What’s Inside This Guide

If I ask you to name the most consumed drink on Earth, you’d probably say water. And you’d be right. But what’s the #2 drink in the world? That’s where things get interesting. After water, the beverage that edges out coffee, beer, and soda is tea. Surprised? I wasn’t either until I dug into the data. I’ve traveled to tea plantations in Sri Lanka, sipped matcha in Kyoto, and even worked at a specialty tea shop in London. Let me walk you through why tea is the undisputed number 2—and why it might even challenge water someday.

The Global Beverage Ranking

To understand the scale of tea consumption, let’s look at the numbers. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), water accounts for about 60% of global beverage intake (including plain water). But when we talk about commercial beverages, tea takes the crown with an estimated 3.7 billion cups consumed daily. That’s more than coffee (2.25 billion cups) and beer (1.8 billion cups) combined.

Quick Fact: Only water outpaces tea in total consumption. In fact, after water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world by volume.
Beverage Daily Cups (Billions) Global Rank
Water ~8 1
Tea 3.7 2
Coffee 2.25 3
Beer 1.8 4
Soft Drinks 1.5 5

These figures come from the Tea Association of the USA and a 2023 report by the International Tea Committee. I’ve cross-checked with multiple sources, and the ranking holds steady year after year.

Why Tea Claims the Second Spot

Tea’s dominance isn’t just about volume—it’s about its deep cultural roots and health halo. In China, tea has been a staple for over 4,000 years. In India, chai is practically a national obsession. Even in the UK, tea breaks are a ritual. But there’s a practical reason too: tea is affordable and accessible. A single tea bag can cost pennies, making it a daily habit for billions.

I remember visiting a roadside stall in Kolkata where I paid 5 rupees (about 6 cents) for a steaming cup of masala chai. It was sweet, spicy, and woke me up better than any espresso. That experience stuck with me—it showed how tea isn’t just a drink; it’s a social connector.

Tea vs. Coffee: The Battle for Second

You might think coffee gives tea a run for its money, but globally, coffee lags behind. The main reason: coffee is more expensive and less widely cultivated. Coffee plants require specific climates, whereas tea grows in dozens of countries. Also, many cultures (East Asia, North Africa, the Middle East) prefer tea. Even in the US, where coffee is king, tea consumption is rising—especially specialty teas and iced teas.

My Take: If you compare caffeine content, tea actually wins for many people—it offers a smoother, longer-lasting energy boost without the jitters. That’s one reason I switched from coffee to tea during my morning routine.

Top Tea Varieties Around the World

Not all teas are created equal. The #2 drink in the world comes in thousands of forms. Here are the most popular types, based on my personal tastings and global sales data:

Green Tea

Dominant in China and Japan. I visited a tea farm in Hangzhou where they hand-pluck leaves for Longjing (Dragon Well). The flavor is vegetal, slightly sweet. Green tea is often praised for its antioxidants, but I find it easy to over-brew—it gets bitter fast. My tip: use water around 75°C (170°F) and steep for just 2 minutes.

Black Tea

The most oxidized type, black tea is the base for chai, English breakfast, and Earl Grey. In Kenya, I toured estates that produce some of the world’s best black teas—they have a bold, malty flavor. Black tea handles milk and sugar beautifully. It also has the longest shelf life of any tea.

Oolong Tea

Partially oxidized, oolong sits between green and black. The best oolongs come from Taiwan’s high mountains. I remember sipping a Dong Ding oolong that had a creamy, orchid-like aroma. It’s a tea that rewards patience—multiple infusions reveal different layers.

Herbal Teas (Tisanes)

Not technically tea (since they contain no Camellia sinensis), herbals like chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos are wildly popular. They’re caffeine-free and often used for relaxation. In South Africa, rooibos is a national treasure—I had it fresh at a farm in the Cederberg region.

Tea Type Key Producing Countries Flavor Profile My Rating (out of 5)
Green Tea China, Japan, Vietnam Vegetal, grassy, sometimes nutty 4
Black Tea India, Kenya, Sri Lanka Malty, robust, earthy 4.5
Oolong Tea Taiwan, China, Thailand Floral, creamy, fruity 5
Herbal Tea Various Minty, fruity, spicy (depends) 3.5

How to Choose Quality Tea

Given that tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, you might wonder how to pick a good one. Here’s my practical approach, honed over years of tasting:

  • Look for whole leaves, not dust. Tea bags from grocery stores often contain fannings (tiny broken pieces). Seek out loose-leaf teas for richer flavor.
  • Check the harvest date. Fresh tea tastes brighter. Avoid tea that’s more than two years old unless it’s pu-erh (which ages well).
  • Buy from specialty shops. I love ordering from TeaVivre or Mariage Frères (they ship globally). Local tea shops are even better—you can smell before you buy.
  • Ignore the hype. Many “rare” teas are just marketing. A simple Longjing from a reputable source is often better than overpriced wild-harvested stuff.

One pet peeve of mine: flavored teas that mask low-quality leaves. If a tea smells strongly of fruit or vanilla, it’s likely covering up bitterness. Real tea should smell like itself.

Frequently Asked Questions About the World’s #2 Drink

Is beer or tea more popular globally?
Tea dwarfs beer in global consumption. While beer is the most popular alcoholic drink, it only accounts for about 1.8 billion cups per day compared to tea’s 3.7 billion. In terms of sheer volume, tea wins—and it’s not even close.
Why isn’t coffee the #2 drink if it seems so popular in America?
Coffee consumption is heavily concentrated in the Americas and Europe. But in Asia—where 60% of the world lives—tea is the default. Countries like China, India, and Indonesia consume massive amounts of tea. The global average is skewed by population numbers.
Does the #2 drink include bottled teas and iced teas?
Yes, the ranking counts all forms of tea: hot, cold, bottled, and powdered. The FAO and industry reports include ready-to-drink teas. In fact, bottled teas (especially sweet teas in the US) are a huge market segment.
How much tea should I drink daily for health benefits?
Studies suggest 2–3 cups per day (about 500–750 ml) offer antioxidants and may reduce heart disease risk. But I’ve seen people overdo it—more than 5 cups can lead to caffeine issues or interfere with iron absorption. Listen to your body.
What’s the worst mistake people make when brewing tea?
Using boiling water for green or white tea. It scalds the leaves, releasing tannins that taste bitter. For delicate teas, let the water cool to 70–80°C. I’ve ruined many cups before I learned this simple trick.

This article was fact-checked against reports from the FAO, International Tea Committee, and Tea Association of the USA. All statistics reflect the most recent available data.