India took center stage at the United Nations headquarters in New York by hosting a high-level event to mark International Tea Day, drawing global attention to the beverage’s deep impact on livelihoods, sustainable development, and cultural exchange. Held on May 21, the celebration was themed "Tea for Livelihoods, Tea for SDGs", bringing together diplomats, UN officials, and tea-producing nations to recognize tea's crucial role in rural development and economic empowerment, especially in developing countries.

At the event, organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, guests were treated to a curated tea-tasting session featuring some of India’s finest varieties including Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, and Masala Chai showcasing the country’s rich and diverse tea heritage.

A Story of Taste, Trade, and Transformation

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, highlighted how India’s tea industry has evolved since its roots in the early 19th century. “The story of tea in India is not merely one of trade and taste but also one of transformation,” he stated. “India’s tea sector is a cornerstone of rural employment, women’s empowerment, and export-driven growth.”

Tea production in India directly employs over 1.5 million workers, the majority being women, and sustains over 10 million livelihoods across the value chain. These include smallholder farmers, laborers, and professionals in packaging, logistics, and retail. Yet, Ambassador Harish did not shy away from pointing out the challenges threatening the tea sector: climate change, rising input costs, market volatility, and structural inequities affecting small producers, who account for over 60% of global tea output. He emphasized the need for policy reforms and innovation to protect both growers and laborers.

Harish also introduced the Tocklai Good Agricultural Practices Standard, India’s first sustainability certification launched in 2022. Developed by the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, the standard aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and integrates economic, agricultural, and manufacturing practices to create a climate-resilient tea industry.

India’s approach also involves leveraging advanced technologies such as AI-driven weather forecasting, drone-based crop monitoring, and blockchain integration across the supply chain to modernize the tea sector. Speaking at the event, FAO Director Angelica Jacome reinforced the importance of protecting smallholder farmers acknowledging them as the industry’s backbone while noting their vulnerability to climate and financial instability.

Representatives from other leading tea-producing countries shared their own insights:

• Vietnam’s UN Ambassador Hoang Giang Dang called for stronger investment in inclusive models and labor protection to unlock tea’s full potential for sustainable development.

• Sri Lanka’s envoy Vithanage Chatura Jeevake Perera stressed recognizing women's dominant role in Sri Lanka's tea industry, calling it one of the country’s most vital employment sectors.

• Kenya’s Ambassador Erastus Ekitela Lokaale spoke on adopting climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and community-led land-use practices to protect their tea sector from climate risks.

• China’s Counsellor Liu Liquin emphasized tea as a cultural bridge, advocating for tea to serve as a medium for international understanding and peaceful coexistence.

China also hosted a separate event later in the day at the UN headquarters, further highlighting the global relevance and diplomatic potential of tea.

Tea: More Than a Beverage

The International Tea Day observance stems from a 2019 UN resolution, championed by India at the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea. The resolution recognizes tea as a tool for poverty reduction, rural employment, food security, and cultural heritage, especially in tea-dependent economies. The day’s events and discussions signified that tea is not merely a commodity but a symbol of tradition, sustainability, and shared global responsibility. For India and the world’s major tea-producing countries, the focus now shifts to building equitable, climate-resilient, and future-ready systems that honor both the cultural legacy and the livelihoods behind every cup.