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India may still run on chai, but the country's tea habits are becoming increasingly adventurous. From wellness brews and kombucha to fruit-infused ready-to-drink teas , consumers are looking beyond the traditional cup while holding firmly onto the rituals that have defined Indian tea culture for generations.

Adrak chai remains India's favourite brew, followed by black tea, elaichi tea, green tea and masala chai. While traditional varieties continue to dominate consumption, newer formats are rapidly gaining ground. Ready-to-Drink (RTD) teas have emerged as the fastest-growing segment, recording a 109% year-on-year increase, as per the Instamart report.

India is entering its most experimental tea era yet
Tea experimentation is no longer limited to cafés and specialty stores. Peach tea emerged as India's fastest-growing flavour, registering more than 62x growth year-on-year. Other fast-rising favourites include blue pea tea, kombucha, tulsi tea and green tea, reflecting growing consumer interest in functional beverages, wellness-focused choices and globally inspired flavours.

Convenience is playing a key role in this shift. RTD teas are increasingly becoming the beverage of choice for consumers seeking grab-and-go options that fit into busy lifestyles. The category's explosive growth has made it the fastest-growing tea segment on Instamart.

But India still runs on chai

• For all the experimentation, traditional tea remains firmly at the heart of India's tea culture.
• The country's top five tea varieties are adrak chai, plain black tea, elaichi tea, green tea and masala chai. Adrak chai featured among the most-ordered tea varieties across every major city, reinforcing its position as India's most universal tea preference.
• Bengaluru leads the country's tea consumption, with Mumbai and Hyderabad ranking second and third respectively among tea-loving cities.
• While metros continue to drive overall volumes, some of the fastest growth is coming from smaller cities. Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are leading the charge.
• When it comes to tea shopping, Sunday is India's favourite day to stock up, followed by Saturday and Thursday.