This year's theme: “Tea, as part of a healthy lifestyle, contributes to well-being and improved quality of life”
Tea and Its Importance in Health, Culture and Economy
Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water, but it represents much more than just a beverage. With profound cultural and economic impacts, tea is an important source of income for the regions where it is cultivated and has numerous healing properties, which improve health, aid in weight loss and reduce stress.
Why Should We Drink Tea?
Tea is produced from the Camellia sinensis plant and is believed to have originated in northeastern India, northern Myanmar and southwestern China. However, the exact place where it was first cultivated is unknown. Tea consumption in China dates back more than 5,000 years.
Tea production and processing is a source of livelihood for millions of families in developing countries. In some of the poorest countries, the tea industry is a major source of national income and export earnings. This industry provides jobs, especially in remote and economically fragile areas. Tea plays an important role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security.
Health Benefits of Tea
Consumption of tea brings numerous benefits to health and well-being, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss properties. It also has an important place in cultural and social practices in many countries around the world.
World Tea Day
To raise awareness of the importance of tea and to support efforts to increase consumption, especially in producing countries where per capita consumption is low, the United Nations General Assembly has declared May 21 as International Tea Day. This day aims to promote sustainable tea production and consumption, as well as to highlight its role in the fight against hunger and poverty.
Tea and the Sustainable Development Goals
The tea industry contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:
It is imperative to raise awareness of the role of tea in rural development and sustainable livelihoods, as well as to improve the tea value chain, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
International Standards for Tea Quality
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed more than 30 standards dedicated to tea. These standards help establish minimum quality levels and determine the content of constituent substances. They include standards for measuring caffeine and polyphenols, definitions for different types of tea – such as green, black or white – and sampling procedures.
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