Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinensis plant (as opposed to herbal "teas" which are infusions made from plants that have nothing to do with Camellia sinensis). Tea is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. It is believed that tea originated in northeast India, north Myanmar (Burma) and southwest China, but the exact place where the plant first grew is not known. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China about 5 000 years ago. Tea plays a significant role in many countries, and is not only a drink, but an ancient tradition, unique to each culture.
Commodity in focus
Tea is one of the most important cash crops and plays a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in exporting and developing countries. It is a principle source of livelihood for millions of smallholder producers. Tea has also a cultural significance in many societies. The United Nations (UN) designated 21 May as International Tea Day to celebrate the tea industry around the world. This day is meant to raise public awareness of the importance of tea for rural development, sustainable livelihoods as well as its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Publications
Changes in the global tea trade network
16/05/2024
This document describes the evolution of global patterns of tea trade between 2005 and 2020. Based on a network analytical approach, it is shown that most countries traded tea with more partners in 2020 compared with 2005. Especially on the export side, the structure of the tea trade network appears to have undergone some decentralization, in which trade became relatively less concentrated in individual trade hubs.
International tea market: market situation, prospects and emerging issues
19/05/2022
In many developing countries, the tea sector contributes significantly to rural development, poverty reduction and food security, representing, in several cases, a major source of income and employment for millions of poor families. The global tea production amounts annually to over USD 17 billion, while world tea trade is valued at about USD 9.5 billion, accounting for an important source of export earnings.
| Tea is one of the world’s oldest beverages, and is the most consumed drink in the world, after water. | |
| Tea is available in many varieties, which differ according to the applied oxidation and fermentation technique. | |
| Tea cultivation provides employment and income to millions of smallholder growers, who are supplementing or even replacing production of larger tea estates in many countries. | |
| While three quarters of tea produced is consumed domestically, tea is a widely traded and exported commodity. | |
| Over the past decades, the global tea industry has seen rapid growth, with a rising number of consumers globally. | |
| Despite the increase of tea consumption in major producing countries, per capita consumption remains low, suggesting there is still considerable growth potential in these countries. | |
| Drinking tea can bring many health benefits, from anti-inflammatory to antioxidant and weight loss effects. | |
| China, Korea and Japan have four tea cultivation sites designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by FAO. |
| Tea production and processing represent a source of livelihood for millions of families, including in least developed countries. |
| Tea export earnings help to finance food import bills, supporting the economies of major tea-producing countries. |
| The specific agro-ecological conditions where tea thrives occur in areas which are highly vulnerable to climate change. |
| To ensure benefits for both people and the environment, the tea value chain must be sustainable at all stages, from field to cup. |
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Related websites
- Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP)
- FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea
- International Tea Day
- Tea Advisory Panel
- Global Commodity Markets
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