Other than water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage worldwide. It takes second and third place, behind only beer and coffee, respectively.
The United Nations designates May 21 as International Tea Day, honoring the beverage’s significance and value both globally, both economically and culturally.
In many societies, tea has a significant place. Tea is regarded as a calming and cordial substance, from Tibetan po cha to traditional English breakfast tea.
The UN has not yet determined where the tea’s exact origins are, but it is believed to have been found in northeast India, northern Myanmar, and southwest China. One of the oldest beverages in the world is tea, which is dated to 5, 000 years ago.
How to say tea all over the world
Nearly all of the world’s tea terms can be derived from the root words “cha” or “te” in the same way.
The term “tea” is derived from cha in many of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
- In Mandarin: 茶 (chá)
- In Arabic: شاي (shāy)
- Yay in Turkish:
- In Hindi: चाय (chāi)
Many nations in Western Europe make use of some form of te. As a result of trade routes in the East, “tea” was first introduced into the English language. The phrase “te” was derived from China and pronounced “te” in the Hokkien dialect.
- Tea in English
- The French phrase:
- Teja in Spanish:
- tee in English
Who produces the most tea globally?
The tea plant is typically grown in tropical and subtropical climates, where millions of people depend on their livelihoods from agriculture.
China produces nearly half of the world’s tea, according to the most recent data from the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal’s Global Tea Report. India accounts for 20% of global production, followed by Kenya (8%), Turkiye (4%), and Sri Lanka (3%).
Worldwide, there are 17 percent of tea productions in the rest of the world.
How much tea is consumed every day in the entire world?
World tea consumption increased by 6.5 million tonnes in 2022, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, surpassing previous years’ 6.5 million tonnes.
Tea is consumed by China, the nation with the highest tea consumption, 3 million tonnes in 2022, or 46% of global consumption.
In 2022, Turkiye, which is the second-largest consumer, had a share of nearly 18%, coming in at 1.16 million tonnes, Pakistan with 247, 000 tonnes, and Russia with 133, 000 tonnes.
Tea consumption increased by 2% in 2022 compared to 2021, and by 20% more in 2023, according to the FAO.
However, the war in Ukraine has had a negative impact on tea imports in countries like Europe and North America, while tea consumption has decreased as a result of stronger competition from other beverages.
Five strange teas from different parts of the world
Here are five distinctly unusual teas from around the world and how to prepare them for this year’s International Tea Day:
Po cha, butter tea
Found in: Tibet and other Himalayan regions
What’s strange about that? It is contained in the name. Butter tea is made with yak butter, black tea, and salt. According to legend, the host will refill your cup with butter tea until you decline or until they stop filling it, signaling that you need to leave.
Is it tea, or just Kombucha?
Found in Korea, Japan, and China.
What’s strange about that? Kombucha is regarded as a tea. A jelly-like SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) is the basis of this fermented tea. Kombucha fans frequently give their SCOBYs names, names, and pets as family heirlooms.
Butterfly pea flower tea
found in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.
What’s strange about that? Because of its color, which turns purple when you add lemon juice, it is known as blue tea. It contains a concoction of floral petals from the blue pea flower, which is caffeine-free.
Baobab tea with leaf
Found in: Africa sub-Saharan.
What’s odd?: Baobab tea with leaf is traditionally used in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa as a mild herbal remedy and nutritional drink.
Baobab leaf tea has a mildly earthy or even mildly bitter flavor, similar to spinach water, unlike most herbal teas, which are frequently floral or fruity.
Guava leaf tea
Found in: Africa, Central America, and the Philippines.
What’s strange about that? Guava tree leaves, which have an earthy flavor, are used to make the tea. It is said to have medicinal properties in the culture of the Philippines for relieving stomach aches and minor cuts.
Source: Aljazeera
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