Nuts come in so many different varieties, shapes, textures, aromas and with different nutritional benefits. Not only can you snack on fresh, dried, toasted or roasted nuts, they're also suited to any number of sweet and savoury recipes.   From adding crunch to salads and sweets, to infusing baked food with delicate nutty aromas, to making sweet milks, nuts are so versatile, it's worth exploring their culinary potential and maximising their health benefits.   Below, we take a look at 10 of the most popular types of nuts.   1. Walnuts These nutritional powerhouses are a great source of healthy fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals, they're also rich in antioxidants. What's more, walnuts are extremely versatile and can add extra crunch and boost the nutritional content of both sweet and savoury dishes, from salads and side dishes, to casseroles and stews.   2. Hazelnuts   Hazelnuts, cobnuts or filberts, can be enjoyed fresh or dried, yielding different flavours, and are mainly grown in Turkey and Italy. They're very popular in baking and confectionery - think praline and cocoa spread - and can also be pressed to make the strongly flavoured Hazelnut cooking oil.   Hazelnuts are also an excelllent source of nutrients in a balanced diet. They're loaded with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds and healthy fats, and have been linked to helping decrease blood fat levels, regulating blood pressure, reducing inflammation and improving blood sugar levels, among others.   3. Cashews   Cashew nuts, from the seed of the cashew, are popularly eaten on their own as snacks, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter.   Cashew nuts have a higher calorie count than some other nuts, but are still a healthy addition to your diet, and are nutrient-dense and rich in healthy fats, proteins, essential vitamins, and minerals.    4. Macadamia nuts   These highly nutritious chickpea-sized nuts are prized for their sweet buttery flavour and creamy texture, and hail from Australia.   Macadamia nuts are rich in nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. They’re also linked to several benefits, including improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and blood sugar control.   5. Pistachios   These nutrient-dense nuts are packed with healthy fats, protein, fibre and protective antioxidants, and can help keep a healthy heart and eyes, among many other health benefits.   The kernels of pistachios are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted, and are also used in pistachio ice cream, kulfi, spumoni, pistachio butter, pistachio paste and confections such as baklava, pistachio chocolate, pistachio halva, pistachio lokum or biscotti, and cold cuts such as mortadella.    6. Peanuts   Peanuts are a legume and edible seed, more like soybeans, lentils, though they’re rich in healthy unsaturated fats and fibre, just like tree nuts.   Peanuts are a popular ingredient in many dishes and cultures around the world, cultures; think satay peanut sauces, peanut butter, granola and trail mix.   7. Almonds   Almonds, which are actually edible seeds, are often eaten roasted or in a natural version. This oily fruit produces both oil and milk, as well as being commonly used in confectionery, baking and in marzipan.   Although almonds are a high-fat food, much of this is in the form of monounsaturated fat, which helps to protect the heart by maintaining levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.    8. Pine nuts   Pine nuts are grown and used in cuisines all over the world, in both sweet and savoury celebration dishes. Despite being high in calories, pine nuts are rich in important nutrients, fibres, protein, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.   Delicious simply toasted, pine nuts are most famously used to make Genoese basil pesto, but are also a vital ingredient of diverse dishes made with minced meat, pastry, spinach, custard and chestnut flour   9. Pecan nuts   This delicious nut native to North America has a buttery flavour that is the perfect addition to both sweet and savoury dishes. What's more, they are 70 percent fat (the good kind), are loaded with antioxidants, and are rich in calcium, magnesium, protein and fibre.   10. Brazil nuts   Brazil nuts can be eaten raw or blanched, however, they have a hard shell that needs to be cracked to get to the edible seed. They are a great source of protein, vitamins, selenium, niacin, calcium and iron. These versatile nuts can be cooked into any sweet and savoury dishes, including sauces, desserts, sorbets and smoothies. 

    The dictionary meaning for the term spice is – “a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavouring, colouring, or preserving food.” Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavouring or are used as a garnish. Many spices have several properties ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral.   Spices are synonymous with the Indian subcontinent. At one point, India was even known as the spice capital of the world. And aptly so as spices are part and parcel of Indian culture and cuisine. Not a day goes by where spices aren’t used in some shape or form.   healthy spices       Apart from culinary use, spices also have an important place in the field of medicine. They are known to have several properties which are beneficial for human health.   The use of spices in food, medicine, and cosmetics began as settlements organized in the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia from Judea to the Nile Valley in Egypt around 9000 BC. Humans initially used herbs and spices as food preservatives. Soon they found that many of these plants helped cure wounds, aches, and other common ailments.  

Well, here is a list of reasons why we add spices to our food       1. Spices enhance the taste and flavour of food. It’s well known that spices elevate the taste and flavour of food. Just a bit of spice can transform everyday ingredients into an appetizing and aromatic meal. Spices contribute rich flavour to food without adding any calories, fat, sugar or salt.   Herbs and spices also add flavours to dishes which, again, increases their complexity but also complements or plays counterpoint to other flavours already present.   2. Spices provide nutrition. Derived from plants, spices have a multitude of properties which can positively impact human health. Many spices contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties which have health benefits and benefit the body.   For example, ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used in recipes not only for their taste but for these health benefits. Another example is spices like cumin and cinnamon which play a role in digestion and can help with weight management.   Adding different spices to your meals can certainly help boost your nutrition. If you’re wondering which spices can be considered healthy spices, all of them are! Each with their own set of health benefits.   How to use spices in cooking   3. Spices help in preserving food. In the days when there wasn’t refrigeration or better ways to preserve food, spices helped in the preservation process as many spices have microbial properties. For example, take the instance of smoked meats. The meats were rubbed or dredged in salt, herbs, and spices to preserve and store them for a longer period of time.   Up until the 18th century, spices were sought after for their flavour and preservation properties and if one had spices, they were wealthy since many spices came from the Far East and exotic locales. Hence the Spice Islands India, Indonesia, Africa and South America were colonized by the Dutch, English, Germans, Spanish and French, which led to more exploration for the spice and tea traders.   Here are some commonly used spices in not only in Indian cuisine but other cuisines all over the world:   Black Pepper Black Cardamom Cumin seeds Turmeric Chilli Pepper Cinnamon Coriander powder Cloves Curry Leaves Garlic Ginger What do spices add to the food?    How to Use Spices in Cooking? To use spices in cooking, whole spices or powdered spices may be used depending on the recipe. A spice mix blend such as garam masala may also be used for a rich, complex flavour.   Most spices are flavourful and strong in taste and aroma, so a little goes a long way. You want the spices in your food to enhance the dish you are preparing rather than overpowering it.   The Takeaway Spices are an integral part of our daily diet with a rich history. It’s hard to imagine a single meal without some spice in it. They have been in use for thousands of years not only for their taste enhancing properties, but also for their health benefits, and food preservation properties.   In short, spices are the essence of life – balancing flavours from everyday ingredients and elevating them to a whole new flavour profile while serving our dietary needs and promoting wellness.

Dried fruit market - statistics & facts     Dried fruit is a typical snack and recipe ingredient used for centuries. The food has beneficial qualities such as its sweet taste and long shelf life. The bulk of the production of dried fruits are dried grapes, commonly known as raisins, and table dates. Table dates and raisins have a supply value of about 4.7 and 2.7 million U.S. dollars respectively. The United States and Turkey supply the most dried fruit and claim 30 percent of the worldwide market for dried fruit production in total.   Leading producers Dried fruit has a tradition of use in Mesopotamian cuisine since 4000 BC. The Mesopotamian region includes parts of Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, many of whom are still top producers and exporters of dried fruit today. Turkey exports the most significant amount of raisins, while Tunisia and Iran are the leading exporters of dates worldwide. Turkey is also the leading exporter when it comes to dried apricots, with an export value amounting to a total of over 338 million U.S. dollars worldwide in 2021.   Consumer market Out of the dried fruits available, U.S. consumers ate raisins more than any other fruit. Consumption of dried fruit in the United States has decreased over the past five years, dropping to a per capita rate of 1.06 pound per year in 2020. Dried fruits sometimes get a poor reputation due to the fact that some have a high concentration of natural sugars. This reputation could have influenced the frequency of eating dried fruits, as many of the diets followed by customers in the U.S. restrict the daily amount of sugar consumed. At the same time, many types of dried fruits offer health benefits by retaining the fiber, many of the vitamins, and minerals of the whole fruit. Middle East and Europe are the leading consumers of dried fruit, responsible for about 32 and 23 percent of global dried fruit consumption respectively.   What types of dried fruits do Vietnam have? As one of the countries with strong agricultural development, Vietnam has all the qualities (seeds, soil, water...) to grow, harvest and process many types of tropical fruits such as mangoes, blueberries. dragon fruit, guava, pineapple, papaya. . . . .   Vietnamese dried fruit is growing strongly and is present in many countries around the world

  It's what the whole coffee trade and fuss is all about... the final consumption of coffee... here are some nuggets of information especially for those coffee lovers out there!   Coffee is the most popular drink worldwide (after water) with over 400 billion cups consumed each year. Last year in Britain, £1Bn was spent on coffee. Britain consumes 2.8k of coffee per person, per year. On average in the U.K we drink around 2 cups of coffee per day. Consumption of coffee in the U.K varies by age: Under 20 yrs 0.5 cups per day; Millenials (20-37yrs) 1.3; Generation X (38-52yrs) 2.1; Baby Boomers (53-71) and those over 72 years 2.2. Instant coffee accounts for 13% of all coffee drunk globally. 57% of coffee is drunk at breakfast; 34% between meals and 13% at other meals. It is estimated that more than 150 million Americans drink a total of 400 million cups of coffee a day 64% of American's have a cup of coffee each day. The first European coffee was sold in pharmacies in 1615 as a medicinal remedy. cappuccino is so named because of the drink's peak of foam which resembles the cowl of a Capuchin friar's habit. Flavoured coffees are created after the roasting process by applying flavoured oils specially created to use on coffee beans. Espresso contains less caffeine than any other roast. Coffee was first known in Europe as Arabian Wine. Bach wrote a coffee cantata in 1732. The US Navy used to serve alcoholic beverages on board ships. However when Admiral Josephus "Joe" Daniels became Chief of Naval Operations, he outlawed alcohol on board ships, except for very special occasions. Coffee then became the drink of choice, hence the term "Cup of Joe". The heavy tax on tea imposed in 1773 on the colonies that resulted in the "Boston Tea Party" resulted in America switching from mainly drinking tea to coffee. To drink coffee was an expression of freedom. Italians do not drink espresso during meals. It is considered to be a separate event and is given its own time. In Greece and Turkey, the oldest person is almost always served their coffee first. In the ancient Arab world, coffee became such a staple part of family life that one of the causes allowed by law for marital separation was a husband's refusal to produce coffee for his wife. Raw coffee beans, soaked in water and spices, are chewed like candy in many parts of Africa. Coffee represents three-quarters of all the caffeine consumed in the USA. For reducing wrinkes and improving their skin, the Japanese have been known to bathe in coffee grounds fermented with pineapple pulp. Citrus flavours have been added to coffee for several hundred years. The Europeans first added chocolate to their coffee in the 1600's. Our sense of smell, more than any of our other senses makes our final judgement on coffee. With alcohol forbidden by the Koran in the early 1400's coffee soon became the replacement drink. The French philosopher, Voltaire, reportedly drank fifty cups of coffee a day. Decaffeinated coffee sales are at their highest in January due to people's New Year resolutions. Scandinavia has the world's highest per capita annual coffee consumption, 26.4 pounds. The Arabs flavoured their coffee with spices during the brewing process. Iced coffee in a can has been popular in Japan since 1945. The human body will absorb just 300 milligrams of caffeine at a given time. Additional amounts are cast off and provide no additional stimulation. The human body dissipates 20% of the caffeine in it's system per hour. Wild medical contraptions used to exist to administer a mixture of coffee and an assortment of heated butter, honey and oil to treat the sick. Regular coffee drinkers have about 1/3 less asthma symptoms than those of non-coffee drinkers according to a Harvard researcher who studied 20,000 people. Australians consume 60% more coffee than tea, a sixfold increase since 1940. Turkish law makes it legal for a woman to divorce her husband if he fails to provide her with her daily quota of coffee.

  Domestic food price inflation remains high around the world. Information from the latest month between February 2023 and May 2023 for which food price inflation data are available shows high inflation in most low- and middle-income countries, with inflation higher than 5% in in 63.2% of low-income countries, 79.5% of lower-middle-income countries, and 67% of upper-middle-income countries, with many experiencing double-digit inflation. In addition, 78.9% of high-income countries are experiencing high food price inflation. The most-affected countries are in Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. In real terms, food price inflation exceeded overall inflation in 80.1% of the 166 countries where data is available.   Since the last Update, two weeks ago, the agricultural, export, and cereal price indices closed 6%, 4%, and 10% higher, respectively. An increase in maize and wheat prices, which closed 12% and 14% higher, respectively, after declining in the first half of July, drove the increase in the cereal price index, whereas rice prices have remained stable. On a year-on-year basis, maize and wheat prices are 15% and 17% lower, while rice prices are 16% higher. Maize, wheat, and rice prices are 8%, 11%, and 3% higher, respectively, than in January 2021. (See “pink sheet” data for agricultural commodity and food commodity prices indices, updated monthly.)   On July 17, 2023, Russia announced that it would not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). The markets had anticipated Russia's move because of ongoing geopolitical tensions, so grain markets exhibited minimal immediate response to Russia's withdrawal, with future prices for key grains and oilseeds increasing only slightly. Wheat futures jumped 3% on July 17 but remained well below peak levels of the previous year. Similarly, corn and soybean futures surged before returning to pre-announcement levels. Despite Russia's decision, global commodity markets were still relatively favorable. The July 2023 edition of the Agricultural Market Information System Market Monitor revealed improved wheat production prospects in several countries, including Canada, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye. Maize production forecasts for 2023 remained nearly unchanged, and rice and soybean production forecasts experienced marginal adjustments.   On July 19, to ensure availability of non-basmati white rice and limit price increases in the domestic market, the government of India amended its export policy on non-basmati white rice from “Free with export duty of 20%,” which it had imposed in September 2022, to “Prohibited,” with immediate effect. Although the export ban is likely to lower domestic prices for consumers (and producers) because India is the world's dominant rice exporter (accounting for nearly 40% of the global rice market), it could cause considerable increases in world prices and induce price volatility. The export ban comes at a time of heightened global concerns about international global food prices following Russia’s exit from the BSGI.   FAO's 2023 State of Food Insecurity and Nutrition in the World report highlights the state of global hunger and food insecurity and the challenges and opportunities that urbanization presents in the context of agrifood systems. Global hunger, measured according to prevalence of undernourishment, remained relatively unchanged from 2021 to 2022 but is still significantly higher than before the pandemic. Approximately 9.2% of the world’s population faced hunger in 2022, compared with 7.9% in 2019. Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 29.6% of the global population (2.4 billion people) in 2022, with 11.3% being severely food insecure. Food insecurity disproportionately affects women and people in rural areas. More than 3.1 billion people worldwide (42%) were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021 (134 million more than in 2019).   Urbanization is driving changes in agrifood systems, presenting challenges and opportunities. Challenges include availability of cheap, energy-dense, unhealthy foods; limited availability of fruits and vegetables; exclusion of small farmers from formal value chains; and loss of land and natural capital due to urban expansion. Urbanization also provides opportunities for income generation, expanded food value chains, and access to nutritious foods for farmers.

THE BEST COFFEE BEANS IN THE WORLD - follow espressocoffeeguide   The world's finest arabica coffee beans are listed by country in no particular order since the biggest factor is personal preference.   WHAT IS THE BEST TASTING COFFEE : The simple answer is: there isn't one.   Taste is a very, very individual experience. It's affected by:   - Your genetics, which impact how your brain perceives certain tastes upbringing - Which conditions you to prefer certain flavors over others - Taste receptors, which can be altered by medication and diet tasting training - Which can teach you to better identify flavors (similar to wine tastings) - Life experiences, which can have negative or positive memories associated with a flavor foods you've eaten recently - Which can also alter your taste receptors mood and stress levels, which alter how your brain perceives flavors.  That's why when someone says "coffee X is the best", what they really mean is "coffee X is the best to my specific tastes", and this isn't useful for you.   We recommend you don't listen to coffee "connoisseurs", and instead, simply try different coffees.   The best tasting coffee for you is one that you discover for yourself. Avoid sticking with specific brands, which hide the coffee origin from you. We've listed some of the best coffees in the world below for you to look into.   Note: Which of these coffees you should buy isn't as important as whether what you're purchasing is fresh roasted - coffee is at it's peak flavor within days of roasting, while many bags of coffee sit on store shelves in Starbucks and Amazon for weeks or months before they finally arrive at your door step.   A great cup of inexpensive fresh roasted single origin coffee will always be better than best (and often priciest) old, stale blends.   1) TANZANIA PEABERRY COFFEE     Grown on Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Peaberry coffee beans are a bright Arabica coffee with a medium body and delightful fruit-toned acidity. The best Tanzania coffees have a taste that is deep and rich, often revealing hints of black currant which soften to chocolate and then blend into the coffee's lingering, sweet finish.   Best Roast: Medium   A medium roast provides an aroma that is floral and complex, often exhibiting hints of pineapple, citrus, or coconut. The flavor is delicate, sometimes revealing winey notes and a velvety feeling on the palate.   2) HAWAII KONA COFFEE   The best Hawaiian Kona coffee beans are grown at about 2,000 feet above sea level on the fertile slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai Volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, Kona coffee is known for its rich yet light and delicate taste with a complex aroma. Different farms will have slightly different coffees under their own brand, but shouldn't be a blend.   Best Roast: Medium   Well-balanced with a medium body, it is clean in the cup with a bright and cheerful acidity. Kona coffee often reveals buttery as well as spicy qualities and subtle winey tones with an excellent aromatic finish.   3) NICARAGUAN COFFEE   A new arrival to the list this year is Nicaragua, which has developed a number of highly rated coffees. The best coffees from this top-rated central american country typically exhibit notes of chocolate (dark, almost cacao-like) and fruits like apple and berries.   Best Roast: Dark Darker roasts bring compliment the chocolate and fruity flavors.   4) SUMATRA MANDHELING COFFEE     Exhibiting a full body and low acidity, Sumatra Mandheling beans are best known as a smooth drinking coffee. It is also known for its sweetness and herbacious, earthy flavor, and complex aroma. The coffee is grown in the Lintong region in north central Sumatra near Lake Toba.   Best Roast: Dark   The caramelizing that happens in a dark roast helps to mediate the earthy, herby flavor.   Sumatran coffees are known for being full bodied and having little acidity, making them perhaps the best low-acid    5) SULAWESI TORAJA COFFEE     This multi-dimensional coffee is grown in the southeastern highlands of Sulawesi. Known best for its full body and rich, expansive flavor, Sulawesi Toraja coffee beans are very well balanced and exhibits tasting notes of dark chocolate and ripe fruit. The acidity is low-toned yet vibrant, with less body than a Sumatran coffee though slightly more acidic, and with more earthiness than a typical Java Arabica coffee.   Toraja's rustic sweetness and muted fruit notes create a deep and brooding taste with a pungent spicy quality similar to the best Sumatran coffees. Toraja coffee is processed using the Giling Basah wet-hull method, which produces chaff-free green coffee beans. For Toraja coffee a dark roast is recommended.   Best Roast: Dark   6) MOCHA JAVA COFFEE     Perhaps the most famous blend of coffee beans, Mocha Java includes Arabian (Yemen) Mocha coffee and Indonesian Java Arabica coffee, two coffees with complementary characteristics. The best Yemen Mocha coffees exhibit a lively intensity and pleasant wildness which complements the clean and bright smoothness of the Java coffee. The traditional blend of Mocha and Java coffee beans creates a complex and yet well-balanced brewed cup.   Best Roast: N/A (this is a blend)   See the World's Best History of Coffee to read about how sailing ships arriving from Java Island arrived in the the great Yemen port of Mocha [Mokha] where the two types of beans became mixed in the wooden hulls of the ships creating the favored blend, a happy accident of history.   7) ETHIOPIAN HARRAR COFFEE     Spicy, fragrant, and heavy-bodied, Ethiopian Harrar coffee is a wild and exotic coffee bean that is dry-processed (natural) Arabica coffee grown in southern Ethiopia at elevations from 4,500 and 6,300 feet above sea level. The dry-processing creates a fruity taste likened to dry, red wine, a power house coffee exhibiting a bold taste that resonates in the cup.   Best Roast: Medium   Edgy and bold, Ethiopian Harrar displays a complexity of spice tones including cardamom, cinnamon, apricots, blueberry jam, and compote. Some Harrars exhibit tones of very rich, dark chocolate.   Note: Ethiopian Harrar is currently not available on the market, so we recommend the Ethiopian Sidamo instead.   8) ETHIOPIAN YIRGACHEFFE COFFEE     Fragrant and spicy, the best Yirgacheffe coffee beans are known for their sweet flavor and aroma with a medium to light body. The coffee is wet processed and grown at elevations from 5,800 feet to 6,600 feet above sea level.   Ethiopian Yirgacheffee displays a bright acidity along with an intense, clean flavor and a complexity of floral notes in the aroma, perhaps a hint of toasted coconut, along with a vibrant aftertaste and perhaps a slightly nutty or chocolaty quality. Yirgacheffe coffees are high-toned, floral and citrusy in contrast to the wild and jammy Ethiopian Harrars.   Best Roast: Medium-Dark   If you prefer your coffee heavy and sweet then choose a medium-dark roast or dark roast, though a medium roast allows the coffee beans' delicate qualities to shine and enhance the bright acidity.   9) GUATEMALAN ANTIGUA COFFEE     Grown at elevations more than 4,600 feet above sea level, the grade of Guatemala Antigua coffee beans is known as Strictly Hard Bean and include the Arabica varietals Catuai (Coffea arabica var. catuai), Caturra (Coffea arabica var. caturra), and Bourbon (Coffea arabica var. bourbon).   An exceptional premium coffee, Antigua exhibits the best Guatemala coffee qualities of a full body (heavier than the usual Central American coffee) and spicy taste often rich and velvety.   Best Roast: Medium   Guatemalan coffees are naturally smooth and delicious, and work great in a medium roast. However, it also works well with a dark roast that creates a pleasing smoky taste in the brewed cup of coffee.   10) KENYA AA COFFEE   Clearly one of the world's best premium coffee beans, this is listed last but certainly isn't the least of the best coffees in the world. Kenya AA coffee is grown at more than 2,000 feet above sea level on Kenya's high plateaus. The AA refers to the biggest screen size in the Kenya coffee grading system with specifications that the beans are just a little more than one-fourth inch in diameter.   Best roast: Medium   The best Kenya AA coffees exhibit a full body and strong, rich taste with a pleasant acidity that some say provides the world's brightest coffee. The aroma of Kenya AA is fragrant with floral tones while the finish is winey with berry and citrus overtones.  

Top 10 Largest Tea Producing Countries 2023   1. China – 25,40,000 tons     China is the hometown of tea, and in the field of tea, China has always been in a leading position. China is the largest tea producing country in the world, and it is also the “source” of tea in the world and has created many “most” in the world., and it is important to note that the country is known for producing high-quality green, yellow, and white teas.   Tea is the “sacred product” of the world’s three major beverages (the other two are coffee and cocoa), and enjoys the reputation of “Oriental gift” and “green gold”. It is universally recognized that China is the birthplace of tea.   2. India – 13,25,050 tons     Tea, more commonly known as “Chai”, is an integral part of Indian culture. Whether formally or informally, tea can also be referred to as the country’s “national drink of the country,” which means just how important it actually is. Mass production of tea began in India during the British Raj, and the East India Company took full advantage of the now world-famous Assam tea while establishing a separate company called the Assam Tea Company to manage tea cultivation in the Assam garden.   Before 2017, India was the world’s largest tea producer, however, today India ranks only second. India is one of the largest tea producing countries in the world. Much of the tea produced in India is consumed domestically while only a portion is exported. Undoubtedly, the most famous tea-growing regions in India are Assam and Darjeeling, however, teas grown in the southern regions near the Nilgiri range also deserve attention.   3. Kenya – 4,39,858 tons       Kenya’s status as one of the largest tea producers in the world is quite surprising when we see the working conditions of the growers of these crops. Tea is the most important cash crop in the Kenyan economy, but it is difficult for tea farmers to optimize production. The main reason is that there are no large-scale farms, very little modern equipment, and poor working conditions.   Still, it is remarkable that Kenya ranks third in the world in terms of tea production. The tea grown in Kenya is almost exclusively black and most of it is exported. There is not much left for domestic consumption, which is understandable because their demand for tea is not high, after all, they depend on tea for their money.   4. Sri Lanka – 3,07,180 tons     Tea is not just a plant in Sri Lanka, it is an important part of their economy and a huge source of livelihood for the islanders. The numbers backing up this claim are staggering, with over a million people employed because of tea. As of 2013, tea contributed more than US$1.3 billion to Sri Lanka’s GDP.   Much of the tea produced here is exported abroad, and tea from many countries is imported from Sri Lanka. Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and even Turkey itself are among the country’s tea importers. It is a relatively small island and most of the tea is grown in two areas: Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.   5. Türkiye – 2,30,000 tons     Turks love to drink tea, and according to a study nearly a decade ago, Turks drink the most tea, with an average of 2.5kg per person. Where does Turkey get so much tea from? Well, they produce a lot of it themselves. In fact, in 2004, they produced over 200,000 tons of tea! Today, while a large portion of their tea is exported, a significant portion of it is consumed domestically.   6. Vietnam – 2,06,780 tons     The tea culture in Vietnam is deeply ingrained, and the French invasion of Vietnam helped the tea production in Vietnam to a large extent, they helped with factory construction and research in many key areas. Since then, the tea industry has continued to grow and develop.   In fact, most of the tea produced in the country is actually exported, with only a small portion reserved for domestic consumption. Just like China and Japan, Vietnam mainly produces green tea. However, Vietnamese tea is not very popular internationally and is mainly exported to China.     7. Iran – 1,55,300 tons     Iranians’ love for tea is almost like a love affair. At first, Iranians were more inclined to the rival of “tea” – coffee. However, as coffee was difficult to obtain due to the distance from the coffee-producing countries, tea was soon introduced to the country. Since Iran’s neighbor China is one of the largest tea exporters (not exactly a neighbor, but relatively closer to a coffee exporter.), tea is relatively easy to obtain, so tea has been promoted and popularized under certain conditions.   However, now Iran also produces its own tea, mainly due to the initial achievements of Prince Kasev, today Iran is the ninth largest tea producer in the world. Prince Kasev learned the secret art of growing tea while posing as a laborer in India, and he took what he learned, along with some samples, back to Iran, where he began producing tea. Today, most of the tea produced in Iran is grown in the northern hillside provinces, similar to those in Darjeeling.   8. Indonesia – 1,43,600 tons     Tea was once the most important crop in the region, however, the acreage of tea estates has taken a hit due to the growth of the more lucrative palm oil business. Nonetheless, today, Indonesia remains one of the largest tea-producing countries in the world. Half of what they produce is exported and the other half is reserved for domestic consumption.   In terms of tea, their main export partners are Russia, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. A major problem facing tea farmers in the country is maximizing yields. All that aside, most of the tea produced in this country is black tea, while only a portion is green tea.   9. Argentina – 1,00,000 tons     Tea is also a popular hot drink in Argentina, with locally grown “herbal tea,” an indigenous tea grown throughout the country. Most of the tea produced in Argentina is more or less grown in the eastern regions of Argentina, such as Mision and Corrientes are very special tea varieties.   Farmers now rely on modern tools to help them do everything from planting to picking leaves, which has also greatly improved the efficiency of tea production. Of course, much of the tea produced here is exported and is the country’s main source of foreign exchange.     10. Japan – 85,900 tons     In fact, in Japan, tea is grown almost all over the country. Although it may not be grown for commercial purposes, it is still able to be grown all over the country, with perhaps the only exception being some areas in Hokkaido and Osaka. Due to different soil conditions and climates, different regions are known for producing different tea blends.   Even today, Shizuka remains the largest tea-producing state in Japan. Nearly 40% of the tea produced in Japan is produced in this region. It is followed by the Kagoshima region, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of Japan’s total tea production. Besides these two popular and important regions, Fukuoka, Kyushu, and Miyazaki are several other important tea-producing states. Of all the tea produced in Japan, only a very small portion is exported due to the huge demand in Japan itself, most of the tea produced in Japan is green tea.                  

  Bahrain:       Bahrain’s economic outlook hangs on oil market prospects and the results of the accelerated implementation of its structural reforms’ agenda under the revised Fiscal Balance Program. Growth is projected to moderate to 2.7% in 2023 before averaging 3.2% during 2024-25 as fiscal adjustments continue. Growth in the hydrocarbon sector is expected to contract by 0.5% in 2023 while the non-hydrocarbon sectors will continue expanding by 3.5% supported by the recovery in the tourism and service sectors and the continuation of infrastructure projects.     Kuwait:         Economic growth is expected to slow to 1.3% in 2023 in response to a more cautious OPEC+ production approach and sluggish global economic activity. The Oil sector is anticipated to contract by 2.2% in 2023 despite the newly established Al Zour refinery. Kuwait’s non-oil sectors are anticipated to grow by 4.4% in 2023 driven primarily by private consumption. Policy uncertainty caused by political deadlock is expected to undermine the implementation of new infrastructure projects.   Oman:       Oman’s economy is forecast to continue to grow, but at a slower pace, driven primarily by accelerated implementation of structural reforms under Vision 2040. Overall growth is projected to moderate to 1.5% in 2023 reflecting softening global demand. Accordingly, the hydrocarbon sector is anticipated to contract by 3.3% reflecting OPEC+ recent production cuts while the non-oil economy is projected to continue its recovery trajectory by growing 3.1% in 2023 supported by frontloading of infrastructure projects, increased industrial capacity from renewable energy, and the tourism sector.   Qatar:           Real GDP is estimated to slow down to 3.3% in 2023 after the strong performance registered in 2022, with the hydrocarbon sector expanding by 0.8%. The North Field expansion project is expected to boost the hydrocarbon sector in the medium term once the field enters commercial operation. Meanwhile, robust growth is anticipated during this year in the non-hydrocarbon sectors, reaching 4.3%, driven by private and public consumption.   Saudi Arabia:         Following a stellar GDP expansion of 8.7% in 2022, economic growth is projected to decelerate to 2.2% in 2023. A fall in oil production – as Saudi Arabia abides by OPEC+ agreed production cuts – will contract oil sector GDP by 2%. However, with oil prices remaining at relatively high levels, loose fiscal policy and robust private credit growth are expected to cushion the contraction in the oil sector. As a result, non-oil sectors are anticipated to grow by 4.7% in 2023.   United Arab Emirates:         Economic growth in 2023 is expected to slow compared to 2022 due to a decline in global economic activity, contraction in oil production, and tightening financial conditions. Accordingly, real GDP is projected to grow by 2.8% in 2023 to reflect a decline in oil activity growth of 2.5% while a strong non-oil sector growth of 4.8% will soften the contraction in oil activities, driven by robust domestic demand, particularly in the tourism, real estate, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors.

  Kuwait’s non-oil growth is projected to increase to about 3.8 percent in 2023 on account of a robust expatriate community, the International Monetary Fund has forecast.      While overall growth is anticipated to drop to 0.1 percent this year, the non-oil economy will be strengthened on the back of the financial stimulus and partial recovery in the employment of expatriates, according to the IMF’s latest analysis of Kuwait.   The county’s advancement will occur despite the slow growth of real credit, said the report, adding: “Benefiting from high oil production and prices, Kuwait’s economic recovery continues.”    The report noted that Kuwait showed adequate recovery from the effects of the pandemic, and inflation has been controlled given the limited spillover from higher global food and energy prices.    This resulted from managed prices and subsidies, as well as the general tightening of monetary policy in line with major central banks.     Kuwait’s fiscal balance has developed since its overall fiscal surplus is expected to have increased by 22.5 percent of the gross domestic product in 2022, up from 6.4 percent in 2021.      As for the country’s external balance, the current account surplus is estimated to have increased to 33 percent of the GDP last year, up from 26.6 percent in 2021.      Additionally, the country’s financial stability has been preserved as its banking sector sustains an efficient level of capital and liquidity.     Economic threats     The instability of oil prices and production brought on by external factors pose risks to Kuwait’s external balance, public finances, growth and inflation, according to the report.      Kuwait’s economy could also be at risk of the slowdown in global growth due to further tightening of monetary policy or pressures in the banking sectors of major advanced economies.      The report also noted that the country is susceptible to the delay in implementing the necessary financial and structural reforms, which could lead to the continuation of the current public fiscal policy.      In turn, this might damage investor trust, while limiting progress towards diversifying economic activity and boosting its competitiveness.     “The dominance of oil in the economy, coupled with global decarbonization trends, necessitates fiscal reforms to reinforce sustainability, and structural reforms to boost non-oil private sector-led growth,” said the report, adding: “Political gridlock between the government and parliament has hindered reform progress, which could be made now from a position of strength.”