Roopak Goswami
Guwahati, Dec 25: India’s food regulator has finally drawn a clear line in the teacup.
In a formal clarification issued on December 24, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ruled that the word “tea” can be used only for products made from Camellia sinensis—the tea plant—effectively barring herbal and plant-based infusions from being sold or promoted as tea.
The regulator said it had observed several Food Business Operators (FBOs) marketing products such as “herbal tea”, “flower tea” and “rooibos tea”, even though these do not originate from Camellia sinensis. Such usage, FSSAI said, is misleading and amounts to misbranding under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the term tea—including green tea, instant tea and Kangra tea—is legally defined as a product derived solely from Camellia sinensis. Any deviation from this definition, the regulator clarified, cannot carry the name “tea”, either directly or indirectly.
Why Camellia sinensis matters
Camellia sinensis is a plant species belonging to the family Theaceae and is the source of all true teas—black, green, oolong, white and others—depending on how the leaves are processed.
Tea is prepared as an infusion of the dried leaves of this plant and is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. It is also widely noted for its potential health benefits.
Industry welcomes clarity
The tea industry has welcomed the move, calling it long overdue.
Bidyananda Barkakoty, Adviser to the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), said the clarification would help both consumers and producers.
“We are very happy with this much-needed clarification from FSSAI. This clear definition of tea will remove a lot of ambiguity from consumers’ minds and help reduce clutter and confusion in the marketplace,” Barkakoty said.
He added that India’s stance is in step with global regulatory thinking.
“Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognises tea derived only from Camellia sinensis as a ‘healthy’ beverage, not herbal infusions,” he noted.
Labelling, approvals and enforcement
FSSAI also pointed to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, which require food packages to clearly declare the true nature of the product on the front of the pack. Herbal or plant-based infusions that do not meet the legal definition of tea cannot use the term in any form.
Depending on their ingredients, such products may need to be classified as proprietary foods or seek approval under the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017.
The directive applies across the supply chain—manufacturers, importers, marketers, retailers and e-commerce platforms. State food safety commissioners and regional directors have been instructed to ensure strict compliance, with enforcement action to follow in cases of violation. For India’s vast tea sector, the order is being seen as more than a technical correction—it is a reclaiming of what tea truly means.
