The tea market - Spain (2024)

1.1 Definition and scope of study

With 1.5 billion cups drunk every day, tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. 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.

Tea is a beverage made from the leaves of the tea plant (around 200 species), infused in hot water. Teas are differentiated by their colors (black, green, oolong, yellow, white and post-fermented), which differ according to the processing of the harvested leaves. 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.

Consumption habits differ from country to country. In Spain, tea is not one of the beverages traditionally consumed, unlike coffee or hot chocolate. Indeed, for a long time, tea and infusions were strongly associated with the world of health. In recent years, however, the country has seen a boom in tea consumption, accompanied by a masculinization of the consumer base, which has led to a gradual expansion of the market. Value sales of tea in Spain rose by +3.4% in 2019. The Spanish tea market, which is still in a development phase, offers very promising prospects.