Christian Aid report shows climate change could ruin our cuppa

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New analysis warns the great British cup of tea is at risk as climate change drives more bitter flavours, volatile prices and unreliable supply.

Christian Aid says the threat to Britain's favourite drink also highlights the growing climate pressure on tea farmers and workers.

The familiar taste of the British cuppa is under threat from climate change, with new analysis warning that rising temperatures and extreme weather could make tea more bitter, harsher and less consistent in flavour.

The report, published today by Christian Aid, finds that the delicate 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 sets out how climate change is already affecting the chemistry of tea leaves. Tea quality depends on a delicate balance of compounds such as catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, which determine flavour, aroma and mouthfeel.

The report states: "Scientific evidence shows that these changes are not simply cosmetic. Tea quality depends on a delicate balance of chemical compounds, including catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, which determine flavour, aroma and mouthfeel. Studies find that higher temperatures tend to increase 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, altering how they grow and develop, with knock-on effects for taste.

As temperatures rise, pest populations are expected to increase, adding further stress to 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 in flavour and, at times, noticeably harsher. In short, the smooth, reliable taste of the British cuppa is becoming harder to guarantee.

Alongside changes in taste, the report highlights growing instability in global tea markets. Climate shocks such as droughts, floods and heatwaves are already disrupting harvests, leading to price spikes and supply uncertainty. At the same time, geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets, including risks to key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, are increasing the cost of fertiliser, fuel and transport.

The report argues that: "Together, these pressures are creating a perfect storm which are likely to increase volatility in the tea market that will affect both the price of tea on our shop shelves as well as the quality and taste of tea that ends up on our shelves."

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."

Dr Neha Mittal, senior climate services scientist at the 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."

Rather than affecting taste in a uniform way, the changing climate is likely to increase variation in leaf quality between harvests, making it harder for producers to maintain consistent flavour profiles over time, with potential implications for brand trust and consumer confidence.

Claire Nasike Akello, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Lead at Christian Aid, said: "For generations, consumers have taken for granted that a cup of tea will taste the same, day in, day out. But that consistency depends on a stable climate, and that stability is now breaking down.

"What we are seeing is the beginning of a shift towards a harsher brew, with the risk that Britain's favourite drink becomes more bitter, more expensive and less reliable.

"But this is not just about what is happening in our kitchens or in our mugs. 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.

"Protecting the future of tea means investing in people as well as crops - through fair pricing, targeted adaptation finance and stronger support for farmers and workers."

The UK is also experiencing climate changes that are affecting quality. According to Lucy George who runs Peterston Tea, a small tea farm in South Wales, one of the first commercial tea farms in the UK. "Seasons are less predictable with warmer winters, sudden late frosts, and irregular rainfall patterns," she told Christian Aid.

"Tea is incredibly responsive to its environment. Small changes in temperature, rainfall, and sunlight can significantly alter flavour. In our case, warmer periods can accelerate growth but often at the expense of complexity, while erratic rainfall or cold snaps can slow growth and affect leaf structure. The balance that gives tea its depth - sugars, amino acids, polyphenols - is closely tied to stable growing conditions. When that stability is lost, consistency becomes much harder to achieve."

Christian Aid says 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.

The report also points to the role of fairer and more resilient supply chains, including support for producers through fair pricing, adaptation funding and stronger protections for workers.

The UK drinks approximately 100 million cups of tea per day (UK Tea & Infusions Association).

Around half of UK tea imports come from Kenya, making British consumers highly exposed to climate impacts in East Africa.
Fairtrade and other producer-focused approaches can help improve resilience by supporting better returns and investment in farming communities.

LINK

Christian Aid: www.christianaid.org.uk/