International Tea Day

  Tea can only be produced in narrowly defined agro-ecological conditions and, hence, in a very limited number of countries, many of which will be heavily impacted by climate change.  

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Come to China, enjoy six amazing teas.

World Tea Day is celebrated annually on May 21st to promote and raise awareness about the importance of tea and its cultural, historical and health significance around the world.

According to archaeological and historical records, China is considered the birthplace of tea. The earliest documented use of tea dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC), while tea as a beverage became popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

With trade along the Silk Road, tea spread from China to various parts of the world, profoundly influencing global tea culture. China boasts the most diverse range of teas globally, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, yellow tea and dark tea, each with its unique production method and flavors.

Here are six well-known teas with amazing well-known teas produced in China.

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Sichuan's tea in high demand overseas.

Tuesday is International Tea Day, and the tea industry in China's Sichuan Province has grown in popularity in recent years, especially overseas. China exported over 360,000 tonnes of tea last year, and Sichuan's tea is in high demand among global consumers. CGTN's Zheng Songwu visited tea plantations and enterprises in the province to find out why.

International Tea Day: Sichuan's tea in high demand overseas

Tuesday is International Tea Day, and the tea industry in China's Sichuan Province has grown in popularity in recent years, especially overs

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Thanks to its anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties.

Tea has an important place across a variety of cultures, and has many health benefits thanks to its anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties.

More from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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A magic Leaf: Tea for Green Development.

Observance of the International Tea Day Thematic Event - A Magic Leaf: Tea for Green Development

The 74th Session of the General Assembly decided to designate 21 May as the International Tea Day. As an important economic crop, tea can pl

On the commemoration of the International Tea Day 2023, the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and the FAO Liaison Office in New York co-host this thematic event entitled "A magic Leaf: Tea for Green Development". The event will provide us with a good opportunity to promote international cooperation in tea industry and exchange of tea culture, so as to contribute to global green development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony 2023.

 

The GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony will be organized at FAO in person where official GIAHS certificates will be awarded by FAO Director General to representatives of twenty four new GIAHS sites designated after April 2018. This event is also expected to review all new GIAHS sites and exchange the issues, challenges and future plans. Besides the certificate ceremony, an exhibition event of the information on new GIAHS sites and small side events will be held.

Green Room (FAO Headquarters)

22.05.2023, Start: 15:00  Rome time.

GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony - Morning Session

GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony - Afternoon Session

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

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Celebrate International Tea Day 2023 with us under the theme “Bringing people together over a cup of tea”.

This year, theme is "Bringing people together over a cup of tea''; The observance of the International Tea Day 2023 will focus on smallholder tea producers. The Day aims to raise awareness of the deep cultural, heritage and economic significance of tea around the globe.

The observance of the International Tea Day aims to raise awareness of the key role the sector plays in reducing extreme poverty (SDG1), fighting hunger (SDG2), empowering women (SDG5), supporting the sustainable use of the terrestrial ecosystem (SDG15), and in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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Focus on smallholders and the importance of tea cultivation for their livelihood.

19 May 2023, 14:00 - 15:45 hours (Rome time) | Hybrid event Concept Note | Agenda | Register | Webcast

The 2023 International Tea Day event, to be opened by FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, will focus on smallholders and the importance of tea cultivation for their livelihood. Tea cultivation is attractive to smallholders in many low-income countries because it creates jobs and income throughout the year and requires relatively little investment. They are responsible for 60 percent of global tea production. The International Tea Day aims to raise awareness of the cultural heritage and economic significance of tea around the globe. 

This year’s celebration will be an occasion to reaffirm the commitment of all stakeholders to supporting smallholder tea growers and help them overcome the challenges they face. It will also provide governments and other actors at global, regional, and national level an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss collective actions for an efficient, sustainable, and resilient tea sector, for the benefit of both producers and consumers.

Hybrid Event: “Bringing people together over a cup of tea” 14:00 - 15:45 hours CEST (Rome time).

Interpretation will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

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The tea sector is a billion dollar industry that can support economies and contribute to sustainable food systems.

In many developing countries, the tea sector contributes significantly to rural development, poverty reduction and food security, representing, in several cases, a major source of income and employment for millions of poor families. The global tea production amounts annually to over USD 17 billion, while world tea trade is valued at about USD 9.5 billion, accounting for an important source of export earnings. One key characteristic about tea is that smallholders are responsible for 60 percent of world production. Importantly, tea provides productive jobs in rural areas, which empowers households and communities to meet their food security needs and improve their nutritional status. World tea per capita consumption increased by 2.5 percent over the last decade, with marked expansions in tea producing countries. Developing and emerging economies have been driving the growth in demand, with East Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East leading the expansion Several factors influence demand for tea, including prices and income variables, demographics such as age, education, occupation, and cultural background. Growing consumption of tea in producing countries, driven by population and income growth, has translated in a decrease of exportable production over the past two decades. Nevertheless, per capita consumption remains low in these countries compared to importing markets, and greater efforts should be directed at expanding demand to explore prevailing market opportunities.

International tea market: market situation, prospects and emerging issues.

The FAO Markets and Trade Division (EST) reviews agricultural trade global issues, provides analytical and policy relevant information, main

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The tea sector contributes to socio-economic development, representing a major source of employment for millions of poor families globally.

The development of key industries is a crucial strategy to promote rural revitalization and an important measure to promote the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of a region. In this study, Lincang City, representing an innovation demonstration area of the National Sustainable Development Agenda, was used as a case study. We used a fixed effect model to analyze the influence of the tea industry on SDGs and discuss the realization path of SDGs linked to the tea industry. We aimed to provide a decision-making framework for the realization of SDGs in underdeveloped mountainous regions. The results indicated the following: ① between 2010 and 2020, both the planting area and yield of tea increased significantly, but the annual growth rate and yield decreased. In terms of spatial distribution, the tea planting area was “high in the east and low in the west”, whereas the tea yield was “high in the north and low in the south”; ② the tea industry is conducive to the achievement of certain SDGs in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of Lincang City; however, in the social dimension, it has no significant impact on the SDGs at the regional level; ③ in regions with a low level of economic development, the effects of the tea industry on SDG1.1.1, SDG1.2.1, SDG2.1.1, and SDG8.5.1 were significantly greater than those in areas with high levels of economic development; ④ the tea industry could promote the full realization of SDGs by developing an entire industrial chain, promoting the integrated development of tea tourism, and constructing green and ecological tea gardens.

China is the largest tea producing country in the world, and it's divided in these 4 famous tea growing regions: Xinan, Huanan, Jiangnan, Ji

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The Pu’er Traditional Tea Agrosystem, China.

Pu'er City and its surroundings are located in the southern part of China’s Yunnan Province and are home to 13 ethnic groups.

The area is rich in biodiversity, with half wild-half cultivated ancient tea trees, some older than 1000 years, growing in the carefully preserved tea plantations. 

Innovation has been the secret to keeping this agroecosystem alive. The tea industry, driven by science and technology, has become a lead industry, developing the product, increasing the economy and improving farmers’ living standards.

“Pu’er tea production has increased by 44.5 percent since 2012, when it was recognized as a GIAHS site. And, also the City’s total tourism revenue increased by 707.59 percent after its designation” explained Deng Chuanchun, from the Pu’er Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

However, during the pandemic, Deng Chuanchun described how COVID-19 has been a challenge for tea production. The local tea market has temporarily shrunk and the number of merchants purchasing tea is decreasing sharply, causing a drop in the price of tea.

The Pu’er Traditional Tea Agrosystem, China.

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Traditional Hadong Tea Agrosystem in Hwagae-myeon, Republic of Korea.

Hwagae-myeon, known as the first region in Korea to plant tea, is the main district producing hand-crafted tea, a tradition dating back 1 200 years.

“With the site’s designation in 2015, Hadong’s wild tea cultivation  was recognized once again as a product of wisdom created by ancestors and preserved by their descendants who have inherited their own tea farming environment and culture” said the Mayor of Hadong county, Sangki Yoon.

He added that  International exports have increased, as has the interest in Hadong’s tea plantations and their cultural heritage which has had a positive impact on tourism in the region.

Every year, before the Hadong Wild Tea cultural Festival in May, the tea farmers of Hadong gather where the first tea trees were planted and pray for a good tea harvest. Unfortunately, this year events were cancelled due to COVID-19 but Mr Yoon explained that this has led to an increase in the promotion and sales of tea online.

Traditional Hadong Tea Agrosystem in Hwagae-myeon, Republic of Korea

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How the fresh leaves of the tea plant are processed and their level of contact with oxygen determine resulting types of tea?

All tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, a warm-weather evergreen. During oxidation, tea leaves undergo natural chemical reactions that result in distinctive color and taste characteristics. Green tea is not oxidized at all—the leaves are steamed, rolled and dried while black tea is allowed to oxidize for two to four hours. Oolong tea falls somewhere between green and black teas, in that the leaves are only partially oxidized.

Tea is grown in thousands of tea gardens or estates around the world, resulting in thousands of flavorful variations. Like wines, each tea takes its name from the district in which it's grown, and each district is known for producing tea with unique flavor and character. Tea is also divided by grades, determined by leaf size. Smaller sized leaves are used in tea bags while the larger sized leaves can be found in packaged loose tea.

Herbal teas do not come from Camellia sinensis, but are an infusion of leaves, roots, bark, seeds or flowers of other plants. They lack many of the unique characteristics of tea and are not linked with the research on the potential health benefits of traditional teas.

State of the Industry Tea Fact Sheet Brewing Tea Food Service Brochure Glossary of Terms What the Tea Leaves Say Bunn Tea Basics Brochure Tea to Your Health Brochure

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Drinking Tea!

On May 21st; Join us to raise awareness on the benefits of Tea.

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Tea can boost brain and mind health.

Raises awareness of the importance of tea research. Black teas, Green teas and Oolong Tea have been shown to benefit human cognition, mental wellbeing and brain function.

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Sixth International Scientific Symposium on tea and Human Health.

Discussing the latest research on tea in relation to cognitive function, cancer prevention, cardiometabolic health and more.

Sixth International Scientific Symposium on tea and Human Health.

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Boiling only the water you need can save on energy costs.

“Worryingly, eight in 10 Brits told us they’re brewing a cuppa just to stay warm, revealing the true extent of the cost-of-living crisis. People aged 18-29 years were more likely to do this (85%) compared with the over sixties (71%). While two thirds of adults admit to overfilling the kettle when making hot drinks, 85% agreed that boiling only the water you need can save on energy costs. 

“Boiling just what you need is also good for the flavour of tea which develops best when made with freshly boiled water. The lack of oxygen bubbles in re-boiled water can give the tea a flat taste. Just over half (53%) of people in our survey were aware of this fact.

“Following the Smart Boil guideline to fill the kettle with only the water you need is good for the planet as well as your budget. The 2.5 million kWh of electricity saved each day would be enough to power 112 average homes for a year or is equivalent to 1.5 million miles of car journeys.

“Boiling just what you need benefits the planet and your purse and delivers tea perfection. Smart Boil is a win win win.”

Calculated by GHG experts from Carbon Intelligence, a sustainability data and consulting company

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Boil just what you need for your cup of tea.

It's good for the planet and your budget. This small change would save 2.5 million #kWh of electricity a day across the UK, enough to power 112 average homes for a year.

Eight in 10 Brits waste energy by overfilling the kettle when making a cuppa.

As we mark World Earth Day on 22nd April, new research from the UK Tea and Infusions Association reveals that Brits waste £742,000 a year boiling too much water when they make a cup of tea. Out of 1,000 UK tea drinkers quizzed[1], fewer than 1 in 5 boiled the recommended amount of water when making a single mug of tea, with almost half boiling three or more times the water they needed.

While a frugal one in 10 used the hot water for other household tasks, 70% left it to cool down and simply boiled it again for the next cuppa, but a further one in 10 chucked the water away.

Around 100 million cuppas are drunk daily by thirsty Brits and experts[2] have calculated that it wastes a whopping 2,649,792 kWh of electricity to boil the extra water when we overfill the kettle. With energy costs soaring in 2022, this could add 742,000 a year to the nation’s bills