Teacup in a storm: the crisis facing the tea industry
Curious.Earth
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By: Paddy Trower
What is going on here?
The tea trade has become another industry impacted by the effects of the climate crisis. Adverse weather conditions are making tea farming more difficult than ever, which is likely to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of consumers.
What does this mean?
Many nations around the globe are steeped in the presence of the beloved hot (or cold) beverage - tea is the second most widely consumed drink in the world, after water. It’s brewed from tea leaves, and plantations are susceptible to the same climate-related issues as other farmed commodities.
China remains the world's largest producer of tea globally, generating approximately 40% - equivalent to over three million tonnes per annum. India and Kenya are second and third respectively in terms of their production capacity. They have both faced significant challenges to harvests due to a range of climate-related impacts including drought and flooding.
Some tea farmers in India have reported productivity reductions of as much as 40%. Tea farms in India’s north have faced drought, while heavy rain has impacted production in the south of the country, significant rain has impacted production. Similarly, in east Africa, longer dry seasons as well as flooding are contributing to the challenges faced by tea farmers and producers.
Why should we care?
These factors will undoubtedly have an impact on consumer prices. The price of tea has risen 46% since the start of 2024 and is expected to continue to boil over. It’s not all down to climate though - recent political instability, and related attacks on trade ships, reportedly being done by Houthis rebels, has also affected prices.
This news story highlights the early signs of the future of agricultural production. The global food systems which we all rely upon lack the necessary resilience to face the climate crisis. Initially, we are seeing some commodities increasing in price - such as tea or chocolate (cocoa). But what is going to happen if the crops we depend upon for food staples frequently begin to fail? Whew… we need a strong brew after that!
Be curious!