UNESCO Honors and Safeguards Tea Cultures in China, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan

Tea pluckers harvesting raw leaf in Türkiye carry traditional baskets

Tea News for the week ending December 2

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) annually recognizes cultural practices and traditional crafts worthy of safeguarding. On Dec. 1, UNESCO named two tea traditions to the list, citing traditional Chinese tea processing techniques that “entail knowledge, skills, and practices around tea plantation management, tea-leaf picking, and manual processing. These are passed on through families and apprenticeships, including by tea producers, farmers, and artists, as well as those who make the pastries that are typically served with tea.”

UNESCO also inscribed the Culture of Çay (tea), “a symbol of identity, hospitality, and social interaction.” In a joint application submitted in March 2021, Azerbaijan and Türkiye described their tea culture as “an essential part of social and cultural life and an important social practice aiming to show hospitality, celebrate important moments in the lives of communities and help them to build and maintain social relationships and enjoy moments by drinking tea for social exchange and interaction.

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Dan Bolton
Editor | Publisher | Podcaster | Consultant | Journalist Dan is the founder of Tea Journey Magazine, the Tea Biz Podcast and Blog, and a contributing editor at STiR coffee and tea. He is the former editor and publisher of Tea Magazine, former editor and publisher of World Tea News, and former editor-in-chief at Specialty Coffee Retailer, then headquartered in San Francisco. Dan has traveled the tea lands, speaking on retail beverage trends in Canada and the United States and at conferences in Europe, China, India, Australia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa.

One response to “UNESCO Honors and Safeguards Tea Cultures in China, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan”

  1. Dan –

    Thoroughly enjoyed your chat with Michael Ham of WILD ORCHARD ORGANIC REGENERATIVE TEAS. You two made the ‘details’ of Organic Regenerative and the WHYS of taste clearer than I’ve ever heard before! Our Londoner, Internationally Acclaimed Couture Fashion-Forward Designer Darling, NINA MORGAN-JONES, LOVES her Organic Teas by the CUPFULS DAILY … “a 5- 6 cups a day habit” and after enjoying WILD ORCHARD, “Michael’s Wild Orchard Organic Tea has pure provenance, superior & strong organic teas from Jeju Island … now they’re my favorites!”

    O’s UP!

    To Your Health … ALWAYS!
    Dennis

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