Peach tea emerges as the fastest-growing flavour while wellness teas and kombucha gain traction, signalling a shift in India’s tea consumption habits
India’s tea market is undergoing a significant transformation as consumers increasingly experiment with wellness-focused and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, even as traditional chai continues to dominate daily consumption.
According to an analysis of Instamart orders across more than 130 Indian cities between June 2025 and June 2026, RTD tea emerged as the fastest-growing category, recording a 109 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. The trend highlights growing consumer preference for convenient, on-the-go beverage options that fit modern lifestyles.
Peach Tea Leads Flavour Revolution
Among emerging tea variants, Peach Tea recorded the strongest growth, surging more than 62 times year-on-year to become India’s fastest-growing tea flavour. The flavour’s popularity reflects rising demand for fruit-infused and globally inspired beverages among younger consumers.
Other rapidly growing tea varieties included Blue Pea Tea, Kombucha, Tulsi Tea and Green Tea, underscoring increasing interest in wellness-oriented and functional drinks.
The findings suggest that Indian consumers are becoming more adventurous in their beverage choices, moving beyond conventional tea formats to explore options linked to health, wellness and convenience.
Traditional Chai Retains Its Dominance
Despite the rise of experimental tea formats, traditional tea remains deeply embedded in Indian consumption patterns.
Adrak Chai continues to be the country’s most preferred tea variety, followed by Plain Black Tea, Elaichi Tea, Green Tea and Masala Chai. Notably, Adrak Chai featured among the most-ordered tea variants across all major cities, reinforcing its status as India’s favourite cup of tea.
The data indicates that while consumers are willing to experiment with new flavours, they continue to maintain strong ties to traditional tea-drinking rituals.
Smaller Cities Drive Growth
Bengaluru emerged as India’s most tea-obsessed city, with Mumbai and Hyderabad ranking second and third respectively in overall tea consumption.
However, some of the strongest growth is coming from beyond the major metropolitan centres. Bhubaneswar recorded the fastest growth in tea orders, with demand rising 64 per cent year-on-year. Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi also witnessed significant increases, highlighting the expanding reach of premium and experimental tea products across emerging urban markets.
Wellness And Functional Beverages Gain Ground
Wellness teas posted 26 per cent year-on-year growth, led by increasing demand for Tulsi Tea, Green Tea and Blue Pea Tea. Kombucha also featured among the five fastest-growing tea trends, reflecting consumers’ growing focus on health-conscious beverage choices.
The trend aligns with broader shifts in food and beverage consumption, where functional ingredients, immunity benefits and natural wellness propositions are becoming key purchase drivers.
Weekend Tea Shopping Peaks
Instamart’s analysis also revealed distinct shopping patterns among tea consumers. Sunday emerged as India’s biggest tea-shopping day, followed by Saturday and Thursday, suggesting that consumers are increasingly replenishing tea supplies ahead of weekends and workweeks.
The findings point to a tea market that is balancing tradition with innovation, as consumers embrace new formats and flavours while continuing to rely on classic chai as a daily staple.
