International Tea Day 2026 Opening Remarks

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to join you today as we celebrate the 7th International Tea Day since its establishment in 2020.

Today, we celebrate far more than a beverage enjoyed across the world - we celebrate the people, cultures, traditions, and communities whose lives are interlinked with tea.

Behind every leaf is a livelihood - behind every cup is a community.

For generations, tea has connected families, neighbors, friends and nations.

It has brought people together across cultures and continents.

And for millions of people — especially in rural areas — tea is not simply a product. It is a source of income, dignity, and opportunity.

Tea plays a vital role in many emerging and low-income economies, supporting jobs, trade, and rural development.

It creates opportunities for communities to build more secure and prosperous future.

At the core of this sector are smallholder farmers, who produce nearly 60 percent of the world’s tea.

Their knowledge, resilience, and dedication sustain a sector that uplifts billions of people every day.

The global tea economy generates significant value – approximately USD 20 billion in production and USD 9.5 billion in trade.

These figures are more than statistics: they represent the efforts, aspirations, and future of millions of farmers, workers, and families.

For many countries, tea remains an essential source of export revenues and rural livelihoods, contributing to economic growth, social stability and community well-being.

Yet the sector also faces serious challenges.

Many tea producers continue to struggle with low and unstable prices, limited access to finance and technology, and insufficient extension services.

At the same time, the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure on natural resources threaten the long-term sustainability of tea production.

With collective action, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities.

Sustaining tea means sustaining communities.

It means protecting ecosystems, while strengthening local economies.

It means ensuring that farmers and workers, especially women and young people, can benefit fairly from the value they help create.

And it means building a sector that is efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for generations to come.

This is why innovation, investment, and partnership are so important.

We must support farmers with knowledge, technology, and access to markets.

We must promote sustainable production practices.

And we must create opportunities that empower rural communities and inspire young people to see a future in the tea sector.

This vision aligns closely with the FAO Strategic Framework and its Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life – leaving no one behind.

Dear Friends,

On this International Tea Day, let us reaffirm our appreciation and support to the people behind every cup of tea.

Let us work together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner to ensure that tea continues to serve not only as a symbol of tradition and connection, but also as a pathway toward opportunity, inclusion, and prosperity.

Today’s celebration will highlight the rich cultural heritage and traditions associated with tea across regions and generations,

And will provide an opportunity to enjoy a variety of tea tasting, showcasing diversity, heritage, and unique flavors that make tea a truly global treasure.

While we celebrate tea today, I am pleased that we will also be able to celebrate International Coffee Day on 1 October.

Together, the history of tea and coffee is the history of civilization. Together, they act as social glue, structuring daily routines, rituals of hospitality and moments of connection.

Today, I invite you to enjoy a cup of tea!

Thank you.