The taste of a British cup of tea is under threat from climate change according to a report from Christian Aid.
It cites new analysis warning that rising temperatures and extreme weather could make tea more bitter, harsher and less consistent in flavour. The balance of flavour in tea depends on stable temperature and rainfall conditions - conditions that are now breaking down in key tea-growing regions across Kenya, India and Sri Lanka.
The report says climate change is already affecting the chemistry of tea leaves, with higher temperatures increasing the production of more astringent compounds while reducing those associated with sweetness and balance. The result is “a shift towards harsher, more bitter profiles.”
Extreme weather can also place plants under stress and pest populations also increase, affecting tea plants and contributing to greater variability in quality and flavour.
Scientists say the overall impact is not a single uniform change, but growing variability, with tea becoming less consistent and reliable in flavour.
Growing instability in global tea markets is also a factor, with droughts, floods and heatwaves already disrupting harvests, leading to price spikes and supply uncertainty.
Reuben Korir, a small-scale tea farmer from Kericho County in Kenya, said: “When the weather is very dry or unpredictable, the tea quality changes. The leaves are smaller, and we believe the taste is not as good as it used to be during more stable seasons.
“Rains no longer come when expected, and dry periods last longer. Harvests are not predictable anymore, and neither is the income. Even when we produce tea, the payments are often small and delayed.”
Claire Nasike Akello, climate adaptation and resilience lead at Christian Aid said the biggest impact will be felt by the people growing and processing tea, many of whom are already facing rising costs, more unpredictable harvests and worsening insecurity. She wants to see investment into “people as well as crops - through fair pricing, targeted adaptation finance and stronger support for farmers and workers.”
Christian Aid said protecting the future of tea will depend on helping farmers adapt to a changing climate - including developing more climate-resilient tea plants, improving irrigation, and planting shade trees to reduce heat stress. It also wants to see fairer and more resilient supply chains and better support for producers.
The UK drinks approximately 100 million cups of tea per day, with around half of UK tea imports coming from Kenya.