Uddhab Chandra Sarmah
(Senior Tea Advisor, Solidaridad Asia. He can be reached at uddhab@solidaridadnetwork.org)
Every year on May 21st, the world pauses to celebrate International Tea Day, honouring a humble beverage that connects continents, sustains millions, and nourishes both the body and soul. In 2025, the theme “Tea for Better Lives” takes centre stage, underscoring tea’s multifaceted contribution to human wellbeing—from rural livelihoods to cultural identity, environmental sustainability, and health.
This theme is not merely symbolic. It encapsulates the urgent need to transform the tea industry into a force for inclusive development, climate resilience, and social equity. As we sip our morning brew, we are invited to reflect on the lives intertwined with every cup—from the hands that pluck the tender leaves to the communities that depend on tea for survival.
1. Tea as a Lifeline: Supporting Millions of Livelihoods:
Tea cultivation and production form the economic backbone of several countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In India alone, the tea sector employs over 3.5 million people, with millions more indirectly dependent on it. In countries like Kenya, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and China, tea remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods.
Key Aspects:
• Women at the Core: A significant majority of tea workers, especially pluckers, are women. Empowering them with equal wages, healthcare, maternity benefits, and leadership opportunities can uplift entire families.
• Smallholder Farmers: Over 60% of global tea is now produced by small-scale farmers. Their lives can be transformed through fair pricing, training in sustainable practices, and access to global markets.
• Decent Work and Dignity: Improving labour conditions, ensuring living wages, and eradicating exploitative practices are essential steps toward making tea a catalyst for better lives.
2. A Cup of Health and Wellness:
Tea is not just an agricultural product; it is a wellness drink, consumed by over 2 billion people daily. Rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and polyphenols, tea is increasingly being embraced as part of healthy living across age groups and cultures.
Health Benefits:
• Immunity Booster: Green and herbal teas are known for their immunity-enhancing properties.
• Mental Wellbeing: Tea rituals encourage mindfulness, relaxation, and mental clarity.
• Preventive Health: Regular tea consumption has been linked to reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
As consumers become more health-conscious, tea is perfectly positioned to grow as a functional beverage supporting physical and mental wellness.
3. Sustainable Tea for a Sustainable Planet:
The climate crisis is already affecting tea-growing regions—through erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, soil degradation, and pest outbreaks. At the same time, tea cultivation, if poorly managed, can contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.
The Sustainability Imperative:
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promoting agroforestry, shade trees, organic farming, and integrated pest management helps build resilience.
• Bioenergy & Renewable Energy: Replacing coal and firewood with biomass, solar, or other clean technologies in tea factories reduces carbon emissions.
• Water Stewardship: Efficient irrigation, water harvesting, and wastewater treatment are essential for long-term viability.
Certifications like Rainforest Alliance, Trustea, and Trinitea are helping drive sustainable practices—but scale and adoption must accelerate.
4. Cultural Identity and Social Harmony:
Tea is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of societies—from the Japanese chanoyu to the British afternoon tea, from Tibetan butter tea to Indian chai. It serves not only as a beverage but as a medium of hospitality, tradition, and connection.
Cultural Impact:
• Bridge between Communities: Tea stalls and cafes are informal social institutions fostering dialogue and understanding.
• Symbol of Peace: Sharing tea often symbolizes reconciliation and goodwill in many cultures.
• Tourism & Cultural Preservation: Tea gardens and heritage plantations are also emerging as destinations for cultural tourism, preserving local identity.
In a divided world, tea reminds us of our shared humanity—one cup at a time.
5. A Tool for Inclusive Economic Growth:
Tea holds vast potential as an engine of rural economic transformation—if value chains are made inclusive, transparent, and fair.
Pathways to Economic Empowerment:
• Value Addition: Processing, branding, and packaging at the origin can increase earnings for growers.
• Market Access: Digital platforms, cooperatives, and direct trade models allow farmers and small brands to reach global consumers.
• Finance and Infrastructure: Investment in warehousing, logistics, quality control, and digital infrastructure is essential for competitiveness.
• Policy Support: Governments must ensure supportive policies, minimum price guarantees, and safety nets for tea workers and farmers.
A better tea economy means a better life for rural families and communities.
“Tea for Better Lives” is more than a theme—it is a vision for the future. A future when tea is grown without harm to the planet, when workers are treated with respect and rewarded fairly, when consumers appreciate the journey behind each sip, and when every cup becomes a symbol of health, harmony, and hope.
On this International Tea Day 2025, let us recommit to building a tea industry that is equitable, sustainable, and resilient—because better tea truly means better lives.
Let governments, businesses, NGOs, and consumers work together to:
• Promote ethical sourcing and sustainable certification.
• Invest in women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
• Support climate adaptation in tea-growing regions.
• Encourage health-forward tea innovation.
• Celebrate and preserve tea culture worldwide.
As the kettle boils and the leaves unfurl, let’s remember: tea is not just a drink—it’s a promise of a better life?