The day is an opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of tea and to raise awareness of the challenges facing the tea industry.
Another organization, The Tea Board of India, proposed International Tea Day in hopes of it becoming an official holiday for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. This was proposed by chairman Santosh Kumar Sarangi in 2015.
Tea is also a major source of income for many developing countries.
Tea was introduced to India by the British in the nineteenth century, to overcome the monopoly of Chinese production. The first area to be planted was the mountain region surrounding the city of Darjeeling, perched on the Himalayan foothills, in the 1850s.
India produces 1,700,000 tonnes a year approximately, which is almost 35% of what was produced worldwide. India comes second in the list as it produces an average of 900,094 tonnes per year. India is a nation of over one billion tea drinkers – 70% of the tea produced in the country is consumed within the country itself!
Tea is good for you. Tea contains polyphenols — antioxidants that repair cells and may help our bodies fend off cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, and other maladies.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just green tea that’s good for you. Black, white, and red tea also have health-giving flavonoids and polyphenols.
It takes around 2,000 tiny leaves to make just one pound of finished tea. There are more than 1,500 types of teas in the world.
Tea plants grow wild in parts of Asia, but over 25 countries cultivate tea as a plantation crop. The very best tea comes from high elevations and is hand-picked.
There are around 3,000 different types of tea. It is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water.
The average person in Britain drinks nearly 1,000 cups of tea a year whereas the annual consumption of tea is 3.6 billion cups around the world.
The most expensive tea bag in the world is a diamond teabag by Boodles Jewelers in England. The tea bag is worth for £7000 and was auctioned off for charity.
Tea now grows in 52 countries – the oldest tree, in China, is 3,200 years old.
Tea leaves can be used as a mosquito repellent. Tea leaves, especially green tea leaves are a natural way of keeping mosquitoes at bay.
Tea was used as a medicine for centuries before it became a daily drink.
Tea will absorb the aromas that are around it. So, store tea leaves in an airtight container at room temperature since they can absorb moisture and go bad.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts sessions to interact with the public, calling it 'Chai pe Charcha'.
People in India, generally bond over a cup of tea and discuss on any topic for hours together.
