Islamabad, Sep 8: “Tea is an embedded part of our culture, joy, and conversations. One cannot take tea away from a Pakistani’s life,” said Sadia Khatri, a writer from Karachi. “Any time is a good time for tea.”
This sentiment is in line with Pakistan’s deeply ingrained tea culture, which has led to the nation becoming the world’s biggest importer of tea.
Pakistan imported tea worth over $600 million (about RMB 4.033 billion) only last year.
China’s tea exports to Pakistan totalled $5.76 million during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
“I’m here to explore and find the right tea varieties,” said Pakistani trader Abdul Haq at the 17th Beijing International Tea Exhibition. “China is the birthplace of tea, and Pakistan has a deep-rooted tea-drinking culture.
Our shared tea trade reflects not only our economic relationship but also our cultural and emotional bond. Stated differently, the tea’s scent unites us.
Haq went on, “Black tea is the most popular in my country; it’s typically brewed with milk, spices, lemon slices, and even chopped nuts.” It’s interesting to note that young people in China are also huge fans of milk tea, which illustrates, in my opinion, how our cultures are prospering and merging.”
