Since 2005, International Tea Day has been observed annually on December 15. In 2020, International Tea Day was moved to May 21. However, this day is a bit different than other tea days that give us an excuse to celebrate the beverage. There is more behind this day than just putting the kettle on and sipping a cup of your favourite tea. This day celebrates tea culture but it is also meant to shed light on what goes on behind the scenes of getting those tea leaves to you and your cup. International Tea Day’s purpose is to spread awareness about the tea workers’ contributions and their working conditions.

What International Tea Day Means To Me

Each tea leaf has a story to tell. On International Tea Day, I am reminded to slow down and take more time to think about the story that these leaves have to share. I can feel the tea workers’ stories and labour throughout the steeps of the leaves they have cultivated and processed for us. As tea drinkers, I believe it’s important for us to become more informed about the tea we are drinking. Not just about its characteristics but, more importantly, where it came from and what the working situations are like for those on that farm. 

International Tea Day means generosity to me. Generosity is a big part of tea — sharing it with guests, family, strangers. Tea brings people together and we have the tea workers to thank for connecting us all.

As I sit here exploring my thoughts for this day, I am reminded of a section of my tea book that I devoted to the tea workers and, more specifically, this quote:

Always remember those who work behind the scenes for your tea. If it were not for them, what would you be drinking in this moment?

Thinking of all involved in bringing these leaves from the farm to my teacup a little more today.

… & To Others

I wanted to learn from fellow tea drinkers/professionals what this day means to them. Our tea journeys differ from one another and it’s interesting to gain a different perspective. Here is what a few had to say:

Mona of Teawala, Hong Kong:

“For me, this is a day we can appreciate the time and effort spent perfecting our beloved beverage, and recognize the challenges faced by tea communities. When sipping on a hot cup of tea at home, we are often disconnected from what goes on behind the scenes. This year I had the privilege of traveling to different tea regions in Asia, with the mission of bridging this gap through social media. These travels not only made me realize how complex the tea making process is, but also how many people are involved from start to finish.

In Taiwan I stayed with a family that has produced oolong tea for over thirty years. What I did not realize was that from the moment the leaves are ready for plucking, it is a non-stop two day production process: Plucking, withering, and frying the leaves occur on the first day, while the second day is dedicated purely to rolling – a process that requires a lot of manual labour. The two phrases I kept hearing most during these two days were Ao Ye and Xin Ku meaning to stay up all night, and to suffer the bitterness. So you can imagine the work involved! At the end, the family produced just over 100kg of finished tea and thanked the Gods for another year of great harvest. This experience reminded me just how precious our tea is.

Another recurring theme I witnessed on these travels was the challenge of preserving the age old tradition in a modernized world. One of the most touching moments was seeing a father and daughter, side by side, spreading leaves for withering. However, with the younger generation moving to cities for work and little financial motivation to stay in the tea industry, this was a rare sight. While I do not have the answer for these questions, I believe it is our responsibility as tea professionals to brainstorm solutions to these problems, in order to continue enjoying the drink we all know and love so dearly.”

Connie of Tea in Spoons, Canada:

“International Tea Day means the showcasing of the farming, production and culture of tea! I also love how it celebrates the sharing of tea around the world.”

Tracey of Millennia TEA, Canada:

Carlotta of Five O’Clock Tea, Italy:

“We should stop while drinking a cup of tea and think about who picked and then treated those leaves, who designed that cup…etc. In particular, this year on International Tea Day my thought goes to Mike Fritts from the Golden Feather Tea Plantation. He lost his house and tea plants during the huge fire in North California last month. His tea plantation was the first I have ever visited. His wife and he were very kind to me. They opened their doors to me and we spent hours chatting and drinking tea. For International Tea Day I want to raise my cup to all the people who are involved in tea production, who work with passion and dedication but suffer from environmental disasters and climate changes.”

Phil of Zhen Tea, Canada:

“As a relatively new tea drinker and someone who’s very excited about tasting grade tea, I look at International Tea Day to further spread the good word about the largely unknown world of stunningly amazing tea. So many people enjoy tea on so many levels, but very few understand that it is a sophisticated drink, far surpassing wine in complexity and variation. This ties in with International Tea Day beautifully, because traditionally this day is to help raise awareness about tea workers who are, let’s say, monetarily underappreciated. Well, diving into tasting grade tea is a great way to support a segment of the tea industry that doesn’t profit in that way. Pluckers are highly skilled and respected, producers are focused on the perfect sip and when they nail it, everyone benefits and that includes you and me!”

Zhen of Zhen Tea, Canada:

“I had never heard of International Tea Day while I was in China. The situation there with plucker, producers and tea farm workers seems to be quite different than elsewhere in the world. But anytime people take a moment to really think about their tea, that’s a good thing for sure. I’ve been working with producers and tea farm workers for years and I have a deep respect for those that harvest and create great tea. It’s truly a labour of love that we all benefit from.”

James of Far West Tea, USA:

“Here’s what comes to mind on International Tea Day: I think everyone could agree the tea plant is forgiving and generous with a strong will for life. We could all stand to be a little more like tea.”

Now it’s your turn: Share in the comments below what International Tea Day means to you.