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In India, tea is not just a beverage but has become a very important part of people’s everyday life. As soon as they open their eyes in the morning, the first thing many people in our country feel is the need for a cup of hot tea. After this, even amidst the hustle and bustle of the day and the fatigue of work, a cup of strong tea works to give new relief to people. Perhaps this is the reason why in our country tea is also jokingly called ‘Indian Energy Drink’. Every year 21 May is celebrated as International Tea Day (International Tea Day 2026) across the world. The main objective of celebrating this day is to make people across the world understand the importance of tea and to honor the contribution of people associated with this entire industry.

Many different and unique ways of making tea and drinking it are seen across the country. In some places in our country, strong masala tea is preferred, while in others, people like the taste of ginger and cardamom flavored tea. But have you ever wondered where this tea consumed daily originated from and how it reached India?

United Nations gave official recognition to this special day

International Tea Day is celebrated with full enthusiasm every year on 21 May. The United Nations General Assembly had approved celebrating this day officially in the year 2019. Its real objective is to promote the cultural heritage of tea, its excellent health benefits and its huge economic importance across the world. Along with this, this special day is also considered a big symbol of honoring the hard contribution of lakhs of poor farmers and laborers associated with tea production. According to data from the United Nations and FAO, more than 13 million people around the world are completely dependent on the tea industry for their livelihood. This especially includes small farmers and their families who are involved in tea production day and night. That’s why International Tea Day is not just a celebration of a delicious beverage, but also works to forward a much larger message related to employment, culture and sustainable development.

Why is International Tea Day celebrated?

The purpose of celebrating International Tea Day is not only to celebrate the passion for tea, but also to bring to the whole world the contribution of crores of people associated with it and its importance. The United Nations had declared May 21 as International Tea Day, so that the common people could be made aware of the cultural heritage of tea, its countless health benefits and its economic importance. Especially in developing countries, this entire tea industry remains the main source of livelihood for millions of people. Small farmers, farm laborers and their families depend on this industry. A major objective of celebrating this day is to promote sustainable production of tea and its fair trade, so that along with environmental protection, farmers can get better employment and a good life. Apart from this, in today’s era, tea is also seen to be directly linked to poverty reduction, development of rural areas and food security.

One mistake of the Chinese king and history began

The history of tea is not new, rather it is considered thousands of years old. Historians say that tea was first discovered in China about 5 thousand years ago. There is also a very popular story regarding this. It is said that some leaves were suddenly blown by the wind and fell into the hot water pot of China’s Emperor Shen Nung. After those leaves fell, the color of the water changed and when the king tasted it, its taste was also quite unique. The emperor liked this new drink so much that the journey of tea started from here all over the world. Gradually this tea reached many other countries in Asia and then with time it became popular all over the world. Talking about India, tea was spread on a large scale here during the British rule. In the 19th century, the British government started tea cultivation on a large scale in hilly and favorable areas like Assam and Darjeeling. Since then, tea has become an integral part of Indian culture and the daily routine of its people. Today, in almost every small and big house in the country, the morning starts with a sip of tea.

How did the journey of our favorite tea begin in India?

Today, even though tea has become an essential part of every Indian’s life, its systematic journey in India started during the British era. It is believed that in the year 1834, the then Governor General Lord Bentinck saw the local people of Assam drinking a special wild leaf after boiling it thoroughly in water. These were actually tea leaves, which the local people used to use as a medicinal drink (medicine). After this, the British started commercial cultivation of tea on a large scale in this land of Assam and gradually tea became very popular in every corner of the country. According to historians, tea was first discovered in China. It is said that around 2732 BC, China’s ruler Shen Nung accidentally dropped some leaves into the hot water, which gave birth to tea. With changing times, the taste of tea in India, its style and its variety have also changed completely. While earlier only simple milk tea was popular in the country, now many wonderful varieties like Masala Tea, Kulhar Tea, Lemon Tea, Green Tea and Kashmiri Kahwa are much liked among the people.