Tea is the most consumed drink in the world after water and it provides plenty of benefits to consumers. It is also one of the world’s oldest beverages, as there is evidence that tea was consumed in China over 5,000 years ago. Furthermore, the tea industry is a main source of income and export revenues for some of the poorest countries worldwide. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s International Tea Day?

👉 Official Name: International Tea Day
💚 Cause: Celebrate the health benefits, economic importance, and cultural heritage of tea
📅 Next Date: May 21, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://www.un.org/en/observances/tea-day
🐦 Hashtag: #InternationalTeaDay

Keep reading to find all the important information about International Tea Day at a glance: its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About International Tea Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: International Tea Day is celebrated by tea lovers worldwide and aims to raise awareness of the long history and deep cultural and economic significance of tea. It fights to recognize the impact that the tea trade has on farmers and workers across all industry sectors. In addition, this event reminds us of all the ways tea boosts our health, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, and is an invitation to enjoy this drink while encouraging the purchase of responsibly made tea.

2️⃣ Why it is important: With 1,500 tea varieties from a single tea tree and numerous studies showing its benefits to our health, it’s no wonder that we consume an impressive 5 billion cups of tea worldwide every day. Moreover, tea production and processing is a main source of livelihood for 13 million people in developing countries and plays a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction, and food security as a highly marketable crop. Unfortunately, tea production chains are often unsustainable and remain vulnerable to forced and child labor. Also, tea is cultivated in very few countries, many of which will be heavily impacted by climate change.

3️⃣ How you can get involved: Celebrate International Tea Day by preparing tea for yourself and your loved ones, advocating for tea workers, or engaging your community in this observance:

1. Enjoy a Warm Drink: The perfect way to celebrate this day is to treat yourself to a cup of your favorite tea. You can also learn unique ways to brew your tea or combine ingredients to create new flavors. In addition, you can try making the well-known British Tea recipe. 
2. Support Fair Trade: You can donate to organizations that support the rights of workers across the tea industry, from cultivation to processing and global export. You can also advocate for these issues on social media using the hashtags #InternationalTeaDay and #FairTradeTeas.
3. Involve Others: You can organize tea parties with friends and family. Or, have a bake sale with tea cakes or Matcha cakes to raise money for tea workers! And, if you buy tea, opt for ones that are sustainably and ethically grown.

Below are our favorite charities that are relevant for International Tea Day:

• 9 Best Charities for Protecting Nature
• 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Forced Labor
• 10 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Labor

A Brief History of International Tea Day

When was this event established: International Tea Day was initially established by trade unions on December 15, 2005, to ensure a more sustainable tea production from fields to our cups. Later, in 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the event to promote sustainable production and consumption of tea, appointing the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to lead the observance every year.

How has it developed since then: Initially, the Day was celebrated by tea workers, growers, and civil societies in key tea-producing countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Kenya. Over the years, the celebration has become popular around the globe, and a great opportunity for Western countries to better understand the impact of the tea trade on indigenous populations and enjoy tea-themed events. 

3 Interesting Facts About International Tea Day

1. Good for Your Health: Green tea, black tea, or white tea – all are impressively rich in antioxidants that boost your immune system, and Matcha has 10 times the antioxidants of regular green tea! Also, consuming tea regularly can reduce your risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, while improving your gut and brain health.
2. Tea in History: Legend has it that in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shennong was sitting beneath a tree when some leaves from it blew into the water he was boiling, and “tea” was discovered. By 700 AD, tea became regarded as “an elixir of immortality” in China and, after the 1600s, it was brought to Europe by Dutch traders. 
3. The Teapot: Initially, raw tea leaves were chewed to release the flavors. Then, by the 1st century BC, there began the practice of boiling powdered tea leaves in water. This gave way to the method of brewing loose-leaf tea which led to the development of the teapot. The first written record of a teapot dates from around 1500 in the Jiangsu province of China.

Upcoming Dates of International Tea Day

International Tea Day is observed every year on May 21. 

Never Miss an Awareness Event Again

Sources

• Statistica: Who drinks tea?
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: International Tea Day | 21 May
• Chitra Collection: TEA IN EARLY CHINA AND JAPAN
• United Nations: International Tea Day
• Fairtrade Foundation: About Tea
• Hot Water Taps: Tea Overload
• Teabox Tea101: What are the different types of tea, and why should you try them?
• National Library of Medicine: Tea and Health: Studies in Humans
• UK Tea and Infusions Association: Tea is loved by Brits whatever their age and 5 billion cups of tea are drunk globally each day
• Mongabay: Climate change brews trouble for tea industry, but circular solutions await
• Play it Green: Sustainable Tea: Brewing A Greener Cup
• Human Trafficking Search: What’s Behind Your Cup of Tea?
• Moychay: The Top 5 Tea Brewing Methods: How To Brew Loose leaf Tea
• Martha Stewart: Making Your Own Tea Blends Is Easy—Tea Experts Share How to Start
• Alpha Foodie: How to make British tea
• Class Pop: 33 Delightful Tea Party Ideas for a Charming Afternoon
• Lana’s Cooking: Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes
• Drive Me Hungry: matcha cake or green tea cake
• Sustainable Baddie: 12 Sustainable and Ethically Sourced Tea Brands
• Wikipedia: International tea day
• Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2019
• Niko Neko Macha: International Tea Day
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Home page
• Penn Medicine: the hidden health benefits of tea
• Tea Drops: matcha tea benefits
• Good Food: Top 10 health benefits of tea
• UK Tea and Infusions Association: The History of Tea
• Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse: The Culture of Tea