New Delhi: Tea, chai, cha – call it by whichever name, it is one beverage that unites the whole world, with each country swearing by its tea flavours while appreciating those from other countries too.
Although every day is tea day for those whose day begins with a cuppa, the world is celebrating International Tea Day today. The day is observed primarily with a view to increasing consumption of tea.
On International Tea Day, let’s bust the myth doing the rounds in today’s pandemic times. Question: ‘Can drinking teaccure COVID-19?’ Answer: ‘No.’ ‘Misleading.’ Period.
What the UN says about tea
In 2019, the United Nations (UN) recognised the importance of one of the world’s oldest beverages.
Marking the celebration, the UN took to Twitter to extend their greeting: “Tea is central to many cultures, and it contributes to employment, exports earnings & food security.”
Not only has the UN recognised the medicinal property of tea, but it has also considered the beverage as an important ingredient of its Sustainable Development Goal programme. It hoped tea will play a pivotal role in eradicating hunger and poverty across the world.
International Tea Day is celebrated by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Why the date May 21?
The reason is that in Darjeeling and Nepal, known for some of the finest teas in the world, the first flush arrives in spring – between mid-March and May. This variety of tea is clear, light and extremely aromatic and commands the highest price in international markets.
Tea file
- Tea is one of the world’s oldest beverages and most popular after water.
- Records suggest that tea had originated in northeast India, north Myanmar and in southwest China.
- There is evidence that tea was consumed in China some 5,000 years ago.
- Tea plantations provide employment to millions of growers and tea estate workers worldwide.
- The production and processing of tea are among the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SGDs. The tea industry helps in fighting poverty and hunger. It contributes to the empowerment of women and the sustainable use of ecosystems.
- While more than half of the tea produced is consumed locally, it is widely traded and exported.
- Over the years, the tea industry worldwide has seen rapid growth.
- In some of the largest tea producing countries, the per capita consumption of tea is low, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).
- There are many health benefits linked to drinking tea. Tea is believed to be anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and green tea is known to be good for weight loss
- Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinesis plant. (Compiled by NDTV)