15% Increase in Tea Prices in Turkey; Third ÇAYKUR Price Shock in 2026

Details of the New Price Increase in July 2026 ÇAYKUR, the state-owned tea production giant in Turkey, published its new price list for July. According to this report, the price of various types of dry tea has increased by an average of 15% [1]. These new rates are effective as of today, Monday, July 6, 2026, in all stores and distribution centers across the country. Reports indicate that the new price list had been previously sent to wholesalers and distributors so that changes could be implemented from the first working hours of the week [2].

Upward Price Trend; Third Increase in Three Months The current price increase is not the first this year. In fact, Turkish consumers have faced a chain of price increases in 2026. The first stage of price hikes was implemented on April 8 at a rate of 10%, and the second stage on May 22 at a rate of 15% [3]. Including today's 15% increase, the total cumulative price increase for dry tea in the last three months has reached a significant 45.5% [2]. This trend indicates accelerating inflation in the basic food sector, especially for tea as the most popular beverage in Turkey.

Economic Reasons and the Impact of Green Tea Purchase Rates Economic experts believe these price increases are directly linked to production costs and guaranteed tea purchase rates. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry had previously announced the purchase price for each kilogram of green tea leaves from farmers for 2026 as 35 Lira, which was an increase of about 38% compared to last year [4]. In addition to the rise in raw material prices, higher energy costs, labor wages, packaging, and logistics costs are other main factors that forced ÇAYKUR to adjust prices [1].

Market Status and Consumer Reaction With these changes, the retail price of tea on store shelves has changed drastically. Currently, the price of a one-kilogram pack of ÇAYKUR tea in the market varies between 280 and 350 Lira, and popular 500-gram packs such as Altınbaş have reached approximately 190 Lira [2]. This successive increase has met with widespread reactions on social media, where many citizens complain about their reduced purchasing power for this essential commodity. Market analysts predict that following this move by the state company, private sector brands will also increase their prices by the same amount in the coming days [3].