Pour a cup of strong morning chai anywhere in the country, and there’s a fair chance the leaves came from Assam. Assam is the largest producer of tea in India, with 687.76 million kg produced in 2025. That’s close to half of India’s total output of 1,369.98 million kg, as per Tea Board of India data.
Why should an exporter care? Because knowing where tea grows tells you where to source, which variety suits which buyer, and how prices might move after a weak monsoon. Tea is also one of the oldest names on India’s list of agricultural products for export, and it still sells well abroad.
This guide covers the top states, the 2025 production numbers, export data, and a few practical tips if you plan to trade Indian tea.
Which State Is the Largest Producer of Tea in India?
Assam is the largest producer of tea in India. In 2025, the state produced 687.76 million kg, about 50% of the national total. West Bengal came second with 411.18 million kg. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka together produced 233.80 million kg.
Most of Assam’s tea comes from the Brahmaputra Valley, which alone produced 651.08 million kg last year. The Barak Valley, around Cachar, makes up the rest. The state has roughly 800 large tea estates. Thousands of small growers also sell fresh green leaf to bought-leaf factories.
Top Tea Producing States in India (2025 Data)
Here’s how the major tea producing states in India compared in calendar year 2025.
| State / Region | Production 2025 (million kg) | Share of Total | Known For |
| Assam | 687.76 | ~50% | Strong CTC, Assam orthodox |
| West Bengal | 411.18 | ~30% | Darjeeling, Dooars, Terai |
| South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka) | 233.80 | ~17% | Nilgiri, Munnar, blending teas |
| Other states | ~37 | ~3% | Small volumes, niche gardens |
| India Total | 1,369.98 | 100% |
Source: Tea Board of India. Shares are rounded.
Assam
Being the largest producer of tea in India, Assam also sets the tone for prices at domestic auctions. Most Assam tea is CTC (crush, tear, curl). It brews dark, strong and malty, which is why it works so well in milk tea. Assam orthodox tea is made from whole leaves and sells at a premium in Europe and Iran.
West Bengal
Bengal has three tea belts: Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai. Dooars and Terai produce mostly CTC in large volumes.
Darjeeling is a different story. It produced only 5.30 million kg in 2025, a tiny slice of the total. Yet it fetches some of the highest prices of any Indian tea. Darjeeling Tea was also India’s first product to get a GI tag, back in 2004.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
The Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu and Munnar in Kerala lead South Indian tea. The big difference from the north is the season. Southern gardens can pluck almost all year, while North Indian gardens stop for a few winter months. That steady supply makes South Indian tea popular for blending.
Smaller Tea Producing States of India
Outside the big four, the remaining tea producing states of India contribute about 3% of output together. These include Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar.
The volumes are small, but some of these gardens are worth watching. Kangra tea from Himachal has its own GI tag. Kishanganj in Bihar has grown into a decent CTC pocket. Some buyers want “single origin” teas with a story behind them. For those buyers, the smaller tea producing states of India offer something different from regular Assam blends.
Tea Production in India: Key Trends for 2025-26
Total tea production in India reached 1,369.98 million kg in 2025, nearly 5% higher than 2024. North India produced 1,136.18 million kg (about 83%). South India produced 233.80 million kg (about 17%).
But the numbers swing a lot from year to year. In 2024, adverse weather and pest attacks cut output in Bengal and Assam sharply in the first half of the season. Then early 2026 brought very little rain to Assam, which raised fears of a late first flush.
So what decides a good year or a bad one? Mostly these five factors:
- Rainfall: Tea needs regular rain. A dry March delays the first flush and hurts early prices.
- Pest attacks: Looper caterpillars and red spider mites can destroy a large part of a garden’s crop.
- Small tea growers: About 2.3 lakh small growers supply green leaf, so their output shapes total supply.
- Labour and input costs: Wages, fertiliser and power costs decide whether estates expand or cut back.
- Auction prices: When prices at Guwahati or Kolkata auctions are low, some gardens pluck less carefully, and quality drops.
Weather shocks will keep hitting tea production in India in the coming years. Exporters should build some buffer stock and price flexibility into their contracts.
Why Assam Is the Leading Producer of Tea in India
Assam didn’t become the leading producer of tea in India by chance. The local tea plant, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, was found growing wild here in the 1820s, and commercial estates followed within a few decades.
Nature helps too. The Brahmaputra plains get heavy monsoon rain, warm humid summers and acidic soil, and all of these suit fast leaf growth. The low altitude matters as well. Gardens on the plains yield more leaf per hectare than hill estates, which makes them ideal for bulk CTC.
Then there’s the infrastructure. Assam has the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, one of the busiest CTC auction centres in the world, along with generations of processing experience. Put simply, Assam is the leading producer of tea in India because both nature and history point the same way.
Indian Tea Export Data 2026
India exported 257.88 million kg of tea in FY 2024-25. That was 2.85% more than the 250.73 million kg of the year before. The average export price rose from ₹258.30 to ₹290.97 per kg, an increase of 12.65%. Volumes grew only a little, but exporters earned noticeably more per kilo.
The trend continued in 2025. Between January and November 2025, India shipped 254.19 million kg, up from 233.97 million kg in the same period of 2024.
| Period | Export Volume (million kg) | Growth |
| FY 2023-24 | 250.73 | – |
| FY 2024-25 | 257.88 | +2.85% |
| Jan–Nov 2024 | 233.97 | – |
| Jan–Nov 2025 | 254.19 | +8.64% |
India handles roughly 10% of global tea exports and ranks among the top five exporting countries. Black tea makes up around 96% of shipments. The main buyers are the UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, the USA and the UK. Since Assam is the largest producer of tea in India, a large share of these shipments starts in Assam gardens. The tea moves out through the Guwahati and Kolkata auctions or through direct private deals.
Before your first shipment, get your paperwork in order. Our list of required export documents covers the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and the other papers customs will ask for.
Practical Tips for Tea Exporters
Here’s a simple example. A buyer in Dubai wants 5 tonnes of strong CTC for a hotel chain. Assam CTC from the Guwahati auction fits that brief well. Now say a German importer wants a premium loose-leaf range instead. In that case, Darjeeling first flush or Nilgiri orthodox with a clean pesticide test report is the better pitch.
Keep these points in mind:
- Get registered: You need an IEC from DGFT and an exporter registration with the Tea Board of India, which also issues RCMC for tea.
- Match the variety to the market: Strong CTC sells well in the UAE and much of the Middle East. Orthodox and Darjeeling teas do better in Europe, Iran and Japan.
- Test for MRL limits: The EU and the US have strict pesticide residue rules. One failed test can get a whole container rejected.
- Buy smart: Auctions give you price transparency. Private deals with gardens give you consistent quality and steady supply.
- Send samples first: Serious buyers always ask for samples. Take them from the exact lot you plan to ship.
- Pack against moisture: Tea absorbs moisture and smells quickly. Use foil-lined bags and avoid shipping it alongside strong-smelling cargo.
Want to know which countries buy the most Indian tea and who the big exporters are? Read our detailed guide on Indian Tea Export for markets, exporters and India’s global reach.
Final Thoughts
Assam is still the largest producer of tea in India by a big margin. Production rose almost 5% in 2025, and Indian tea now earns more per kilo abroad.For exporters, it comes down to matching the right tea to the right buyer. Send samples from the actual lot, keep test reports ready, and the orders will follow.
FAQs
1. Which state is the largest producer of tea in India?
Assam. It produced 687.76 million kg of tea in 2025, about half of India’s total output.
2. Which state is second in tea production?
West Bengal ranks second among tea producing states in India, with 411.18 million kg in 2025. Its output includes the famous Darjeeling tea.
3. How much tea did India produce in 2025?
India produced 1,369.98 million kg of tea in 2025, nearly 5% more than in 2024.
4. Which countries import the most tea from India?
The main buyers are the UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, the USA and the UK. Black tea makes up around 96% of India’s tea exports.
5. Do I need a licence to export tea from India?
Yes. You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT and an exporter registration with the Tea Board of India, which includes RCMC.