Celebrating tea as part of our heritage and history
Conclusion
This site also developed a certification system and product label to indicate the degree of farmers’ engagement in the Chagusaba methods which reflect the contribution to biodiversity conservation. This informs the consumers about good agricultural practices in the production process, incentivizing them to purchase tea products that are grown sustainably.
The Traditional Hadong tea agrosystem is an agricultural system created by local communities based on 1, 200 years of adaptation to the barren environment of Jiri Mountain. Over 90 percent of the Hwagae-myeon area is steep mountainous land with frequent flooding during the monsoon season, making stable agricultural activities here very difficult. The people of Hwagae rely on tea agriculture instead of rice paddies to make their living.
Over the last 1,200 years Hadong tea plants have adapted to the harsh environment, reproducing via insects and the wind, giving each tea field genetic diversity. The tea fields around Hwagae stream at the foot of the mountain exist in harmony with the surrounding natural environment, maintaining excellent biodiversity. Varieties of traditional Hadong tea plants are numerous, encouraging biodiversity in the area. Forests and rivers provide a home for diverse species of animals and plants indigenous to the Jiri Mountain area.
Tea has travelled across the world over the centuries, from its origins in China thousands of years ago to its status as a household staple for many across the world today. Tea production and processing is a main source of livelihoods for millions of families in low and middle-income countries. FAO News
Tea production is vital to the fight against hunger, the reduction of extreme poverty, the empowerment of women and the sustainable use of land. This is why the United Nations designated May 21 as International Tea Day, to celebrate tea production and raise public awareness of the importance of tea for rural development, sustainable livelihoods and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO News
