International Tea Day: Its significance and history

The day aims to raise awareness among citizens and governments about how the global tea trade affects growers and employees

Today is International Tea Day. The day is dedicated to all tea lovers. According to the United Nations, the day is observed every year on May 21 to raise awareness of the long history and deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world.

Significance of International Tea Day:

The celebration of International Tea Day aims to encourage and promote group efforts to carry out initiatives in support of tea’s sustainable production and consumption as well as to increase awareness of tea’s significance in the battle against hunger and poverty.

The day also aims to raise awareness among citizens and governments about how the global tea trade affects growers and employees, and it has been associated with calls for fair trade and price supports.

International Tea Day History

As per the United Nations, evidence suggests that tea was consumed in China 5,000 years ago.

One day a Chinese Emperor Shen Nung and his soldiers were taking shelter under a tree when suddenly some Wind-blown tea leaves fell accidentally into a pot of boiling water, which later resulted in what is now the world’s most popular beverage.

First discovered in China in 2737 BC, tea went on to become a staple within Asian culture where it was a symbolic part of religious rituals before it turned into a drink and a medicinal cure.

In order to compete with China’s monopoly on the production of tea, the British first brought the crop to India for commercial purposes in 1824. Since then, it has been extensively grown throughout Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Assam, with 900,000 tonnes of tea reportedly produced in the nation.

International Tea Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2019. The resolution recognised the importance of tea as a traditional beverage in many cultures and its contribution to the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

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