The Indian tea industry is an important contributor to the country's economy. India is one of the largest tea producers in the world, with tea exports accounting for a significant portion of the country's total exports. According to the Tea Board of India, the tea industry provides employment to over 3.5 million people, including tea garden workers, tea traders, and tea factory workers. Many Indian states, particularly the major tea-producing regions of Assam and West Bengal, rely heavily on the sale of tea as a revenue source. Thousands of small-scale tea growers, many of whom have tiny plots of land, rely on the tea industry to support their livelihoods. These growers sell their tea leaves to larger tea estates or factories. The Indian tea industry is significant culturally and historically, reflecting the nation's colonial past and its connections to other tea-drinking cultures around the world, in addition to its economic importance. The sector is a significant component of India's heritage and identity and has had a significant impact on the social and economic landscape of the regions where it is grown.