International Tea Day falls on May 21 and this year it's coinciding with the solar term Lesser Fullness (Xiaoman) on the traditional Chinese calendar. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2019 to recognize the long history and deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world. 

Tea is the most widely consumed drink next only to water, and drinking tea is good for health. It is now produced in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide and enjoyed by over two billion people. Over the past few decades, the global tea industry has developed rapidly with soaring number of consumers, as tea drinking has become trending among the young generation.

So far, the annual output value of the global tea industry has exceeded 18 billion U.S. dollars, strongly promoting social and economic development and representing a major source of employment and income for millions of poor families worldwide. 

China is the largest tea producer and the largest tea market in the world. In 2022, China produced 3.18 million tons of tea, consumed 2.4 million tons and exported 380,000 tons. And nearly 30 million people in the country are engaged in tea production and processing.   

(All images via CFP; with input from Xinhua)

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