The article provides an overview of the global tea industry, with a focus on China as the largest producer and consumer of tea. It highlights the cultural significance of tea and the challenges and opportunities within the industry. In China, the tea market has seen changes, with a shift towards imported teas in the 1990s and a current emphasis on domestic tea's unique aroma and quality. The article also discusses the challenges faced by the Chinese tea industry, such as overcapacity, low scale, and quality control, and the efforts being made towards branding, standardization, and modernization. Additionally, the article explores the role of the tea industry in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in China, mentioning initiatives like ecological tea gardens and cooperatives. It concludes by emphasizing the potential for the industry to become a pillar of economic development and rural transformation, provided that these challenges are addressed.