Raise your Cups: Celebrate the Joy of Tea on International Tea Day

International Tea Day is an annual observance celebrated on May 21st to raise awareness about the importance of tea, promote its cultural and economic significance, and encourage global tea trade.

This designated day recognizes the universal love for tea and acknowledges the contributions of tea growers, producers, and consumers worldwide.

The idea of establishing an International Tea Day originated from several tea-producing countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Kenya. These countries proposed the concept to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in an effort to highlight the economic and social impact of the tea industry and create a platform for global cooperation.

As the 2nd most popular drink in the world- next to water, it was important to identify the challenges facing the tea growing communities around the world. Thus in December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to designate May 21st as International Tea Day. The resolution aimed to recognize the significant role of tea in promoting sustainable agriculture, rural development, and livelihoods of millions of people involved in the tea industry, especially in developing countries.

International Tea Day serves multiple purposes. It aims to:

• Promote tea as a sustainable and culturally diverse beverage: Tea is consumed and cherished by people of various cultures and backgrounds worldwide.

• Celebrates the cultural diversity associated with tea and emphasizes its role in social gatherings, traditions, and well-being.

• Highlight the contributions of the tea industry: The tea sector supports millions of workers, including small-scale farmers, plantation workers, and traders. International Tea Day recognizes their efforts and brings attention to the economic importance of the tea industry.

• Raise awareness about tea production and its impact on the environment: Tea cultivation and processing have implications for land use, water resources, biodiversity, and climate change. International Tea Day encourages sustainable practices in the tea industry and promotes environmental awareness.

• Foster international cooperation: International Tea Day provides an opportunity for countries, organizations, and individuals to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and work together to address challenges faced by the tea industry. It promotes dialogue and partnerships to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of the global tea trade.

From 2019 and 2022 Tranquil Tea celebrated this day by sharing knowledge, inviting other tea drinking communities to brew tea running tea tasting workshops in Ipswich information centre.

This year, we are dedicating our website and blogs to discuss issues such as fair trade, organic tea production, tea research, and the social and economic well-being of tea workers- topics close to my heart.

-Published by Dona-