Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Climate change dries up India tea production


Rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall now hamper one of the largest tea-growing regions in the world.

"Malty, hard," says Parag Hatibaruah, a professional tea-taster. "But not as strong, brisk and creamy as it was once," he adds, shaking his head dismissively. Rows of teacups and packs of dried leaves are lined up neatly in the well-lit tasting room.

Assam tea used to be more pungent and full-bodied and looked like tomato soup, he says, but the unwelcome transformation started 10 years ago. "Even the sheen of tealeaves is lost."

See full Article: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/09/201398144844505310.html