THIE – Tea & Herbal Infusions Europe

Industry

Consumption habits in Europe are very different: while more tea (Camellia sinensis) tends to be drunk in the north, herbal and fruit teas are particularly popular in the south. The French, for example, appreciate verbena, the Italians love camomile. The raw materials for the products come from all over the world. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is not grown commercially in the EU. It comes mainly from the classic tea-growing countries China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. In contrast, some of the tea herbs, such as camomile, peppermint or lemon verbena, come from European cultivation. However, other ingredients, such as red bush from South Africa or mate from South America, on the other hand, must also be imported in their entirety. The variety of teas on the market is constantly increasing.