With 1,197 million kg a year, India stands second in global tea consumption: ICYMI report

Among tea drinkers, Gujarat leads the pack, where locals prefer their brew “kadak, with elaichi and ginger, according to a new ICYMI report

by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 2, 2025 11:26 AM | 2 min read

“India doesn’t just wake up—it brews awake,” says a new ICYMI report that maps the country’s tea and coffee obsessions state by state. The report states that according to the National Sample Survey, Indians reach for chai nearly 15 times more often than coffee, making tea the undisputed national drink.

The report highlights that India consumes a staggering 1,197 million kilograms of tea annually, ranking second globally in tea consumption, while coffee places the country seventh on the world stage. “For most Indians, coffee is barely 20 cups a year—but down South, coffee doesn’t need numbers, it has devotion,” the study notes.

Among tea drinkers, Gujarat leads the pack, where locals prefer their brew “kadak, with elaichi and ginger.” Goa follows with its unique rose tea, while Haryana, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh also stand out with their distinct chai traditions.

But when it comes to coffee, the South takes the crown. “If chai fuels the North, coffee powers the South,” the report observes. Tamil Nadu dominates with 36% of the nation’s coffee drinkers, where chicory-laced filter coffee is considered an identity. Karnataka, the “Bean Belt,” is close behind, both producing 71% of India’s beans and drinking 31% of the country’s coffee. Andhra Pradesh and Kerala also command significant shares with their Araku Arabica and plantation brews.

From “ek garam chai ki pyali ho” to “filter coffee, please,” the report concludes, “tea wins the numbers, coffee wins the drama—and together, they make India’s everyday blockbuster.”