four and a half. The basis column says which each row is, and a figure without it is not comparable to one with it.

How TeaHQ handles sources

How production is organised

Smallholder almost everywhere, which surprises readers who expect the largest producer to be the most industrial. Household plots, often a fraction of a hectare and frequently worked alongside other crops, sell either fresh leaf to a village or township factory or rough-processed maocha to a buyer who finishes and blends it. Famous-mountain areas add a layer on top: a village name can carry a price the household cannot supply at volume, which is the structural reason origin fraud is endemic in exactly the places whose names readers know.

How firm this is: Inferred by TeaHQ from general knowledge of the trade rather than taken from a source that states it.

What it produces

Produces every major category, with strong regional specialisation: Fujian for white and rolled oolong, Wuyi for roasted oolong, Yunnan for dark tea and assamica blacks, Zhejiang and Anhui for pan-fired greens.

What it is known for

The categories this country is most associated with. Being known for a category is a fact about reputation and volume rather than about quality.

  • Green tea — Tea whose oxidation is halted early by heat, keeping the leaf green and the cup fresh, vegetal or marine in character.
  • White tea — The least handled category: withered and dried, with no fixation and no deliberate rolling.
  • Dark tea and pu-erh — Teas changed after processing by microbial activity — either deliberate wet-piling or long, slow ageing.

Growing regions in China

Named districts with their own elevation, climate and character. Elevation figures are recorded as ranges because sources disagree on where a district begins and ends.

This country in the chronology

Events on TeaHQ’s timeline that happened here or turned on this country. Each carries its date together with what kind of date it is.

How its tea is graded

Chinese grading is largely descriptive and regional — grade names attach to a specific tea and its plucking standard rather than to a national scale. Chinese grades are not comparable with Indian leaf grades such as FTGFOP.

Grading conventions do not translate between countries. The same abbreviation can describe leaf size in one origin and picking standard in another, and TeaHQ records each system on its own terms rather than mapping them onto a common scale.

Teas from China

Guides covering this origin

  • Exploring Chinese tea styles — China produces all six categories, and the useful way in is by province and processing rather than by trying to work through a famous-tea list.
  • Smallholders, estates and cooperatives — Three ways of organising tea production, with three different distributions of capital, risk and bargaining power. Which one a country runs on explains more about its tea than its climate does.
  • Reading a Chinese tea label, and the fields that carry weight — A Chinese pack carries a set of fields that a Western shopper rarely learns to read: a numbered grade within a named tea, a production date, a standard code and a producing area. Together they narrow a tea considerably, and none of them is the front-of-pack name.
  • What the evidence for early tea can and cannot establish — Three kinds of evidence bear on when people started using tea — texts, excavated material and the plant’s own genetics — and each answers a different question. Most confident statements about early tea come from treating an answer to one as an answer to all three.
  • What UNESCO actually inscribed about Chinese tea — In 2022 traditional Chinese tea processing and its associated social practices were added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription is frequently invoked in marketing and rarely quoted, and what it says is more specific than what it is used for.
  • Which countries grow tea — Around fifty countries grow tea commercially and four of them account for most of it. The more useful split is not who grows the most but who exports, who drinks their own, and who does something neither of those numbers shows.
  • Garden, estate, factory or farm: what the words mean — The vocabulary for a tea-producing unit differs sharply between countries, and the same English word means different things in Assam, Anxi and Uji. Knowing which system a packet is speaking in tells you what it is and is not promising.
  • Is that a mountain, a village or a brand? — Chinese tea packaging carries names of at least six different kinds, in the same typeface, with nothing indicating which is which. Sorting them is the first step in reading anything else on the packet.

Sources

  • TeaHQ editorial synthesis — TeaHQ

Everything on this page is TeaHQ’s own synthesis of widely-attested trade and production background. No external document stands behind it, which is why the statements here describe practice rather than assert measurements.

How TeaHQ handles sources

Written comparisons

Where TeaHQ has set this producing country against something it is routinely confused with, and argued the differences out in full.

  • China vs Japan as producing countries — The two East Asian origins most drinkers meet first, and they are structured completely differently. China produces all six categories at scale; Japan produces one, and has organised an entire national industry around refining it.
  • Taiwan vs China as oolong origins — Oolong originated in Fujian and Taiwan is where most drinkers now meet it, in a style Taiwan largely defined. The island’s output is dominated by one category in a way the mainland’s is not, and it is described by an entirely different vocabulary.
  • Vietnam vs China as producing countries — Vietnam has an old indigenous tea culture, ancient large-leaf trees comparable to Yunnan’s, and an export trade that is almost entirely anonymous. The contrast with China is less about what grows than about whether the origin ever reaches the packet.