The tea market in France

The tea market in France refers to the economic activity related to the production and sale of tea. It is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, and is drunk by two-thirds of French people on a regular basis.established in China, introduced to Japan in the late 8th century and an integral part of British culture, tea also has a special place in Middle Eastern cultures. The global nature of tea is reflected in the long list of countries in which it is consumed. Even today, China is by far the world's leading producer, followed by India, Kenya and Turkey.

Tea is a beverage made from the leaves of the tea plant (of which there are some 200 species), infused in hot water. The leaves traditionally infuse for 3 minutes for green teas and 4 minutes for black teas, in water at a temperature of between 75 and 80°C. Teas are differentiated by their colors (black, green, oolong, yellow, white and post-fermented), which differ according to how the harvested leaves have been processed. Rooibos or "red tea" is in fact an infusion obtained from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis, found only in South Africa, and not from the tea plant.

The market can be segmented according to :

tea form (loose leaf tea and CTC tea) ;

type of tea (black, green, etc.);

tea distribution channels (specialized stores, supermarkets, etc.).

The global market was estimated at $51.26 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.72% to 2028. The French tea sector is also growing, especially if we include the infusions segment. Tea-based beverages are diversifying, and the offer is becoming increasingly organic, with ever greater emphasis on the benefits of this beverage. France remains a major importer of tea, its coverage rate remaining relatively stable since 2017.

Consumption habits differ from country to country. In France, tea is mainly consumed loose. Black tea is consumed twice as much as green tea, despite a slower increase.