UN Holidays - International Tea Day

China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Kenya and Turkey are among the 40 countries that cultivate the evergreen plant Camellia sinensis. The leaves of this tea bush have been used by people since ancient times to prepare a tonic and tasty drink. It is popular, despite the climatic and weather conditions of a person’s place of residence, as it perfectly warms in the cold and refreshes in the heat, helps to calm down or, on the contrary, invigorate. On May 21, at the initiative of the UN, International Tea Day is celebrated. Leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis bushes and small trees are processed before reaching the table. They are dried in the sun, rolled and pressed, fried and oxidized under pressure or in the fresh air. There are six types of tea based on the degree of fermentation: green, black, white, yellow, oolong and red. The color of the leaf depends on the degree of oxidation, which is determined by temperature, air humidity and the duration of the procedure. The taste of tea and the presence of certain beneficial properties in it depend on fermentation. In some cases, such as pu-erh cakes, oxidation continues during storage. Regular consumption of the drink is very beneficial for health. Tea lovers observe various effects from its consumption - from weight loss and strengthening the immune system to saturating the body with antioxidants in the form of vitamin C and other beneficial substances. The traditions of some countries have made the drink part of the national culture. Thus, in Japan, the ceremony of drinking green matcha, the leaves of the plant crushed into powder, helps to detach from everyday worries and find inner harmony and balance. The first mention of the drink dates back to the 3rd century BC. China is considered the birthplace of tea. But over time, the cultivation and consumption of the drink became part of the culture of the countries of Southeast and Central Asia. For many of them, the tea industry is part of the income stream not only of the state budget, but also of millions of people. The growing areas of Camellia sinensis have specific agro-ecological conditions that are very vulnerable to climate change. It was decided to establish International Tea Day to draw attention to the tea industry, its traditions and modern problems. The initiative to create an international holiday was taken by FAO. There are four tea-growing sites in China, Korea and Japan that the organization has designated as Globally Significant Agricultural Heritage Systems. These territories are subject to high demands to support the diversity of biogeocenosis. Despite the fact that tea as a crop is very unpretentious, it requires special growing and processing conditions to preserve its beneficial properties. Therefore, International Tea Day is not only a celebration of an aromatic and tasty drink, but also a celebration of a reasonable and careful attitude towards natural resources.