International Tea Day 2026: 84 per cent Indians drink tea daily; 55 per cent drink multiple cups

Every year International Tea Day is observed on May 21 and a new consumer study marking the day has revealed that Indiarsquos tea culture is entering a new era where tradition wellness functionality and premiumisation are increasingly convergingTea continues to remain one of Indiarsquos strongest daily rituals with nearly 84 per cent of respondents consuming tea every single day and over 55 per cent drinking multiple cups daily reinforcing tearsquos role as a deeply embedded lifestyle habit rather than merely a beverage choiceMost popular tea in IndiaThe study by Hansa Research Group reveals that traditional milk chai remains the most preferred category at 42 per cent followed by black tea green tea and cutting chaiAt the same time newer global tea formats are rapidly becoming mainstream among urban consumers Around 66 per cent of respondents say they have already tried matcha while 57 per cent have consumed bubble tea signalling that these formats are no longer niche or imported trends but are steadily entering everyday consumption behaviourThe findings further reveal that wellness not Instagram or influencer culture is becoming the strongest driver behind specialty tea adoption Over 51 per cent of respondents cite health and wellness perceptions as the primary reason for consuming specialty teas ahead of 39 per cent who attribute it to social media influence and 22 per cent who point to influencer recommendations The category is increasingly being viewed as a credible wellness choice rather than merely an aesthetic or trendled productFunctional tea consumption is also witnessing strong momentum Nearly 73 per cent of respondents say they already consume functional teas with stressrelief teas emerging as the dominant category at nearly 40 per cent significantly ahead of immunity sleepsupport and guthealth variants The findings indicate that postpandemic mental wellness concerns and stress management are increasingly shaping beverage choices in urban IndiaIngredient preferences in tea in IndiaThe study also highlights evolving ingredient preferences within the tea category Adaptogens emerge as the most preferred functional ingredient category followed by proteininfused ingredients collagenbased formulations plantbased blends and natural sweeteners reflecting rising demand for teas that combine functionality wellness and lifestyle positioningA clear premiumisation trend is also emerging within Indiarsquos tea market While the largest segment of consumers remains comfortable paying between Rs 100 Rs 200 for specialty tea beverages nearly 78 per cent of respondents earning over Rs 10 lakh annual income are willing to pay Rs 350 or more per cup for premium tea experiencesThe longterm outlook for the category remains highly positive with nearly 92 per cent of respondents believing specialty teas will become mainstream in India over the coming years signalling a strong runway for premium tea cafeacutes RTD formats wellnessled innovations and functional tea productsPraveen Nijhara CEO of Hansa Research Group said ldquoIndiarsquos tea market is now evolving beyond tradition into a wellness and lifestyleled category Consumers are increasingly associating tea with stress relief functionality health and premium experiences What stands out is that specialty tea adoption today is being driven more by wellness needs than by social media influence indicating genuine longterm behavioural changerdquoThe findings suggest that tea is rapidly emerging as one of Indiarsquos most dynamic consumption categories mdash balancing heritage health premiumisation and global influence all at once