There are many places in Australia that are suitable for growing tea. The tropical rainforest region of Far North Queensland has been its natural heartland, and is where the majority of our tea is grown. In fact, it's estimated that Nerada produces approximately 85-90% of all the tea grown in Australia.
Over 500 hectares of tea plantations have been grown in Australia, primarily for black tea production, with roughly 6,000 tonnes of fresh leaf gathered each year. Black tea is made from the leaves of plants grown in northern Australia.
Madura Tea: Made in Australia, by Australians for Australia
Our commitment stems from our responsibility to uphold the legacy left by Michael and Norma Grant-Cook, the trailblazing team who laid Madura Tea's foundation back in 1978 in the fertile farmlands of Northern New South Wales.
The winner with a score of 80% was Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Proper Black Tea, a British-inspired blend packaged in the United Arab Emirates. Close at heel were Bushells Blue Label (77%) and Lipton English Breakfast (75%); Tetley (76%) and Madura Premium Blend (76%) complete the top five.
Growing Tea
In Australia, tea is grown in many regions from north Queensland through to Victoria and Tasmania4,5. It has an advantage that it does not need pesticides because Australia's quarantine regulations have prevented pest entry.
Nearly all Australian tea tree oil production is sourced from plantations. Three quarters of plantations are in the coastal region of northern New South Wales, with 10 per cent located in the Atherton Tablelands of Queensland.
The tropical rainforest region of Far North Queensland has been its natural heartland, and is where the majority of our tea is grown. In fact, it's estimated that Nerada produces approximately 85-90% of all the tea grown in Australia.
Out of these, China was the dominant player, as it produced a whopping 3 million tons of tea in 2021, almost half of the global production of 6.45 million tons.
Where to buy. When it comes to variety, Australian tea drinkers have chosen Twinings as the top brand with a score of 4.61/5. The brand's tea range includes Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Australian Afternoon, Rooibos, Lemon & Ginger, Peppermint, Camomile and several green teas and green tea blends.
Black Tea: The Most Consumed Tea Globally
The most popular black tea in the world is Assam tea, which is grown in the Assam region of India and is known for its strong, malty flavor.
The temperature is of utmost importance. The only thing more British than a perfectly brewed cup of tea, is perhaps a perfectly brewed cup from Queen Elizabeth's official tea merchant, Twinings.
The Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company, one of Scotland's oldest artisan tea and coffee manufacturers, with origins that date back to 1812, were asked to create the blend especially for Aldi customers.
We source our tea from the highlands of Kenya, in Nandi, Kericho and in the foothills of Mount Kenya. Harvesting is a mixture of machine and hand plucking in Kenya. The tea we buy comes from smallholders and private estates; approximately half a million people are involved in tea production in Kenya.
The world's largest supplier of Australian tea
The Nerada plantation on the Atherton Tablelands is now home to more than 360 hectares of tea. The plantation delivers 6.6 million kilos of fresh tea leaves to the Nerada Tea processing factory every year.
Taking a holistic approach to our operation, Madura Tea is proud of our strong position in a competitive market, and the reputation as Australia's foremost wholly owned and operated tea plantation.
China is not only the world's largest tea producing country but is also the leading exporter. It exports over 300,000 metric tons of tea annually to the global market.
Drinking tea is practically an Australian national pastime. Last year we bought almost 10,500 tonnes of tea from supermarkets. And although premium loose-leaf tea and flavoured tea varieties are increasingly popular, black tea in tea bags is still our favourite.
Conclusion - What Country Drinks the Most Tea
The country that drinks the most Tea in the world is Turkey, followed by Ireland, the UK, Iran, Russia, Morocco, New Zealand, Chile, Egypt and Poland.
The tree was a Camellia sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call tea. It is impossible to know whether there is any truth in this story. But tea drinking certainly became established in China many centuries before it had even been heard of in the west.
While Da Hong Pao is the most expensive tea in the world and available only at auctions, there is another Chinese tea that is pretty expensive. And while it doesn't have Ming dynasty connections, it is related to a rare animal found in China. The Panda Dung tea uses the panda's dung as fertiliser.
Rooibos is grown in South Africa's Western Cape region, and while farmers have tried to grow it in other parts of the world, the climate, soil and conditions are optimal in South Africa.
For landscaping purposes, Australian tea tree grows well in full sun or part shade and loose, fast-draining acidic soil—loamy to sandy. Avoid heavy clay soil; sluggish drainage tends to cause root rot. When planting Australian tea tree, be sure to allow enough space for it to spread and its weeping branches to develop.
Tea Tree Oil is distilled from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant. Australia is the only place in the World where Melaleuca alternifolia tea trees grow naturally.