No more ‘herbal tea’: FSSAI restricts use of ‘tea’ to Camellia sinensis leaves; herbal blends must rename

GUWAHATI: The wellness market has just lost its favourite word. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food business operators, including e-commerce platforms, to stop misleading consumers by branding herbal infusions as “tea,” a move that could reshape India’s fast-growing beverage industry.The FSSAI clarification issued on Wednesday restricts the use of the word “tea” to only products derived from Camellia sinensis, the true tea plant, and nothing else.The FSSAI said plant-based or herbal infusions or blends, which are not derived from Camellia sinensis, do not qualify to be named as tea, and the use of the word “tea,” directly or indirectly, is misleading and amounts to misbranding under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.“It has come to the notice of FSSAI that some Food Business Operators (FBOs) are marketing products that are not obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis under the name “Tea”, such as “Rooibos Tea,” “Herbal Tea,” “Flower Tea,” etc,” the clarification read.The FSSAI said under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, tea refers exclusively to products derived from the Camellia sinensis plant — the source of black, green, Kangra, and instant teas in solid form.It added that plant-based or herbal infusions or blends, which are not derived from Camellia sinensis, do not qualify to be named as tea.Industry leaders in Assam, the world’s largest tea-producing region, welcomed the move. “We are very happy with this much-needed clarification from FSSAI, the food safety regulator of India,” said Bidyananda Barkakoty, adviser of the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA).“This definition of tea will remove a lot of ambiguity from the consumer’s mind, and will also help remove clutter and confusion,” he added.Barkakoty pointed out that even the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognises only tea derived from Camellia sinensis as a “healthy” beverage, not herbal infusions.The directive is expected to have a ripple effect across India’s booming wellness market. Herbal blends, often marketed as calming or detoxifying alternatives, will now need to be rebranded as “herbal infusions” or “botanical blends.” E-commerce platforms will have to relist thousands of products, while smaller wellness brands may struggle to maintain visibility without the familiar “tea” tag.However, for Assam’s tea industry, the order is seen as a safeguard. By tightening definitions, FSSAI ensures that when consumers buy “tea,” they are purchasing genuine Camellia sinensis leaves — reinforcing the global reputation of Assam and Darjeeling teas.As enforcement begins, the wellness market faces a period of adjustment. But for India’s tea growers, the message is clear — the word “tea” belongs only to Camellia sinensis.