Turkey's powerhouse status at risk from evolving climate
The omnipresence of tea across Turkey, traditionally drunk from tiny tulip glasses, has propelled the country to the very top of world rankings in terms of consumption and production. Yet, despite the world's highest per capita tea consumption and fifth highest output in volume, Turkey's tea industry remains particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change. In recent years, farmers have dealt with erratic conditions: from land slides caused by heavy rainfall, to heavy frost, which delayed harvesting by several weeks. However, the most pressing issue remains the gradual reduction of overall rainfall in the region, which is crucial for plant growth. Turkey's output reflects this and has been deteriorating quickly since 2011, dipping below 200,000 tons last year.