Tea Blog

Where do the tea-loving British get the millions of cups of tea they consume each day? Historically, the answer was simple: China. For many years, China was the primary source of tea for Britain. However, as reliance on Chinese imports became impractical, the British established their own tea plantations in India during the 19th century. Within a few decades, India emerged as a major supplier, producing enough tea to rival China.

But what about today? Without researching the topic, one might assume that most British tea now comes from India and Africa, with smaller amounts from China, Sri Lanka, and other tea-producing regions.

According to modern reporting, that assumption—while partly correct—underestimates the importance of Africa. Travel journalist Simon Reeve highlighted this in his program This World: The Tea Trail with Simon Reeve, noting that a large portion of British tea is sourced through auctions held in Mombasa, Kenya.

The program follows tea production across East Africa, including Kenya and Uganda, offering a closer look at how tea from these regions reaches global markets. While countries like China, India, Sri Lanka, and Japan are often more widely recognized for tea, Africa plays a substantial role in the modern tea trade.

In fact, as outlined in this overview of tea production in Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, African countries collectively account for a significant share of global tea exports. Much of this tea ultimately finds its way into British teacups.

For additional background, you can explore this introduction to teas from Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda, as well as this overview of tea production in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda, and this discussion of tea cultivation in Mozambique, South Africa, and Mauritius.

For more detail on the industry itself, see the East African Tea Trade Association and its role in global tea auctions. You can also view clips from Reeve’s documentary in this collection of BBC program highlights focused on tea production and trade.

While global perceptions of tea may still prioritize certain countries, modern tea supply chains tell a more complex story—one in which Africa plays a central and growing role in meeting demand, especially in tea-loving nations like the United Kingdom.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.

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