How Climate Crisis Is Threatening Assam Tea’s Unique Flavour And Production

Assam tea, a nearly 200-year-old variant, is globally cherished for its health benefits and robust, malty flavour, making it a good tea to wake up to. Its unique flavour is influenced by its origin's unique climate and farming techniques.

The kadak chai (strong tea) is heavily dependent on weather and is now facing a challenge to its existence due to the vagaries of nature.

Rising temperatures and extreme weather events have adversely impacted both the quality and quantity of Assam tea, leading to significant damage of over 48,029 hectares of crops in the state and a 9 per cent tea production decline in August 2023 compared to the previous year.

Assam is India's largest tea-producing state, contributing to approximately 52 per cent of the country's tea production and 13 per cent globally, with around 800 organised tea estates. The state tops the Climate Vulnerability Index, indicating its high susceptibility to extreme weather events like floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves.

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Report, 'Climate India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events', between January 1 and September 30, 2023, Assam reported 48,029 hectares of crop area damage. In August, when India experienced heavy rains, floods and landslides, Assam was the worst hit with extreme weather events on 28 days of the month.

The tea-growing cycle in Assam spans nine months, with distinct harvest periods such as the first flush, second flush, monsoon flush, and autumn flush.

Changing climatic conditions, including temperature rise and erratic rainfall patterns, have negatively affected tea quality and production volume, contributing to a 15-20 per cent decline in auction prices over the last decade. Dinesh Bihani, Secretary of the Guwahati Tea Auction Buyer's Association, highlighted that temperature rise and uneven rainfall have significantly impacted tea quality and production volume in Assam.

To adapt and recover from climate change impacts, Assam's tea industry calls for government support in irrigation facilities, rainwater harvesting, shade tree planting, and developing new tea plant varieties resistant to climate change.