Yields and flavor become major casualties of evolving climate
Erratic weather conditions across tea producing countries have started to noticeably impact tea yields and flavor, as growers of specialty tea struggle to ensure the long-term viability of their plantations. Grower accounts from Taiwan, a country known for its premium oolong teas, suggest that excessive rainfall is threatening the root systems of the bushes and dilutes the flavor compounds, caffeine levels and antioxidant content in the leaves. This is echoed by farmers in Yunnan, China, who are forced to produce more processed varieties to mask the imperfections of leaves gathered during monsoon season. In other parts of China, temperature fluctuations are a major concern, especially for Dragonwell growers this year. Expert Selena Ahmed identifies organic farming, which puts bushes under greater stress than conventional teas and thereby increases the amount of phytochemicals in leaves, as one possible long-term solution to the problem.