Tea and Japan

Japan is a major producer and consumer of tea. It consumes an average total of 142,977 metric tons of tealeaves every year, the fourth-highest volume in the world after India, Russia and Britain. The country's 51,930 hectares of tea fields yield 92,630 tons of leaves every year. Japan imports a wide variety of teas from around the world but mainly produces green tea for export and local consumption. In Japan, green tea is known as o-cha and it comprises numerous varieties. Japan's own import of green tea is on the rise while its exports are tapering down. The trend in Japan is to value-add to green tea. In Japan, green tea is presently being used as an ingredient in ready-to-drink teas, soft drinks, ice cream, biscuits and lollies