Tea in Costa Rica has a modest presence shaped by café culture, tourism, and the country’s strong association with coffee production. In cities such as San José, tea appears through cafés, restaurants, and specialty beverage shops where imported loose-leaf teas, herbal infusions, and iced tea options accompany coffee-focused menus. In other parts of the country, tea is often encountered through home preparation, particularly in the form of herbal infusions made from locally grown plants used for relaxation or traditional remedies. Cultural pathways are supported by grocery distribution, hospitality traditions, and tourism-driven café environments that introduce international tea varieties to visitors and residents. Compared with Costa Rica’s dominant coffee culture, tea occupies a structured niche that functions primarily as a complementary beverage rather than a national symbol. Visibility is shaped by café menus, wellness trends, and specialty retail outlets that promote herbal and loose-leaf tea products. With continued growth in tourism, café experimentation, and specialty beverage retail, tea in Costa Rica is positioned for steady expansion within its diverse hospitality and food culture.
