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21 delicious worldwide tea destinations
Ksenija Toyechkina/Shutterstock

21 delicious worldwide tea destinations

For centuries, tea has been a beloved warm drink across the globe. Whether you want a spiced chai to sip during a fall walk, a strong London Fog to kick off the day, or a calming chamomile when you’re under the weather, there’s a tea for every occasion. So, if you’re a tea-lover, you’ll definitely want to check out the destinations below.

 
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Assam, India

Assam, India
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There’s a reason the tea-loving British wanted to maintain control of the subcontinent: It’s home to many tea varieties! Assam, in the northeast, has many large tea plantations that you can visit to watch the growing process.

 
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London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom
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We couldn't leave off the country's capital, whose tea we threw in Boston Harbor to express a lack of contentment with the Empire. Besides that, London has some of the world's biggest and best tea rooms. Be sure to have high tea (a teapot with numerous snacks), at least on your next trip across the pond!

 
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Uji, Japan

Uji, Japan
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Uji is a big tea-growing region in the Kyoto prefecture (and not far from the city of the same name). It is most famous for its coveted green tea leaves.

 
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Moc Chau, Vietnam

Moc Chau, Vietnam
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In the northwestern part of Vietnam, this area is covered by tea farms. You’ll see lush green mountains dotted with plantations. Harvest season lasts from April to December, depending on the type of tea being picked.

 
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Uva, Sri Lanka

Uva, Sri Lanka
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This verdant part of Sri Lanka is where tea grows all over. Most famous here is the Ceylon green tea, which is popular around the world.

 
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Wuyishan, China

Wuyishan, China
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In the Fujian province lies an area called Wuyishan, also known as Mount Wuyi, for the large green mountain. The trees in the region mostly grow oolong and black teas. The most interesting part of visiting the area is seeing most tea trees grow on rocks, giving unique flavors to the leaves.

 
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Darjeeling, India

Darjeeling, India
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Numerous tea plantations are located in the foothills of the Himalayas. These plantations grow many types of tea, including Darjeeling, which is named for the area and is known as the “champagne of tea.” This golden-colored black tea contains many different aromas.

 
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Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey
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Turkish coffee might be the country’s most famous caffeinated drink, but tea is also very popular. The most common you’ll see is çay, otherwise known as Turkish tea. It is usually brewed in a pot over boiling water and sweetened with sugar cubes.

 
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Yunnan, China

Yunnan, China
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This southwestern province has some of the oldest tea in the world! You can find smooth black teas in Yunnan and unique mixes created by local tea growers.

 
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Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech, Morocco
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It isn’t a trip to Morocco until you’ve had some mint tea! Marrakech has plenty of cafes and tea rooms to try this classic drink. Just make sure to ask for sugar on the side so you can sweeten it to your taste.

 
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Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy, Sri Lanka
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Other areas of Sri Lanka are famous for Ceylon green teas, but if you’re a black tea drinker, make sure to head to Kandy. This centrally located city is surrounded by farms growing black tea leaves.

 
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Chengdu, China

Chengdu, China
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Sichuan is famous for its unique cuisine and distinct tea culture. The area’s tea houses are a central part of life and many business deals and innovations are created in them. So next time you’re in the region, spend a few hours sipping a cup and soaking it all in.

 
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Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung, Taiwan
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Bubble tea is arguably the most iconic drink from Taiwan. Where exactly it originates from is contested, but Taichung is one of the places that claims the title. Whether or not that’s true, it certainly has bubble tea, unlike what you’ll find elsewhere in the world.

 
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Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto, Japan
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Kyoto is known as a great culinary destination, and if you love to follow up a meal with a hot cup of tea, it’s definitely the foodie spot for you. Many tea houses throughout the city serve some of the freshest leaves you’ll encounter. Additionally, you’ll find matcha everywhere.

 
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Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain
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Spain is most commonly thought of as a coffee-drinking country, but in Granada, tea rooms can be found everywhere. This is due to centuries of Moorish rule in the city. Today, the institutions are dotted throughout the historic center and make a great place to rest your feet.

 
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Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo, Uruguay
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Yerba Mate is a South American invention and brewed cold. It’s very bitter and highly caffeinated, and it's found all over Uruguay's capital city.

 
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Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia
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This south has many popular foods and drinks, but sweet tea is the most refreshing. This iced tea is the perfect sweet drink to cool off while strolling in humid Savannah!

 
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Cusco, Peru

Cusco, Peru
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High in the Andes Mountains is a small tea-growing region that you wouldn’t initially think would be so friendly to growing tea. However, decades ago, farmers did try to grow green and black tea, a tradition that has been cultivated in recent years. And of course, local coca tea is a must-try while in the area!

 
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Bali, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia
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Iced coffees and organic smoothies might be all over your Instagram feed when you search Bali. However, the real specialty of the area is black tea mixed with condensed milk, perfect for cooling off after a day at the beach.

 
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Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia
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This former Soviet state keeps the tea tradition alive. You’ll find plenty of tea houses serving up high-quality leaves across the country's capital.

 
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Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
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Outside of the city, on Wadmalaw Island, you’ll find the Charleston Tea Garden. A living part of the country’s history, take a tour and shop the many varieties of tea sold.

Sydney is a travel and lifestyle writer originally from Seattle. She’s also lived in Australia, Quebec, Luxembourg, and France and has visited 26 countries and counting. You can find her work in numerous publications such as Fodor's Travel, Good Housekeeping, Matador Network, Travel + Leisure, and more. In addition to being fluent in English and French, she has attempted (and failed) to learn German and would like to improve her limited Spanish next. You can find her on Twitter/X @sydbakestravels, on Instagram @sydbakescreates, or at sydbakestravels.com.

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