India’s food safety regulator has drawn a clear line on what can and cannot be called tea, a move that is set to reshape shelves across supermarkets and online marketplaces. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed food companies to stop using the word tea for beverages that are not derived exclusively from the Camellia sinensis plant, citing concerns around misbranding and consumer confusion.
In an advisory issued this week, the regulator said it had observed several products such as rooibos tea, herbal tea and flower tea being sold under the tea label despite having no connection to the tea plant. Under existing food standards notified in 2011, tea is legally defined as a product made solely from Camellia sinensis, the source of black, green, instant and region-specific varieties such as Kangra tea. Any plant based infusion or botanical blend falls outside this definition.
The clarification means brands selling chamomile, hibiscus, floral or detox infusions will need to rework product names, packaging and listings. Industry executives said the directive could trigger widespread relabelling and reclassification, especially on ecommerce platforms where herbal beverages are often grouped under the tea category.
The tea industry has welcomed the move, calling it long overdue. Bidyananda Barkakoty, adviser to the North Eastern Tea Association, said the directive would remove ambiguity for consumers and help protect the identity of Indian tea. He added that similar definitions are followed by global regulators, including the US Food and Drug Administration, which distinguishes traditional tea from herbal infusions.
While herbal drinks remain popular among health focused consumers for being caffeine free and soothing, the regulator stressed that perceived health benefits cannot justify inaccurate naming. According to FSSAI, using the word tea for unrelated products creates misleading associations and violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
For consumers, the change is expected to bring clarity at the point of purchase. For companies, it marks a compliance challenge and a branding reset. As enforcement tightens, India’s beverage aisle is likely to see clearer distinctions between traditional tea and the growing universe of plant based infusions.
