One of the UK’s greatest institutions, the cup of tea, could be under threat from climate change according to one of the world’s leading charities.
Christian Aid has reported this week that black tea production in Kenya is facing a crisis as farmers can no longer predict the seasonal weather, facing floods, droughts and rising temperatures.
Kenya produces more than half of the black tea drunk by the British, but generations of tea growers face financial ruin as climate change could affect tea production by up to 26 per cent over the next 30 years.
The immediate danger is that the environment will not be ideal to grown the tea, but Kat Kramer, climate policy lead at Christian Aid has said that even the taste of the tea may be impacted by the crisis.
She said that flooding in tea regions will alter the chemical compounds of the tea leaves, and that too much water in the soil could dilute the taste: “You will lose the delicate nuances of flavour, the things that make tea so special. It’s like taking the herbs and spices away from a recipe – you will not get the same richness of flavour.” “As host of both the G7 in June and the Cop26 climate summit in November, the UK can ensure that countries on the front line of this crisis can adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change.
“With countries starting to announce improved climate plans, there is a unique opportunity to accelerate cuts in emissions and boost the finance needed to help countries adapt to the changing climate.”
One of the world’s biggest tea brands, PG Tips, has also issued a warning, stating that climate change could put the livelihoods of tea growers at risk.
“The climate crisis affects people all over the world,” said Fiachra Moloney from PG Tips’ parent brand Unilever.
“In East Africa, where so much of our tea comes from, climate change is putting the livelihoods of the people who grow tea for us at risk.
“As Unilever, we call on governments to bring forward ambitious climate targets, policies and plans ahead of Cop26 that will help us all work together to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5C.”
