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South Korea Tea Market Report Overview
The South Korea tea market reached a value of USD 361.51 Million at 2025 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 4.20% during the forecast period of 2026-2035. With rising health consciousness among consumers, strong cultural affinity for green tea, growing premiumisation of specialty varieties, and the rapid expansion of online retail channels, the market is expected to reach USD 545.50 Million by 2035.
Key Market Trends and Insights
- The South Korea tea market is expected to record a CAGR of 4.20% over the forecast period, driven by health consciousness, premiumisation, and expanding digital retail channels.
- The green tea category is expected to exhibit a CAGR of approximately 4.5% over the forecast period, supported by its antioxidant profile and growing wellness-oriented demand.
- Tea bags are anticipated to register a CAGR of approximately 4.2% during the forecast period, driven by consumer preference for convenient, single-serve formats across retail channels.
Market Size and Forecast
- Market Size (2025): USD 361.51 Million
- Projected Market Size (2035): USD 545.50 Million
- Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) (2026-2035): 4.20%
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Key Trends and Recent Developments
The South Korea tea market is being reshaped by the premiumisation of specialty and single-origin varieties, the rapid uptake of ready-to-drink and functional formats among younger urban consumers, and the growing entry of international tea brands into the domestic market. These shifts are pushing established players to diversify portfolios, upgrade sourcing practices, and invest in digital-first retail strategies. Together, these dynamics are creating both competitive pressure and meaningful growth opportunities across all major segments.
Chinese specialty tea brand Chagee opened three Seoul locations in spring 2026, marking its first East Asian expansion beyond China. The move targets health-conscious Korean consumers increasingly drawn to premium Chinese tea beverage formats amid rising bilateral travel.
Boseong County, with South Korea's Rural Development Agency, launched a certified eco-tourism and tea heritage programme in January 2026 to elevate Boseong green tea globally, attract premium buyers, and strengthen the region's standing as a top tea tourism destination.
AmorePacific's Osulloc brand partnered with Washington D.C.'s SHIA Restaurant in July 2025, incorporating Jeju Island estate teas including Sejak Green Tea into fine dining menus, deepening Osulloc's premium global positioning and raising awareness of Korean heritage tea.
AmorePacific's Osulloc brand introduced a functional wellness tea range in March 2025 featuring adaptogenic herbs and botanical ingredients, distributed across domestic retail and premium travel retail channels to target health-forward consumers seeking measurable wellness benefits from their beverages.
Health and Wellness - Functional Ingredients Driving New Tea Product Development
South Korean tea brands are rapidly expanding functional formulations featuring adaptogens, probiotics, and bioactive botanicals. The South Korea tea market is responding to growing demand from wellness-focused millennials, elderly consumers, and expectant mothers seeking clinically backed health benefits from beverages.
Premiumisation - Single-Origin and Artisanal Teas Driving South Korea Tea Market Growth
The South Korea tea market growth reflects strong premiumisation, with consumers trading up to single-origin estate teas. Osulloc and Nokchawon release limited seasonal collections at elevated price points, sustaining value gains even as overall volume growth remains modest in retail.
E-Commerce - Online Retail Channels Expanding Tea Brand Reach and Discovery
E-commerce platforms including Coupang and Naver Shopping have become vital distribution channels in the South Korea tea industry. Brands now offer subscription services and trial kits online, enabling smaller artisanal producers to compete alongside established names through direct-to-consumer digital storefronts.
RTD Shift - Chilled Ready-to-Drink Tea Surpasses Carbonated Beverages in Sales
Convenience chain GS25 reported in August 2024 that chilled ready-to-drink tea exceeded carbonated soft drinks in unit sales for the first time. This milestone clearly signals a structural behavioral shift in the South Korea tea market toward lighter, health-oriented beverages.
Sustainability - Eco-Friendly Packaging Reshaping Tea Brands' Product Strategies
Growing environmental consciousness among South Korea's younger consumers is pushing tea brands toward sustainable packaging solutions. Osulloc and Boseong regional producers have introduced FSC-certified and biodegradable packaging, aligning product presentation with consumer values and South Korea's national sustainability commitments.
South Korea Tea Industry Segmentation
The report of Expert Market Research’s titled “South Korea Tea Market Report and Forecast 2026-2035” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Type
- Green Tea
- Oolang Tea
- Black Tea
- Fruit/ Herbal Tea
- Others
Key Insight: Green tea is the most commercially significant and culturally embedded tea type in South Korea, consumed by health-conscious individuals, elderly consumers, and expectant mothers for its high antioxidant content. Brands from Boseong, Jeju Island, Mt. Jiri, and Jeonnam have developed strong geographic reputations supporting premium pricing. Fruit and herbal teas are the fastest-growing category, attracting younger consumers seeking caffeine-free, flavour-forward wellness options.
Market Breakup by Packaging
- Tea Bags
- Plastic Containers
- Loose Tea
- Paperboards
- Aluminium Tins
Key Insight: Tea bags are the most widely adopted packaging format in the South Korea tea market, valued for convenience, portion control, and compatibility with both home and foodservice settings. Their availability across all retail channels makes them the default choice for mass-market consumers. Paperboard and aluminium tin formats hold value in the premium and gifting segments, with brands increasingly adopting FSC-certified and recyclable alternatives.
Market Breakup by Distribution Channels
- Supermarkets/ Hypermarkets
- Convenience Store
- Specialty Stores
- Online Stores
- Others
Key Insight: Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the dominant distribution channel in the South Korea tea market, providing broad consumer access across price tiers. Online stores are the fastest-growing channel, enabling niche discovery and subscription purchasing for premium and artisanal teas. Convenience stores such as GS25 and CU are also gaining ground through ready-to-drink tea, driven by on-the-go consumption among younger urban consumers.
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South Korea Tea Market Share
By Type, green tea dominates the market due to deep cultural roots and strong health credentials
Green tea is the anchor of the South Korea tea market, commanding the largest share of consumption by both volume and value. Its dominance reflects centuries of Korean cultural tradition, during which tea drinking has been associated with mindfulness, hospitality, and medicinal use. Today, its appeal is further bolstered by scientific research on its polyphenol and antioxidant properties, making it the product of choice across a wide range of consumer segments. Premium estate-grown varieties from Jeju Island and Boseong command notably higher price points.
Fruit and herbal teas represent the most dynamic growth area within the South Korea tea industry. Products such as chamomile, citrus blends, ginger, and hibiscus appeal to consumers seeking caffeine-free options with functional benefits for digestion, skin health, and relaxation. In March 2025, Osulloc launched a botanical wellness tea range blending Korean ingredients with adaptogenic herbs, reflecting the convergence of beauty wellness and functional tea consumption that is reshaping the type segmentation.
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By Packaging, tea bags account for the dominant share of the market due to convenience and wide retail availability
Tea bags dominate the South Korea tea market packaging landscape, supported by their ease of preparation, wide retail distribution, and suitability for everyday household and commercial foodservice use. Major players including Dong Suh, Kwangdong, and Lotte Chilsung distribute tea bags extensively across convenience stores, supermarkets, and online platforms. Their popularity has grown further with the broader consumer shift away from instant coffee toward lighter, lower-caffeine beverages.
Aluminium tins and paperboard boxes hold strategic importance in the premium and gifting segments of the South Korea tea market. These formats are especially prominent during Chuseok and Seollal, when curated tea gift sets are widely purchased at department stores and specialty boutiques. Brands such as Osulloc and Nokchawon have invested in premium packaging design to capture the gift market while transitioning toward FSC-certified and recyclable materials.
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By Distribution Channel, supermarkets and hypermarkets account for the dominant share due to extensive reach and product variety
Supermarkets and hypermarkets remain the primary purchase channel for tea consumers in South Korea, offering a comprehensive product range across all price tiers. Retailers such as E-Mart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus carry broad tea assortments including domestic brands, imported varieties, and private-label options. The channel benefits from in-store promotional displays, seasonal gift set sections, and consistently high consumer footfall, making it the most reliable volume driver for mainstream South Korea tea brands.
Online stores have rapidly emerged as the fastest-growing distribution channel in the South Korea tea market, particularly for premium, artisanal, and internationally sourced varieties. Platforms such as Coupang, Naver Shopping, and brand-operated direct-to-consumer sites enable subscription purchasing, trial kit offerings, and targeted digital marketing. Convenience stores have also grown as a meaningful RTD tea channel, reinforced by the August 2024 GS25 milestone.
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Competitive Landscape
The South Korea tea market features a moderately consolidated competitive structure, with heritage domestic brands holding entrenched positions built on decades of consumer trust and deep retail penetration. These players compete primarily on product quality, geographic provenance, and brand heritage. The market is simultaneously witnessing the entry of international brands capitalising on rising consumer openness to new tea cultures and premium experiential formats.
Competition is intensifying across both premium and mass-market segments, with legacy brands investing in premiumisation, sustainable sourcing, and digital marketing, while new entrants leverage cultural trends and innovative flavour profiles. Consolidation tends to be selective, typically targeting niche capabilities such as blending technology, hospitality distribution networks, or specialty cafe relationships.
Osulloc Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered on Jeju Island, South Korea, Osulloc operates under the AmorePacific Group as the country's premier premium tea brand. The company manages the full value chain from certified organic Jeju Island estate cultivation to retail and export, offering a broad portfolio including Sejak Green Tea and Volcanic Rock Tea. It holds USDA Organic and FSC certifications.
Nokchawon Co. Ltd.
Established in 1992 and headquartered in South Korea, Nokchawon is Korea's first producer, marketer, and exporter of green tea, operating large plantations in Sacheon and Boseong. The brand supplies tea blends to Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels, and international airports, offering traditional, fusion, and exotic formats including Korean ginseng and honey citron varieties.
Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1957 and based in Seoul, South Korea, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is a healthcare and beverage company with a strong presence in functional ready-to-drink tea. Its Yawang and Kwangdong brands are widely recognised in the convenience store channel for traditional medicinal teas including ginger, barley, and corn silk, leveraging pharmaceutical expertise to support health-credible positioning.
Dong Suh Co., Ltd.
Dong Suh is one of South Korea's oldest food and beverage companies, headquartered in Seoul and operating across coffee, cereals, and tea. In the South Korea tea market, it leads the tea bag segment, distributing green, barley, and mixed-grain teas widely through supermarkets and convenience stores, with strong household penetration among older consumers.
Other key players in the market are Ssanggye Myung Tea Co., Ltd., Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., Ltd., and Others.
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Key Findings from the South Korea Tea Market Report
- Comprehensive historical and forecast analysis of the South Korea tea market spanning 2019 to 2035.
- Detailed segmentation by tea type, packaging format, and distribution channel, covering dominant and emerging sub-segments.
- Competitive landscape profiling Osulloc, Nokchawon, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, and Dong Suh with strategies and recent market moves.
- Assessment of key demand drivers including health consciousness, premiumisation, green tea cultural affinity, and functional tea trends.
- Consumer behaviour insights covering digital purchasing growth, sustainable packaging preferences, and beauty-functional tea formulations.
- Strategic recommendations for investors and market entrants based on segment growth dynamics, competitive intensity, and emerging opportunities.
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Call to Action
Stay ahead in the evolving South Korea tea market landscape with Expert Market Research's comprehensive 2026 report. Access detailed data on product innovation, shifting consumer preferences, emerging functional formats, and the channels driving the strongest growth. Whether you are entering the market for the first time, expanding an existing portfolio, or seeking strategic clarity to guide an investment decision, this report delivers the depth you need. Download your free sample today and explore the opportunities within this dynamic South Korea tea sector.
South Korea Tea Market Report Snapshots
South Korea Tea Investment and Expansion
South Korea Tea Supply Strategy
South Korea Tea Category Competitive Positioning
South Korea Tea Sector Innovation
South Korea Tea Consumption Outlook
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Key Questions Answered in the Report
In 2025, the South Korea tea market attained a value of nearly USD 361.51 Million.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.20% between 2026 and 2035.
The market is estimated to witness a healthy growth in the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach USD 545.50 Million by 2035.
Celebrity marketing, preference for premium teas, high disposable income, high standard of living, and expansion of tea varieties by brands are the major drivers of the tea market in South Korea tea market.
The rise of grab and go tea options, high demand for organic tea, and health benefits are the key trends of the market.
The dominant types of tea in the industry are green tea, oolang tea, black tea, and fruit/herbal tea, among others.
The leading distribution channels in the market are supermarkets/ hypermarkets, convenience stores, specialty stores, and online stores, among others.
The major players in the industry are Osulloc Co., Ltd., Nokchawon Co. Ltd., Kwangdong pharmaceutical co., ltd., Dong Suh Co., Ltd, Ssanggye Myung Tea Co., Ltd, and Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co.,Ltd, among others.
Report Summary
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Historical Period | 2019-2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2035 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Type |
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| Breakup by Packaging |
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| Breakup by Distribution Channels |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Trade Data Analysis |
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| Competitive Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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