10 Best Russian Tea Brands (2026 Review)

Greenfield is the single most popular tea brand in Russia by value of sales and has held that position for years. A joint project between Greenfield Tea Ltd. of the UK and Orimi Group of St. Petersburg, it was introduced to the Russian market in 2003 and quickly became the tea most Russians reach for first.

What puts Greenfield ahead of the competition is its breadth of quality. Its three main product lines cover black, green, and herbal teas sourced from Ceylon, India, China, Kenya, and Japan. The pyramid teabag format, packed in individual thermo sachets, preserves freshness in a way standard teabags simply cannot match.

Greenfield is ideal for everyday tea drinkers who want genuine variety without sacrificing consistency. It has also been recognized as the official tea of major Russian cultural and economic events, which speaks to the level of trust the brand has earned over more than two decades.

Maisky is a true Russian success story. Founded in 1991 by Afghan War veteran Igor Lisinenko, MAY Foods set out to give Russian consumers a quality loose-leaf tea at a time when such a product simply did not exist in the Soviet market. The brand quickly became one of the country’s top two tea companies by both revenue and volume.

The tea itself is hand-picked from the finest gardens in Sri Lanka and delivers the kind of strong, aromatic cup that Russian tea culture prizes most. It was recognized as the number one Russian tea brand in both 2010 and 2019, which is a consistency of excellence that very few brands can claim.

Kusmi Tea carries one of the most storied histories in the tea world. Founded in 1867 in St. Petersburg by Pavel Kousmichoff, it became the tea of choice for Russian nobility and expanded into a chain of shops across every major Russian city before moving to Paris in 1917. Today it operates from France but remains deeply connected to Russian tea tradition.

The brand’s signature blends are crafted around historical and cultural Russian references. Its Anastasia blend — a black tea infused with bergamot, lemon, and orange blossom — and the boldly layered Prince Vladimir blend are two standout examples of how the brand honors its roots while appealing to modern tastes.

Kusmi Tea is best suited to those who appreciate premium quality, elegant packaging, and teas with a story behind them. Prices sit firmly in the premium range, so this is a treat-yourself brand rather than an everyday staple — though many devoted fans would disagree with that distinction.

Ahmad Tea, while founded in England, has become one of Russia’s top five tea brands and holds a genuinely significant footprint in the country. The brand has operated a Moscow production facility since 2004, employing over 360 people and producing more than 1.2 million kilograms of tea per month for Russia and neighboring countries like Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Its Russian range spans classic black tea, green tea, flavored blends, herbal infusions, and gift collections. The quality is consistent, the sourcing is carefully overseen from the UAE, and the pyramid teabag production runs at 600 bags per minute — giving Ahmad the scale to maintain freshness across its entire lineup.

Tess Tea is the second brand developed through the partnership between Greenfield Tea Ltd. of the UK and Orimi Group. Launched in Russia in 2009, it was positioned from the beginning as a premium offering for an active, modern consumer. That positioning has stuck, and Tess now commands strong awareness and loyalty across Russia.

The range includes both black and green teas alongside a variety of fruit and berry-infused blends that appeal to people who want something livelier than a straight black brew. Pyramid teabags are a core part of the lineup, and the brand has been an official partner of sporting and cultural youth events, which reinforces its reputation as a tea for a younger, more adventurous crowd.

If you enjoy bold, flavored teas that still maintain a serious base of quality leaf, Tess delivers that reliably. The price is reasonable for a premium tier brand, and the variety on offer means most palates will find at least a few blends worth returning to.

Krasnodar Tea occupies a unique position in the Russian tea world because it is one of the only brands producing tea actually grown on Russian soil. The Krasnodar region near the Black Sea coast has a subtropical climate that supports genuine tea cultivation, making this a rare home-grown product in a market otherwise dominated by imported leaves.

The teas carry a rich, malty character with an earthy depth that reflects the Black Sea terroir. Loose-leaf black tea is the brand’s strongest suit and pairs exceptionally well with the classic Russian tea table — fresh bread, fruit preserves, and a wedge of lemon on the side. The herbal infusion range also draws on locally grown botanicals.

Richard Tea sits at the premium end of the MAY Foods portfolio and was deliberately built around the idea of royal tea culture. The brand has achieved recognition not just in Russia but internationally, with listings on several global online platforms and a reputation that travels well beyond its home market.

The range focuses on aromatic, high-quality black teas with carefully chosen flavor additions — bergamot, fruits, and spices feature prominently. The presentation is noticeably elevated compared to MAY’s other brands, with packaging that communicates luxury without crossing into pretension. This is the brand MAY points to when it talks about premium growth potential.

Richard is well matched to those who want a step up from everyday grocery-store tea without jumping to the price point of a boutique Western brand. The quality is genuinely there, and the brand’s growing international presence suggests it is earning that reputation in multiple markets, not just at home.

Princess Noori, produced by Orimi Group, is the best-selling black tea brand in the Russian market and has won the prestigious “Product of the Year” national trade award multiple times. Its teas have taken gold, silver, and bronze medals at international tasting competitions, including a Grand Prix at the International Tasting Competition for Tea and Coffee.

The brand operates across several product lines — Selected, Original High-Grown, and Kenyan — offering loose-leaf teas, standard teabags, and pyramid teabags. It has also earned the independent quality mark from the Consumers Union of Russia. This level of third-party validation is rare and speaks to how seriously Orimi takes the quality behind this label.

Curtis is the most playful and adventurous brand in the MAY Foods family. Where Maisky and Richard lean into tradition and prestige respectively, Curtis is built around modern flavors and a younger, more experimental audience. Exotic fruit blends, dessert-inspired infusions, and lively flavor combinations are the brand’s trademark.

The teas are presented in attractive packaging with a contemporary feel, and the range rotates seasonal and limited-edition offerings that keep things fresh. Curtis takes care of its base black tea quality and layers flavors on top thoughtfully, so you are not sacrificing the tea experience for the sake of novelty.

For those who find straight black tea too austere but still want something grounded in real tea rather than just flavored hot water, Curtis hits a satisfying middle ground. It is especially popular among people who are just beginning to move beyond instant tea and want something that feels like a modest upgrade.

Ivan Chai occupies a completely different category from every other brand on this list. Rather than sourced tea leaves, it is made from fermented fireweed — a wildflower native to the Russian countryside and Siberia — and has no caffeine whatsoever. It has been part of Russian herbal tradition for centuries and is currently experiencing a major revival as interest in natural, functional beverages grows.

The flavor is earthy, slightly sweet, and floral, with a smoothness that makes it remarkably easy to drink. Many producers in Russia, including MAY Foods which holds its own patents for Ivan Chai production, now offer premium packaged versions of this tea. The antioxidant content is high, and the drink is widely associated with digestive comfort and relaxed energy.