The College of Tea Science traces its origins back to the Tea Research Section established by the School of Agriculture at Anhui University in 1936. From its inception, the College of Agriculture at the Provincial Anhui University set improving tea production technology in the province as its key research focus. In May 1936, the College of Agriculture at Anhui University dispatched Professor He Junfeng to Japan to investigate tea improvement efforts, with a particular focus on Japan's new tea - making techniques (the expenses were covered by the study-abroad funds of the Provincial Department of Education). Professor He Junfeng spent half a year in Japan for investigation and further studies. After returning to China, he established a tea research section at the College of Agriculture at Anhui University and provided training for teachers from various vocational schools and tea technicians from agricultural and forestry farms in Anhui Province. In September 1952, during the national adjustment of departments and faculties, the Tea Specialized Section of Fudan University was transferred to the College of Agriculture at Anhui University.

On October 20, 1953, the name “Anhui University” was discontinued. The College of Agriculture of Anhui University became independent as Anhui Agricultural College. The Tea Specialization Department became one of the four departments at Anhui Agricultural University. In August 1956, the Tea Specialization Department was upgraded to a bachelor's degree program and renamed the Tea Department. On April 22, 1994, the College of Light Industry was established. On July 6, 2004, it was renamed the Tea and Food Technology College. On July 17, 2024, the College of Tea and Food Technology was abolished, and the Tea College was established. The college now offers two undergraduate majors: tea science, tea culture, and trade. two master's degree programs, one doctoral program, and one postdoctoral research station. There are 448 full-time undergraduate students and 442 graduate students (including 16 international students). The faculty and staff total 77 faculty members, including 57 full-time faculty members, 24 full professors, and 18 doctoral advisors. Among them, 2 are national-level leading talents, 3 are national-level young talents, 2 are national tea industry system position experts, 1 provincial tea industry system chief expert, 10 are provincial-level talents, and 2 are provincial-level distinguished teachers. Over 96% of the full-time faculty hold doctoral degrees, and more than 50% have studied abroad.

The college currently has 11 provincial-level or higher platforms, including the National Key Laboratory for Tea Tree Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, the International Cooperation Joint Laboratory, and the Anhui Provincial Laboratory. It has been approved as one of the second batch of "National Model Departments for Party Building Work" by the Ministry of Education, and has 1 "Model Branch of National Party Building Work" cultivation unit, 1 "Strong Country Journey" action team for "Dual Leaders" Teacher Party Branch Secretaries of National Universities, and 1 "Dual Leaders" Teacher Party Branch Secretaries Studio for "Dual Leaders" Teachers of Provincial Universities. It has been selected as a pilot department for the comprehensive reform of the education and cultivation mechanism of the Ministry of Education, a provincial-level demonstration library for the "Leading" Plan of Grassroots Party Building in Urban Areas of Anhui Province, and a provincial-level demonstration point for grassroots ideological and political work. It has been approved as a national-level teaching team for tea science, a national-level Huang Daayan-style teaching team, and an innovation team of the Ministry of Education. It has received honors such as "National Advanced Collective of Professional Talents", "National Advanced Collective in the Education System", "Anhui Provincial Advanced Grassroots Party Organization", "Anhui Province March 8th Red Banner Collective", and "Anhui Youth May 4th Award Collective" (Data updated as of December 2025).