Tea in Indonesia has a strong and widely distributed presence shaped by domestic production, daily consumption habits, and regional drinking traditions. In major cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya, tea appears through cafés, restaurants, and street vendors where both hot tea and sweet iced tea are commonly served alongside meals. In many parts of the country, tea is consumed throughout the day at home and in informal social settings, often prepared simply with sugar or paired with snacks. Indonesia’s tea culture is supported by domestic cultivation, particularly in Java and West Java, where tea plantations supply both local consumption and export markets. Everyday preparations such as es teh manis (sweet iced tea) are widely recognized across the country, while regional traditions like teh poci involve brewing tea in clay pots with rock sugar and sharing it during social gatherings. Compared with dominant beverages like coffee or bottled drinks, tea tends to function as an everyday staple that crosses class and regional boundaries. With continued growth in cafés, tourism, and specialty beverage retail, tea in Indonesia is positioned for steady cultural continuity with selective expansion in urban tea-house scenes.
