Tea in France by the Numbers: Market and Consumption
The French tea and herbal infusion market topped 741 million euros in 2025, with average consumption of about 250 grams of tea per person per year, according to the Syndicat du Thé et des Plantes à Infusion (Stepi), the French tea and herbal infusion trade association. That figure has tripled in twenty years, but it remains far from the standards of the world's great tea-drinking nations.
This growth follows an underlying trend seen since the early 2000s: a search for alternatives to coffee, the rise of wellness teas and infusions, the growing number of specialized tea houses, and increasing curiosity for origin teas in whole leaf form rather than industrial tea bags. Here is what the latest figures show.
A Market Worth Over 740 Million Euros, Driven by Green Tea and Organic
According to Stepi, the tea and infusion market reached 741 million euros in revenue in 2025 in France, of which 247.2 million euros came from specialty retail (fine grocers, tea houses, dedicated shops). Tea alone, excluding herbal infusions, grew 0.6% in volume over the year, driven mainly by green tea, which already accounts for 39% of volumes sold and is growing 4.3%.
Organic follows the same trend: it now accounts for nearly 30% of the sector's revenue in mass retail, a segment that was long marginal in this market.
68% of French Households Buy Tea, But in Small Quantities
Two-thirds of French households, or 68%, bought tea or an herbal infusion at least once for home consumption in 2025. On average, each household makes 6.6 purchases per year, for a total annual budget of 25.3 euros, or about 3.8 euros per purchase. 66% of French people describe themselves as regular tea drinkers.
A French person consumes an average of 250 grams of tea per year, compared to about 1.9 kg for a British person, nearly eight times less. France remains a nation of light tea drinkers, despite consumption that has been rising for twenty years.
France, a Small Consumer Compared to the Great Tea Nations
Globally, Turkey is the top tea consumer per capita, followed by Morocco, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia. The Irish, for example, consume between 2.7 and 4 kg of tea per person per year, up to fifteen times more than the average French person. France therefore still lags far behind Europe's great tea-drinking cultures, even though the trend has been rising for two decades.
What These Numbers Mean for a House Like Ours
Consumption that is still modest, but clear growth in green tea, organic and the specialty segment, point to a French tea market moving toward higher quality rather than higher volume. That is exactly the space Maison Bouali occupies: loose leaf tea, whole leaf, imported directly from the gardens, rather than a volume of industrial tea bags sold to the widest possible audience. Our Origin Tea collection fits directly into this logic of quality and traceability. To learn more about our direct-import approach and our selection method, our The House page traces how we work, from the garden to the cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average tea consumption per capita in France?
A French person consumes an average of about 250 grams of tea per year, according to the Syndicat du Thé et des Plantes à Infusion (Stepi). This figure has tripled in twenty years.
Which country consumes the most tea per capita in the world?
Turkey ranks first among tea-consuming countries per capita, followed by Morocco, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Is the tea market growing in France?
Yes. The French tea and infusion market topped 741 million euros in 2025, with particularly strong growth in green tea (+4.3% in volume) and organic (nearly 30% of revenue in mass retail).