While tea is the second most consumed beverage on Earth after water,

in many cultures it is also consumed at elevated social events, such as afternoon tea and at the tea party. Tea ceremonies have arisen in different cultures, such as the Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies, each of which employs traditional techniques and ritualized protocol of brewing and serving tea for enjoyment in a refined setting. One form of Chinese tea ceremony is the Gongfu tea ceremony, which typically uses small Yixing clay pots and oolong tea. The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In japanese it is called chanoyu or sadō, chadō .The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called otemae. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the tea ceremony. Much less commonly, it uses leaf tea, primarily Sencha.

Tea gatherings are classified as chakai or chaji. A chakai is a relatively simple course of hospitality that includes confections, thin tea usucha, and perhaps a light meal. A chaji is a much more formal gathering, usually including a full-course kaiseki meal followed by confections, thick tea koicha, and thin tea. A chaji can last up to four hours.

Ireland has, for a long time, been one of the biggest per-capita consumers of tea in the world. The national average is four cups per person per day, with many people drinking six cups or more. Tea in Ireland is usually taken with milk and/or sugar and is slightly spicier and stronger than the traditional English Blend. The two main brands of tea sold in Ireland are Lyons and Barry’s.

Tea is prevalent in most cultures in the Middle East. In Arab culture, tea is a focal point for social gatherings. The Irish love of tea is perhaps best illustrated by the stereotypical housekeeper, Mrs Doyle in the popular sitcom Father Ted.

In Pakistan, both black and green teas are popular and are known locally as sabz chai and Kawah, respectively. The popular green tea called kahwahis is often served after every meal in the Pashtun belt of Balochistan and in Pakhthunkawa, which is where the Khyber Pass of the Silk Road is found. In the Kashmir region, Kashmiri chai or noon chai, a pink, milky tea with pistachios and cardamom, is consumed primarily at special occasions, weddings, and during the winter months when it is sold in many kiosks. In Central and Southern Punjab along with metropolitan Sindh, tea with milk and sugar (sometimes with cardamoms, etc.), commonly referred to as chai, is widely consumed. It is the most common beverage of working class and households. In the northern Pakistani regions of Chitral, a salty, buttered Tibetan-style tea is consumed. In Iranian culture, tea is so widely consumed, it is generally the first thing offered to a household guest.