Rising temperatures and worsening weather extremes in tea-growing countries such as Kenya, India, and Sri Lanka are affecting tea leaves. Regular tea could taste harsher with less consistent flavors due to changes in key compounds that shape flavor and aroma. Higher temperatures increase production of more astringent compounds while reducing sweetness, creating a more bitter taste. Erratic rainfall can dilute compounds that provide depth and character. Droughts, floods, and worsening crop pests can stress plants, lowering yields and quality. Optimal growth depends on a narrow temperature range of about 13°C to 30°C with adequate but not excessive rainfall, and those conditions are breaking down. Harvest disruptions may also cause price hikes and unreliable supplies.
"A report published by aid agency Christian Aid warns that rising temperatures and worsening weather extremes in countries such as Kenya, India and Sri Lanka are having an effect on tea leaves. It means your regular brew could soon taste harsher with less consistent flavours, they said. Meanwhile disruptions to harvests caused by the changing climate could also trigger price hikes and unreliable supplies of the staple British drink."
"Tea quality depends on a delicate balance of compounds such as catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, which determine flavour and aroma. Higher temperatures increase the production of more astringent compounds while reducing sweetness, leading to a more bitter taste. Meanwhile erratic rainfall can dilute compounds that give tea its depth and character."
"Extreme weather - including droughts, floods and worsening crop pests - can also put pressure on the plants, leading to lower yields, lower quality and more bitter crops, the report says. It warned that conditions for optimal growth now sit within a relatively narrow temperature range of between 13°C (55°F) and 30°C (86°F) with adequate but not excessive rainfall. But these conditions are now breaking down in key tea-growing regions."
"Tea brands depend on delivering a stable and recognisable flavour profile. As climate variability increases, achieving that consistency becomes more challenging. The result is a simple but unsettling prospect - the familiar taste of the British cuppa, smooth, balanced, reliable, is becoming harder to guarantee, the report warns."
#climate-change-impacts #tea-production #food-quality-and-flavor #extreme-weather #supply-and-pricing
Read at Mail Online
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]