The first-ever International Tea Day recently took place on May 21st, following a designation from the United Nations General Assembly in December 2019. The UN assembly encouraged the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an affiliate of the United Nations, to spearhead the observation of the occasion. May was selected as the debut month for the celebration because it coincides with the onset of tea production in multiple tea-producing countries.
What is Tea?
Tea is a beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant and stands as the second most consumed drink in the world, trailing only water. Its origins trace back to northeast India, north Myanmar, and southwest China, though the exact location where the plant first developed remains unknown. Evidence supports tea consumption in China as far back as 5,000 years.
Tea’s Role in Economy
Producing and processing tea holds great economic significance, providing livelihoods for millions of people primarily in developing and least developed countries. It operates as a labour-intensive sector, offering employment opportunities mainly in remote and economically disadvantaged locations. The cultivation of tea can significantly contribute to rural development, poverty reduction, and food security, making it one of the most valuable cash crops in these regions.
Sustainable Development through Tea
The industry around tea also lends itself to several sustainable development aims, such as reducing extreme poverty (Goal 1), combatting hunger (Goal 2), empowering women (Goal 5), and promoting the sustainable usage of terrestrial ecosystems (Goal 15).
Plantation Conditions for Tea
Tea, being a tropical and sub-tropical plant, thrives in moderately hot and humid climates, with the perfect temperature range for growth being 20°-30°C. Although temperatures above 35°C and below 10°C are potentially damaging for the plant, it can handle 150-300 cm of annual rainfall well distributed across the year. The soil most suitable for tea cultivation is slightly acidic (lacking calcium) with a porous sub-soil, allowing for efficient water percolation.
Climate Change and Tea
Alterations in temperature and rainfall patterns accompanied by increased floods and droughts have begun impacting tea yield, product quality, and price. This shift lowers income and threatens rural livelihoods. Concurrently, there’s a growing awareness of the necessity to contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing carbon emissions from tea production and processing.
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
FAO has designated four tea cultivation sites as GIAHS in China, Korea, and Japan. These locations are: Pu’er Traditional Tea Agrosystem (China), Fuzhou Jasmine and Tea Culture System (China), Traditional Tea-grass Integrated System (Japan), and Traditional Hadong Tea Agrosystem, Hwagae-myeon (Republic of Korea).
The GIAHS was founded by the FAO to protect and support the world’s agricultural heritage systems. These systems are exceptional landscapes that couple agricultural biodiversity with resilient ecosystems, all while preserving a rich cultural heritage. India hosts three recognized GIAHS sites, namely the Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System of Kerala, Koraput Traditional Agriculture of Odisha, and Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.
