According to statistics, tea is the most popular non-alcoholic drink in the world after water. Tea will warm you if it is cold, refresh, if it is hot, it will cheer you up, if you are upset and calm you down, if you are excited - noted William Gladstone (1809-1898), English writer and statesman. It is quite natural that a huge number of devotees of the flavored drink, as well as its producers, got a holiday – the International Tea Day.
The International Tea Day has being celebrated relatively recently, from 2005. The idea of its establishment had been in the air for many years. Following the discussions during two World Social Forums, coming one after another in 2004 in India and in 2005 in Brazil, this idea was implemented. Since then, the International Tea Day is celebrated on December 15; most widely – in the countries with the age-old traditions of tea production and their own tea culture.

It seems surprising today that the International Tea Day was established only 18 years ago. In many countries, brewing this  healthy and invigorating drink, as well as tea drinking itself, grew into a ritual, called a tea ceremony.

Brewing up tea is remarkably similar to art. Thousands of schools where people are taught how to brew tea and navigate a tea ceremony exist in different countries. Tea was incorporated in the culture of many nations as a national drink, forming peculiar traditions associated with its use.

It is quite natural that the International Tea Day falls on December, since it is the period when the harvesting period on tea plantations ends. In addition, on December 15, the World Declaration of Tea Industry workers rights was adopted.

Most massively, the International Tea Day is celebrated in the countries that are its world leading producers, primarily in India, China, Kenya Indonesia and Sri Lanka. However, other countries of the Southeast Asia and Africa, which are also major tea producers, do not stay away from this holiday. In Russia, this day is not yet widely celebrated, but nevertheless, the flavored drink is very popular in our country. Exhibitions, workshops and educational events dedicated to tea, art of tea brewing, the culture of its drinking are timed to mark the tea holiday.

The museun Collection section "Decorative Arts and Jewellery" features multifarious tea culture related exhibits.
Photo album dedicated to the International Tea Day is posted in our Photo Gallery.

Based on materials from Teaxy.ru – site about tea and everything connected with it