By Desmond Davies
London, May 12, GNA – A new analysis by the United Kingdom-based charity Christian Aid has raised alarm over the future of tea production in Kenya, over climate change.
It warns that it is already affecting the flavour, quality and reliability of one of the country’s most important export crops.
The report, released on Monday, says rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and increasing extreme weather events are altering the chemical composition of tea leaves, leading to harsher and more bitter flavours, while also threatening the livelihoods of millions who depend on the sector across Africa and Asia.
For Kenya, Africa’s largest tea exporter and one of the world’s leading producers of black tea, the findings underline mounting concerns about the vulnerability of tea-growing regions such as Kericho, Bomet, Nandi and Nyeri to climate shocks.
According to the report, tea quality depends on a delicate balance of compounds including catechins, amino acids and polyphenols that determine flavour, aroma and mouthfeel.
However, scientists warn that higher temperatures are increasing the production of more astringent compounds while reducing those linked to sweetness and balance.
“The result is a shift towards harsher, more bitter profiles,” the report states.
The analysis also highlights how droughts, floods and prolonged heatwaves are disrupting harvest cycles and creating instability in global tea markets, with potential consequences for export earnings, farmer incomes and international consumer prices.
Kenya’s tea industry is a major pillar of the economy, earning the country billions of shillings annually in foreign exchange and supporting more than five million people directly and indirectly through farming, transport, processing and trade.
But small-scale farmers say climate conditions have become increasingly unpredictable.
Reuben Korir, a tea farmer from Kericho County, said changing weather patterns were already affecting the quality and quantity of tea harvested.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Mr Korir added.
The report warns that climate-related disruptions are likely to increase volatility in tea prices and supplies globally.
Rising geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets and shipping routes are also pushing up the costs of fertiliser, fuel and transportation, adding further pressure on producers.
Scientists say the impact of climate change on tea will not necessarily produce one uniform taste change, but greater inconsistency between harvests, making it harder for tea brands to maintain stable flavour profiles.
Dr Neha Mittal, senior climate services scientist at the UK Met Office and visiting scientist at the University of Leeds, said: “Tea brands depend on delivering a stable and recognisable flavour profile. “As climate variability increases, achieving that consistency becomes more challenging.”
The report also draws attention to the human cost of climate change within the tea value chain, arguing that growers and workers who contributed least to global emissions are among the most exposed to its consequences.
Claire Nasike Akello, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Lead at Christian Aid, said the crisis extended far beyond consumers noticing changes in taste.
“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.
“Climate change is amplifying deep-rooted inequalities in the tea sector.
“Farmers and workers who have done the least to cause the climate crisis are being pushed further onto its front line, with fewer resources to adapt, she added.”
Christian Aid is calling for increased investment in climate adaptation measures, including the development of heat-resistant tea varieties, improved irrigation systems and the planting of shade trees to reduce heat stress on crops.
It also urged governments, buyers and international partners to support fairer supply chains through better pricing mechanisms, adaptation financing and stronger protections for agricultural workers.
For Kenya, where tea remains both a cultural staple and a strategic export commodity, the warning highlights the growing urgency of climate resilience in safeguarding one of the nation’s most valuable industries.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage