Hyderabad: May 21 is observed as International Tea Day. 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.
Tea production and processing represent a source of livelihoods for millions of families, including millions in least developed countries. Tea export earnings help to finance food import bills, supporting the economies of major tea- producing countries.
The specific agro-ecological conditions where tea thrives occur in areas which are highly vulnerable to climate change.
Some interesting facts about Tea
- Tea is one of the world’s oldest beverages, and is the most consumed drink in the world after water.
- Tea per capita consumption world wide increased by 2.8 percent per year over the last decade.
- Smallholders are responsible for 60 percent of world tea production
- Tea supports the livelihoods of 9 million smallholder farmers in the four main producing countries (China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya)
- Global tea production amounts to over 17.0 USD billion.
- Tea production and trade contribute to livelihoods, food security and incomes in many parts of the world, especially in some of the poorest rural areas.
- Tea is available in many varieties, which differ according to the applied oxidation and fermentation technique.
- Tea cultivation provides employment and income to millions of smallholder growers, who are supplementing or even replacing production of larger tea estates in many countries.
- While three quarters of tea produced is consumed domestically, tea is a widely traded and exported commodity.
- Over the past decades, the global tea industry has seen rapid growth, with a rising number of consumers globally.
- Despite the increase of tea consumption in major producing countries, per capita consumption remains low, suggesting there is still considerable growth potential in these countries.
- Drinking tea can bring many healthy benefits, from anti-inflammatory to antioxidant and weight loss effects.
- China, Korea and Japan have 4 tea cultivation sites designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems by FAO.
Lockdown impact on Tea production and supply
However, the global lockdown resulting due to COVID19 pandemic has adversely affected the tea production.
Increasing in-home consumption of tea more than offset declining out-of-home consumption in many instances. During the first weeks of lockdown, in home tea sales surged, increasing by 75 percent in some consuming countries.
In order to ensure benefits for both people and the environment, the tea value chain must be sustainable at all stages, from field to cup.
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