FSSAI cracks down on tealess herbal ‘tea’, warns against misleading labels

Sumit Jha

Jan 08, 2026

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India’s food safety watchdog has cracked down on misleading labels in the beverage industry.

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Starting this year, only drinks made from actual tea leaves can be called “tea” – meaning popular products like chamomile tea, rooibos tea, and tulsi tea will need new names.

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FSSAI issued the order stating that the word “tea” can only be used for beverages made from tea plant. Everything else must be called an “infusion,” “blend,” or something similar.

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The regulator clarified that “the use of the word ‘tea’ directly or indirectly for any other plant-based or herbal infusions or blends is misleading and amounts to misbranding.

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Many people buying “herbal tea” assumed they were getting actual tea with added herbs, not realising the products contained no tea leaves at all.