There’s very little that a garam chai ki pyali cannot solve. It is not even up for debate. Just ask tea lovers.
In India, tea is not merely a beverage. It is a ritual, a conversation starter, a work break, a railway platform essential, and sometimes, even free therapy. From roadside tapris to fancy tea rooms, chai is deeply woven into everyday life.
And across the globe too, there’s nothing quite like a hot, piping cup of tea. We are not just saying it. The food guide TasteAtlas has released its latest May edition of the ‘Top 100 Teas in the World’ and India is brewing glory.
Not one, not two, but several Indian teas have made it to the list:
Indian teas make to global list
- Masala Chai — 1st
- Darjeeling Tea — 6th
- Assam Chai — 13th
- Sulaimani Chai, Kerala — 39th
- Kangra Tea, Himachal Pradesh — 41st
- Noon Chai, Jammu and Kashmir — 43rd
And honestly, the list perfectly captures how diverse India’s tea culture really is. There’s the spicy comfort of masala chai, the delicate floral notes of Darjeeling tea, the boldness of Assam chai, and even the salty pink Noon Chai from Kashmir that first-time drinkers often find delightfully confusing.
The global tea list is not just dominated by Indian brews. Hojicha tea comes in second place. This is a Japanese roasted green tea. Close behind is Ceylon black tea from Sri Lanka, famous for its smooth yet strong black tea varieties. Next is Sencha, Japan’s beloved green tea known for its fresh, grassy flavour and delicate aroma. At the fifth spot is China’s Pu erh also known as aged or vintage tea, known for its exclusive production in Yunnan province.
But the tea love does not stop at the cup itself. The same food guide has also spotlighted iconic tea brands from around the world and, once again, Indian tea estates are brewing up global recognition.
Tea estates from East and Northeast India have found a place on the list, which is hardly surprising considering this region is home to some of India’s most legendary tea gardens and oldest tea-growing traditions.
One of them is Makaibari Tea, a celebrated tea estate in Kurseong, West Bengal, established in 1859. It is often recognised as one of the world’s oldest tea factories.
Then there is Halmari Tea from Dibrugarh, Assam. With over a century of tea-growing heritage, the estate has earned global recognition for its rich Assam teas and robust flavours.
So yes, chai pe charcha is truly an emotion in India. And the best part? You can still be part of the tea conversation even if you are not a tea drinker. That is just how deeply tea is woven into India’s social fabric.
