Each year on May 21, we come together to celebrate tea—one of the world’s most cherished beverages and a vital source of livelihood for millions. Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 74/241 in 2019, International Tea Day is an opportunity to recognize tea’s cultural, economic, and agricultural significance, while encouraging global action toward sustainable production and consumption.

 

2025 Theme: “Tea for Better Lives”

 

Tea production and processing provide livelihoods for millions of families across the globe. This annual celebration promotes sustainable tea production, consumption, and trade, while serving as a platform for global, regional, and national stakeholders to strengthen the tea sector’s contribution to eradicating extreme poverty, combating hunger, and preserving natural resources.

 

Why International Tea Day Matters

 

The observance supports global efforts aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1 – Eradicating extreme poverty

• SDG 2 – Ending hunger and promoting food security

• SDG 5 – Empowering women and promoting gender equality

• SDG 15 – Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biodiversity

 

Together, these goals drive progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

A Toast to Tea’s Global Impact

 

The origins of tea stretch back more than 5 000 years, but its contributions to health, culture and socioeconomic development are still as relevant today. Tea is currently grown in very localized areas, and supports over 13 million people, including smallholder farmers and their households, who depend on the tea sector for their livelihoods.

 

International Tea Day is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of tea, while working to make its production sustainable “from field to cup” ensuring its benefits for people, cultures and the environment continue for generations.

 

Join the Conversation

 

Let’s celebrate tea’s enduring legacy and its role in creating a more sustainable and equitable world. 

 

Engage with International Tea Day online and help raise awareness using the official hashtags and click here for additional social media content:

#InternationalTeaDay

#TeaDay

#FarmedwithCare 

#IPickedYourTea

 

Explore the event website click here. Let’s continue to champion sustainability, inclusion, and resilience across the tea industry.