Tea processors at the Sakare Specialty Tea Company in Tanzania. Photo: Edward Charles / CARE “Two years ago, I couldn’t stand on my own,” Monica Timotheo recalls from inside a tea factory. Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, but for Monica and others, it represents something more. May 21 is International Tea Day, a time to recognize tea as more than a drink. It is also a source of income, independence, and new possibilities. Monica Timotheo is a mother and tea processor in the Usam bara M ountains in Bungu, Tanga , in Northeastern Tanzania . This beautiful mountain landscape has a unique microclimate that is ideal for tea growth. Characterized by high altitudes (over 1,000 meters), heavy rainfall, and misty, temperate conditions, th e area near the Amani N ature Reserve is known for its biodiversity , home to thousands of different plant species and variet ies of wildlife .…