Tea Traditions Around the World: A Global Journey

Tea is drunk almost everywhere, but no two places drink it quite the same way. Some tea traditions are quiet and precise. Others are loud, sweet and shared with whoever happens to walk in the door. Come along on a little tour of a few of our favorites, with ideas for bringing each one into your own kitchen. No passport required.

China: gongfu cha

Gongfu cha means roughly "making tea with skill." You use a small pot or a lidded bowl called a gaiwan, a generous amount of leaf and lots of short infusions, often just 10 to 30 seconds each. Every pour shows you a new side of the tea. It's a wonderful way to get to know oolong and pu-erh.

Try it at home: grab a small teapot, double your usual amount of leaf and pour the tea off quickly. Keep tasting as you go.

Japan: chanoyu, the way of tea

The Japanese tea ceremony centers on whisked matcha. Every movement, from cleaning the bowl to turning it before you sip, is done with care. The ceremony values harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. Outside the ceremony, everyday tea life in Japan is more about sencha, genmaicha and roasted hojicha.

Try it at home: whisk a bowl of matcha slowly, in silence, and drink it in three or four sips. A handmade bowl makes it feel special. (Silence is optional if you have a chatty cat.)

India: chai on every corner

In India, chai is simply part of everyday life. Black tea, often strong Assam, is simmered with milk, sugar and spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove. Chai wallahs pour it from a height into small cups at train stations and street corners.

Try it at home: simmer a spoonful of chai with equal parts water and milk for five minutes, sweeten to taste and strain.

Morocco: mint tea as hospitality

In Morocco, offering mint tea is offering welcome. Chinese gunpowder green tea is brewed with fresh spearmint and plenty of sugar, then poured from high above the glass to build a light foam. Saying no to a glass can seem impolite, so expect to drink a few. We can think of worse obligations.

Try it at home: start with a Moroccan mint blend and add a handful of fresh mint.

Britain: afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is often credited to Anna, Duchess of Bedford, in the 1840s, who wanted something to bridge the long gap between lunch and dinner. Relatable. It grew into a whole ritual of tea, sandwiches, scones and cake. Everyday British tea is simpler: a strong black blend with a splash of milk.

Try it at home: brew a brisk black tea and pair it with something buttery.

South Korea: darye

Korean tea etiquette, darye, is all about a calm, respectful way of sharing tea. Green tea from Boseong and Jeju Island is central, along with lots of herbal and grain teas. Jeju's volcanic soil produces distinctive teas, like the ones from OSULLOC.

Taiwan: high mountain oolong and tea houses

Taiwan is famous for high mountain oolongs, grown in cool, misty air that encourages slow growth and fragrant leaves. It's also the birthplace of bubble tea, which is quite a range for one island. Traditional tea houses still serve oolong gongfu style. Explore teas from Taiwan.

The Pacific Northwest: a rainy-day ritual

Our own corner of the world has its own tea culture: a warm mug, a window and the sound of rain. It may not be ancient, but it's heartfelt. Read our picks for a rainy Pacific Northwest morning.

If this made you curious, bring two of these traditions home with Chai Five's Original Chai Heirloom Blend, made with Assam black tea and warming spices, or World Spice's Moroccan Mint Green Tea.

Quick answers

Which country drinks the most tea?

By total volume, China drinks the most tea. Per person, countries such as Turkey and Ireland rank near the top.

What is gongfu tea?

A Chinese brewing style that uses a small pot or gaiwan, lots of leaf and many quick infusions.

What tea is used in Moroccan mint tea?

Traditionally Chinese gunpowder green tea, brewed with fresh spearmint and sugar.