Made from the handpicked leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, tea has been around for over 5,000 years and is believed to have originated from northeast India and southwest China. Today, tea is the world’s most consumed beverage after water, and it represents so much more than just a beverage. The production of tea has become a thriving industry, and it has become a prominent source of livelihood for millions of people across the world, including Sri Lanka.

The 21st of May has been declared as International Tea Day as a day to recognise the importance of this amazing brew. Read more to find out how you can celebrate this special day, as well as how Dilmah celebrates tea every day.

Importance of International Tea Day

When we think of tea, the first thing that comes to mind is the beverage itself and the many ways it can be enjoyed. However, on International Tea Day, we not only celebrate tea in general, but we also look beyond the cup, at ways to make tea production more sustainable and ethical. According to the UN, the tea industry is a main source of income in third world countries and plays a significant role in rural development. International Tea Day also aims to raise awareness of the industry’s importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

How to Celebrate

Celebrate International Tea Day with a good, strong cup of Ceylon Tea! A few fun ways to celebrate this holiday - especially if you are an avid tea drinker - include:

1. An Exquisite Afternoon Tea or High Tea
   
   As any tea aficionado knows, there are several slight differences between high tea and afternoon tea, but each has its own charm. Celebrate the occasion with a pot of your favourite tea paired with scones or tea cakes. For more inspiration on afternoon tea recipe ideas or high tea recipe ideas, visit Tea Inspired for more tea-infused recipes.
   
   
2. Experience Different International Tea Traditions
   
   From fragrant spicy Chai Masala in India to the sweet frothy Teh Tarik (pulled tea) in Malaysia; every country has a different ritual or preparation when it comes to tea. Go on an international tea tasting spree right from the comfort of your home, by making some of these international teas. Here is a recipe for the popular chai tea from India.
   
   
3. A Tea Tasting
   
   Perhaps an international tea tasting sounds a bit too ambitious. Instead, opt for tasting the different types of tea. Although all tea originates from the Camellia Sinensis plant, each tea has a distinctive flavour, and there is no better day to try all of these types of tea!
   
   
4. DIY Experiential Tea Moments
   
   Another fun and easy way to mark the day is with do-it-yourself tea moments. We have a wide range of Dilmah EBooks to help inspire to create these tea moments. A popular EBook is our Tea Inspired Festivities EBook, which offers a fresh perspective on the marriage of fine tea and Chinese festive treats. Other wonderful options for tea gifts would be this T-Series Loose Leaf Bundle or our Shaken not Stirred EBook which is filled with tea-infused cocktails and mocktails.

Dilmah’s Philosophy
What sets Dilmah apart from any other tea brand is that we truly celebrate International Tea Day every day. The collective efforts of the MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation are committed to helping those that need it the most. From launching programs that empower the differently-abled to establishing nature corridors, we are proud to say that every sip of Dilmah has directly contributed towards humanitarian and conservation work – that’s over 40 million USD so far!
Kindness is at the core of Dilmah, and on International Tea Day the importance of these humanitarian and conservation initiatives only becomes more apparent. Celebrate International Tea Day with Dilmah by spreading kindness and giving back to those who help make your morning cup of tea.