TOP-10 tea-loving countries

Turks, Moroccans and Irish all love to drink tea, as evidenced by the high per capita consumption of the drink.

The world seems to be divided into people who love coffee and people who love tea. As it turns out, there are more people in the world who drink tea than coffee. In fact, tea is the second most popular drink after water. So where does this herbal plant originate from? Many researchers believe that tea was born in China, where it appeared as a medicinal drink in the 3rd century AD.

Almost 1,300 years later, after Portuguese traders found out about the plant, it has been traded and sold for thousands of years throughout most of the world. Tea appeared in every corner of the world, and today people drink it in any form. The leading tea producers today are Argentina, Iran, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Kenya, India and China.

Based on the data on tea consumption per capita in 2014, below we have compiled the top 10 tea drinkers in the world.

10. Kazakhstan

Kazakhs have a special attitude to tea, and drinking tea with guests is a long-established traditional custom. This drink is so ingrained in the culture of Kazakhstan that people drink it six to seven times a day! Tea consumption is high here, almost 1.5 kg per person per year, because people enjoy tea during breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is usually drunk with milk, lemon and sugar.

9. Qatar

Tea is prepared in Qatar in a unique way. Here the tea leaves are boiled for a stronger aroma and the drink itself is served with milk. It's called Karak. In Qatar, residents consume 1.6 kg of tea per year! There are many tea bars throughout the country where locals gather to spend time and socialize.

8. Kuwait

Kuwait is in eighth place in the top. With such close proximity to Qatar, it is no surprise that the two countries will have similar customs and traditions. The 1.6 kg tea consumed annually in Kuwait is usually prepared black and the hosts serve nuts or sweets with the tea. You cannot refuse a cup of tea, as this is considered an insult to the local population.

7. United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reports a significant increase in tea consumption. The residents are reported to drink 1.9 kg of tea annually! In the UAE, the tradition of tea drinking is developing and renewing. The country is seeing an increase in high quality tea parlors, which will undoubtedly affect tea consumption in the coming years.

6. Seychelles

Perhaps one of the strangest countries on the list is the Seychelles. It is an island country off the southeast coast of Africa and is the sixth on the list. Here, residents consume 2 kg of tea per year, which is not surprising given that they grow and harvest a large amount of tea. The most common flavors in the Seychelles are vanilla, lemon and island teas.

5. United Kingdom

The UK is in the middle of the list at number 5. People in the UK consume over 2.7 kg of tea each year. Tea drinking in the UK has a long history dating back to the 18th century when traders introduced the drink as exclusive to aristocrats. Breakfast and afternoon tea are served with milk, sugar and sometimes lemon.

4. Mauritania

The fourth largest tea consumption country is Mauritania, a state in West Africa. Here, the culture presents tea drinking as a solemn event. People are served three different cups of tea at one time, starting with the bitter and gradually becoming sweeter.

This country has the highest preference for green tea. Tea consumption is 3.2 kg per person per year.

3. Ireland

Irish people need a cup of hot steaming tea to survive gray foggy winters. Consumption here is the same as in Mauritania (3.2 kg per year), but residents choose black tea as a drink. This amount is about 4 cups a day.

2. Morocco

With the world's second largest tea consumer, we are returning to Africa. In Morocco, residents have many different methods of making tea, and they prefer green and mint tea. Maghreb style tea is quite popular and includes both mint and tobacco leaves in water.

The hosts and staff pour the tea from a high position to create lather in the cup. This fun practice is encouraged by the consumption of tea, so it's no surprise that people here drink up to 4.3 kg per year!

1. Turkey

In this country, people drink an average of 7.5 kg of tea per year! How is this possible? Introduced in Turkey in the 20th century, tea has become the most popular hot drink. This jump in popularity was due to the introduction of tea as the price of coffee began to rise, making tea a cheaper alternative. People are served tea in beautiful glass cups to let the light shine through.

Benefit for health

Tea is an important part of many different cultures. Considering the health benefits that come with tea, its high status is a very positive thing. Evidence points to many positive effects of tea consumption, and the ancient Chinese beliefs about tea as a medicinal drink seem to hold true.

Tea leaves contain antioxidants and substances that reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Plus, drinking tea can help reduce joint inflammation due to the presence of polyphenols.

Tea helps lower cholesterol levels, stimulates weight loss, and improves mental alertness. Health experts advise drinking less processed teas and being careful with sugar and other sweeteners.