{"id":212,"date":"2026-04-22T13:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/?p=212"},"modified":"2026-05-22T06:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:45:59","slug":"how-popular-is-tea-in-the-gcc-the-case-of-saudi-arabia-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/how-popular-is-tea-in-the-gcc-the-case-of-saudi-arabia-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"How Popular is Tea in the GCC? The Case of Saudi Arabia \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tea may not dominate the beverage landscape in the Gulf the way coffee does, yet its presence in Saudi Arabia is both deep-rooted and evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, Saudi Arabia\u2019s tea imports surpassed USD 300 million, continuing a steady growth trend since 2021. The Kingdom sources the majority of its tea from Sri Lanka and Kenya, while more than USD 50 million arrives via the UAE\u2014reaffirming Dubai\u2019s role as a key re-export hub for the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduced in the 19th century through British and Indian trade routes, tea has become an integral part of Saudi social life. Across the Kingdom, it is consumed in a variety of regional expressions. In the north, it is often served as strong black tea; in Medina, infused with mint; in Taif, blended with rose; in Najd, enriched with cardamom; and in the south, particularly in Asir and Jizan, prepared with ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and sometimes basil. In urban centers and the Eastern Province, karak tea\u2014a rich blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and cardamom\u2014remains a staple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While coffee continues to hold a dominant position in both households and hospitality, tea maintains a distinct and resilient niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A walk through central Riyadh\u2014around the busy junction of Olaya and Tahlia Streets\u2014offers a clear picture of this dynamic. Specialty coffee roasters line the streets, often appearing every few meters. Yet even within these coffee-centric spaces, tea has its place. Most menus include at least two constants: a classic black tea (often Lipton) and a matcha latte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In more upscale venues, such as Toby\u2019s Estate Coffee Roasters, the tea offering becomes more elaborate. Here, menus extend beyond the basics to include a range of hot and cold options: multiple matcha variations, boba teas, chai lattes, as well as traditional blends like Earl Grey, Egyptian peppermint, and even Japanese sencha. Tea, while secondary, is clearly evolving in both format and presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in one of the most coffee-dense districts in the city, dedicated tea houses remain rare.  One notable exception is M.tea, a small, understated tea house discovered amidst the vibrant coffee scene. In contrast to the sleek, design-driven caf\u00e9s surrounding it, M.tea focuses on simplicity, product, and tradition. The space\u2014both indoor and outdoor\u2014is minimal, with white walls adorned by a few images evoking desert tea rituals. Behind a modest counter, large transparent jars display herbs and loose-leaf teas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The menu reflects both heritage and authenticity.  Alongside traditional Saudi flavors such as mint and saffron tea, M.tea offers \u201cgolden tea,\u201d white tea, and visually striking blue tea, always served with the leaves and buds visible in the cup. Their karak tea stands out as one of the most memorable in recent months\u2014rich, creamy, and subtly floral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite branded cups, M.tea is not part of a chain. It is a single, independent venture\u2014owned by a Saudi lady, reflecting the growing wave of female entrepreneurship in the Kingdom\u2019s F&B sector. The venue fills up in the evenings, while remaining quieter during the day, highlighting its role as a social destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few kilometers away, at Solitaire Mall, tea presents a completely different face. This newly developed luxury destination offers a curated, high-end experience, where tea and coffee coexist at the highest level. TWG Tea, one of the world\u2019s most recognized luxury tea brands, sits alongside Bacha Coffee, catering to a clientele seeking refinement and variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At TWG, tea takes center stage. The menu ranges from global classics such as French Earl Grey and the iconic 1837 Black Tea, to blends inspired by regional traditions, including Moroccan Mint and Moroccan Sahara Tea. Beyond the beverage, the experience extends to accessories, tea-infused cuisine, and a refined selection of p\u00e2tisseries\u2014creating an immersive environment that elevates tea beyond simple consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While TWG does not yet match the overwhelming popularity of Bacha Coffee\u2014where long queues persist even months after opening\u2014the tea salon remains consistently busy, attracting customers drawn to its blend of luxury, storytelling, and product diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be continued\u2026<\/strong>In Part 2, we will explore how tea brands, distributors, and hospitality operators are positioning themselves within Saudi Arabia\u2019s fast-evolving beverage market.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tea may not dominate the beverage landscape in the Gulf the way coffee does, yet its presence in Saudi Arabia is both deep-rooted and evolving. In 2024, Saudi Arabia\u2019s tea imports surpassed USD 300 million, continuing a steady growth trend since 2021. The Kingdom sources the majority of its tea from Sri Lanka and Kenya, while more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-venues","tag-highlights"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/twg1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions\/269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th.oriensconsulting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}