Food holidays on May 21

International Tea Day

Tea has shaped daily life across continents for thousands of years. Legend places its discovery in ancient China, where leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant were steeped into a fragrant brew. From there, tea traveled along trade routes into Japan, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, adapting to local customs—from Japanese tea ceremonies to British afternoon tea and the spicy sweetness of masala chai. Beyond the cup, tea is agriculture, ritual, and community. Millions of farmers cultivate tea on misty hillsides, and countless households pause each day for a shared pot. Green, black, oolong, white, and herbal infusions offer endless variety, whether sipped plain, with milk and sugar, iced in summer, or blended with spices and citrus. International Tea Day on May 21 celebrates that global story. Brew a careful pot at home, visit a tea shop, learn about a growing region, or share cups with friends and family. It is a gentle reminder that something as simple as hot water and leaves can connect cultures, calm the mind, and turn an ordinary afternoon into a small ceremony.