May 21st
International Tea Day
The UN General Assembly decided to declare May 21 as International Tea Day. The day promotes collective action to implement activities in favor of sustainable tea production and consumption and to raise awareness of its importance in the fight against hunger and poverty.
Tea production and processing contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing extreme poverty (Goal 1), fighting hunger (Goal 2), empowering women (Goal 5), and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Goal 15). Climate change poses a significant challenge to tea production, as changing temperatures and rainfall patterns affect yields, quality, and prices. Adaptation measures and reducing carbon emissions from tea production are necessary. Tea production is a vital source of income for millions of families in developing countries and plays a significant role in rural development and poverty reduction. Drinking tea can have health benefits and cultural significance. Celebrating International Tea Day can involve supporting fair trade, responsible agriculture, and choosing tea brands that align with sustainable practices. Interesting facts about tea include its detoxifying and cleansing properties, its use as a natural fertilizer, the history of powdered tea like MatchaTea, and the invention of tea bags in the early 20th century.
