Heat wave threatens next year's harvest in parts of China
Many tea-growing regions across China are suffering from an extended heat wave that may have significant effects on next year's crops. Plantations in Taizhou, Anji, Fenghua and Zhejiang provinces are facing drought-like conditions and temperatures above 40C (104F) for over a week. Farmers report dried bushes and toasted leaves, which raises the risk of tea bushes withering and dying en masse. This is likely to result in lower harvests in 2014 and may even have lasting effects on yields, as it takes 4 years from planting a tea bush to harvesting quality leaves. Efforts are underway to irrigate bushes, cover them with black nets to minimize exposure to the sun and protect the roots with soft weeds.