When is International Tea Day?
International Tea Day 2027 is on Friday
Friday, May 21, 2027
May 21 every year. That's in 216 days.
until International Tea Day begins, in your time zone
International Tea Day is a United Nations observance that celebrates tea's long cultural history and its economic weight for millions of growers and workers. It promotes sustainable tea production and trade, with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization leading it.
About International Tea Day
International Tea Day recognizes tea as far more than a drink. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that tea is grown in a limited number of regions, often on small farms, and that the sector supports more than 13 million people, including smallholders and their families. The day encourages sustainable production, trade and consumption so that tea keeps contributing to rural incomes and food security in producing countries.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed May 21 as International Tea Day in resolution 74/241, adopted in December 2019, and asked FAO to lead the observance. The first UN-recognized edition took place in 2020. The proposal came through FAO's Intergovernmental Group on Tea: World Tea News reported that it was formally put forward in 2015, and India's tea board led the early push. Until 2018 the group's discussions used December 15; at its session in Hangzhou, China, that May, the Chinese delegation suggested May 21 instead, according to Tea Board of India records reported by EastMojo.
An older International Tea Day still circulates on December 15. It dates from 2005, when the Centre for Education and Communication hosted a conference in New Delhi with Indian trade unions and Sri Lanka's Institute of Social Development, focused on the rights of tea workers and small growers. Several producing countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya and Vietnam, took up that date. The UN observance is now the official one, though some groups still mark December 15.
Sources: FAO: International Tea Day, 21 May, UN Digital Library: International Tea Day, resolution A/RES/74/241, World Tea News: Newly Designated International Tea Day Spotlights Growers (2020), EastMojo: How International Tea Day became a global movement (2026). How we check dates.
How to mark International Tea Day
- Brew the same tea leaves at two water temperatures or steeping times and taste how the flavor changes.
- Try a tea from a country you have never bought from, such as Kenya, Nepal, Malawi or Vietnam.
- Learn the difference between green, black, white and oolong tea, which all come from the same plant but are processed differently.
- Look for tea labeled with its estate, cooperative or smallholder origin, and read how the growers are paid.
- Host a tea break at work or at home and share a tea custom from your family or another culture.
International Tea Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 |
| 2026 | Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, May 21, 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, May 21, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, May 21, 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, May 21, 2030 |
| 2031 | Wednesday, May 21, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Tea Day 2027?
International Tea Day 2027 is on Friday, May 21, 2027. It falls on May 21 every year. In 2028, it is on Sunday, May 21, 2028.
Is International Tea Day on May 21 or December 15?
The United Nations observance is on May 21, set by General Assembly resolution 74/241 in 2019. December 15 is an earlier date started in 2005 by tea worker and small grower advocates, and some producing countries still mark it.
Who leads International Tea Day?
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization leads it, working with its Intergovernmental Group on Tea, producing and importing countries, and the tea industry.
Is International Tea Day a public holiday?
No. International Tea Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.