Though the Chinese have been enjoying tea since ancient times, and China was, for centuries, the world's only national tea exporter, indigenous tea plants were discovered growing wild in Assam in 1824, and soon commercial tea cultivation began there in earnest. Since that time, India has become the world's largest tea exporter, though most of the nation's tea is enjoyed at home.

Though the Chinese have been enjoying tea since ancient times, and China was, for centuries, the world's only national tea exporter, indigenous tea plants were discovered growing wild in Assam in 1824, and soon commercial tea cultivation began there in earnest. Since that time, India has become the world's largest tea exporter, though most of the nation's tea is enjoyed at home.