International Tea Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/74/241
About International Tea Day
International Tea Day is observed on 21 May. The United Nations General Assembly designated the annual observance through resolution A/RES/74/241, adopted on 19 December 2019.
The day highlights tea’s economic, social and cultural importance, particularly for millions of smallholder growers and workers, while drawing attention to sustainable production, resilient value chains and fair opportunities in tea-producing communities.
Why International Tea Day matters
Tea is both a widely consumed beverage and an agricultural commodity tied to rural livelihoods, trade, land management and cultural traditions. Those dimensions vary significantly between producing regions and tea traditions.
A useful observance should therefore avoid reducing tea to lifestyle imagery. It can examine working conditions, smallholder income, climate risks, market transparency, biodiversity and the cultural knowledge associated with production and preparation.
History of International Tea Day
A same-name International Tea Day existed before the United Nations observance. Centre for Education and Communication material documents an international conference of tea workers and smallholders in New Delhi on 15 December 2005 and the use of 15 December for International Tea Day in the worker/smallholder movement.
The later institutional path to the current UN day was separate. Following the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea meeting in Hangzhou in May 2018, the People’s Republic of China proposed an International Tea Day on 21 May, and the proposal moved through FAO governing bodies, including Conference Resolution 12/2019 on 28 June 2019.
On 19 December 2019, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/74/241 and designated 21 May as International Tea Day, inviting FAO to facilitate the observance. FAO marked the first UN International Tea Day on 21 May 2020.
The earlier 15 December observance is therefore retained as precursor history rather than being labelled a former legal date of the United Nations day.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
15 December International Tea Day (worker and smallholder observance)
Tea-worker, trade-union and smallholder organizations used 15 December for a same-name international observance before the later FAO-to-UN process established 21 May as the formal United Nations International Tea Day.
People’s Republic of China, advanced through the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea and FAO governing bodies
FAO records that China proposed an International Tea Day on 21 May after the 2018 Intergovernmental Group on Tea session, and the proposal advanced through FAO before UN consideration.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/241
First documented observance
FAO explicitly identifies 21 May 2020 as the first observance of International Tea Day.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
FAO states that the General Assembly called on FAO to lead the observance.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
How to Observe International Tea Day
Trace one tea from growing region to processing and retail, distinguishing verifiable origin and certification information from marketing language.
Explore a tea tradition with attention to the community that practices it, its history and how meanings differ across regions rather than presenting one ritual as universal.
Compare climate or labour challenges in two tea-producing regions using authoritative agricultural or labour sources.
Host a tasting that includes information about growers, processing methods and responsible sourcing rather than focusing only on flavour.
International Tea Day Facts
International Tea Day is observed every year on 21 May.
The General Assembly established the day through resolution A/RES/74/241 on 19 December 2019.
The People’s Republic of China proposed the observance through the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea process.
FAO leads the observance.
The first International Tea Day was marked on 21 May 2020.
International Tea Day Messages
Happy International Tea Day! May International Tea Day be an invitation to enjoy food thoughtfully and credit the people and traditions behind it.
Celebrate International Tea Day by learning the story behind the food, sharing it thoughtfully and giving credit to the traditions that shaped it.
May International Tea Day bring good conversation, responsible enjoyment and a deeper appreciation of culinary culture.
Wishing everyone marking International Tea Day a thoughtful, enjoyable and delicious observance.
International Tea Day Quotes
“Behind every leaf is a livelihood - behind every cup is a community.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Food and Agriculture Organization — Conference 2019 report / Resolution 12/2019 (opens in a new tab)
Food and Agriculture Organization — Conference Resolution 12/2019 portal (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/74/241 (opens in a new tab)
fao.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
Food and Agriculture Organization — first International Tea Day (opens in a new tab)
Centre for Education and Communication — Annual Report 2006–07, International Tea Day / New Delhi Declaration (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Tea Day?
21 May The documented recurrence rule is: 21 May.
Does International Tea Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Tea Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / FAO international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Tea Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as People’s Republic of China, advanced through the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea and FAO governing bodies. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Is International Tea Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / FAO international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was the current United Nations International Tea Day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/241 on 19 December 2019 and designated 21 May as International Tea Day.
Why do some sources also mention 15 December as International Tea Day?
A worker- and smallholder-led International Tea Day was already being observed on 15 December from 2005. The later United Nations observance was established separately for 21 May, so the two historical phases should not be collapsed into one institutional date change.
Who leads the current UN observance?
The General Assembly invited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate International Tea Day in collaboration with relevant organizations.
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