Pakistanis consumed tea worth over Rs179 billion during the last fiscal year.
According to official documents, a total of 246,514 metric tonnes of tea was imported during the last fiscal year, with the import bill reaching $629 million.
The documents show a 4.20 per cent decline in imports in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24, during which 259,000 metric tonnes of tea had been imported.
In June 2025 alone, Pakistanis drank tea worth Rs14.18 billion. During that month, 19,804 metric tonnes of tea were imported, with the import bill exceeding $49.7 million.
Compared to May, tea imports in June dropped by 16.94 per cent. In May, 21,971 metric tonnes of tea were imported, with an import bill of nearly $60 million.
What does tea mean to Pakistanis?
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan is one of the largest consumer of tea in the world.
In many parts of Pakistan, doodh patti – a concoction from boiling milk and tea leaves together – is popular besides the kadak chai that has less milk than water.
In Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza Valley, salt is added into tea. In Kashmir, the chai, which is pink, is made of salt and baking soda with crushed nuts sprinkled on it.
Also not to mention that there is no class discrimination when it comes to chai. Everyone — from the elite to the middle class and labourers — enjoy a good cup of tea. No matter which city you belong to, chai binds everyone together.
Chai is every Pakistani’s best friend for sure.
