The Status Quo of Worldwide Tea Production
The Numbers
Tea is the second most consumed beverage globally, after water. The annual worldwide tea production reaches around 3 billion tons, corresponding to 635,000 kg of processed tea or 2 billion cups daily. About 99% of this tea is grown through monocrop farming of domesticated tea plants. To create large-scale plantations, forests are often cleared, and irrigation systems are essential to ensure consistent yields. The use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides is vital in monoculture tea gardens to control insects, fungi, and weeds. As a result, tea production has significant environmental and climate impacts. Deforestation destroys natural CO2 storage, while agrochemicals contaminate groundwater, posing increasing risks to human health.
conventional tea cultivation in monoculture
The Face of Conventional Tea Cultivation
In productivity-driven monoculture, tea plants are not raised from seeds but from cuttings. This practice preserves the genetic traits of the mother plant and enhances production speed. A tea bush grown from seed takes seven years to mature, while cuttings are ready for picking after just two years.
What may seem like a blessing at first glance also has its downsides. One of these is the different way in which roots develop. While the roots of native tea bushes reach up to several meters deep into the ground, the roots of cuttings branch out horizontally and remain close to the surface. This makes these plants more water-intensive and competing with surrounding weeds for nutrients. Consequently, irrigation systems and the removal of diverse flora become necessary in conventional tea gardens, increasing susceptibility to climate change and extreme weather such as long-term droughts.
The use of modern farming techniques and machinery seems crucial to meet the global tea demand. Yet, the environmental costs are obvious: besides deforestation and the contamination of ground water through pesticides, the loss of biodiversity in local ecosystems is another negative consequence of yield-optimized tea farming.
But what are the possible alternatives? One widely promoted option is certified organic tea.
„Bio“ Tea: Health in Focus, Environment in The Shadows
Certified organic tea now accounts for over 15% of global tea production, with rising tendency. Organic and “bio”certifications focus on consumer health by promoting pesticide-free cultivation. However, environmental and climate concerns often remain optional without being mandatory requirements.
For example, German and EU organic certifications ensure tea is grown without pesticides but leave environmental or biodiversity requirements optional. As a result, organic tea reduces pesticide pollution in soil and water but still has harmful effects on the environment and climate. Consumers often remain unaware that their purchase of organic products may not contribute to environmental protection to a desirable degree.
Moreover, organic certifications in fact are rather exclusive. The certification process and annual audits are costly, making them unaffordable for many small producers. In addition, sociocultural barriers such as a lack of education may prevent farmers from getting certified. This highlights the need for a more accessible system that supports small-scale farmers in adopting sustainable practices.
From the Wild Tea Tree to the Domesticated Cash Crop
The Wild Origin of the Tea Plant
Tea plants are particularly suited for cultivation in biodiverse ecosystems. In their native habitat, the southern foothills of the Himalayas, they grow naturally as trees, contributing to forest ecosystems that have the highest levels of biodiversity. Tea trees can become several thousand years old, as some specimen in Northern Thailand nicely demonstrate. Their deep roots avoid competition with grasses and herbs, enhancing soil quality and resilience to drought. In such balanced ecosystems, tea trees thrive without irrigation or pesticides.
“Hmiang” – the (almost) Forgotten Treasure of Thai Tea and Culinary Culture
Historically, the first use of tea leaves in their native regions was as a food. In Thailand, the fermented tea leaf dish “Hmiang” was a staple long before tea became a beverage. However, changing consumer preferences have reduced demand for Hmiang, leading to the abandonment of many once biodiverse Hmiang plantations. Others are cleared for more profitable crops, including domesticated tea plants..
In its natural, biodiverse environment, the tea plant contributed to the preservation of biodiversity as the basis for the production of “Hmiang”. The shift to monoculture tea farming not only reduces biodiversity but also degrades soil quality and increases vulnerability to pests and diseases. Recognizing the potential of tea plants in their natural environment benefits both the environment and the preservation of Thailand’s cultural and culinary heritage.
„Forest-Friendly Tea“ – A Concept for more Biodiversity in Tea Cultivation
Conservation, Regeneration and New Creation of Biodiverse Habitats
Monsoon Tea, a Thai company founded by Swedisch national Kenneth Rimdahl, has responded to this challenge, with its “forest-friendly tea” concept. The concept aims at creating more biodiversity in tea cultivation. To this end, the company acquires abandoned Hmiang plantations and converts them into biodiverse tea cultivation areas, preserving the balance of these ecosystems.
By paying tea farmers for their crop based on the biodiversity level of their tea garden, Monsoon Tea incentivizes the preservation and creation of biodiverse environments. This approach creates a win-win for all stakeholders. That is, the company thrives, farmers receive fair compensation, and consumers enjoy a healthy product while supporting biodiversity.
The creation of functional ecosystems requires extensive knowledge of the species involved and the interactions that take place within them. To this end, Monsoon Tea collaborates with Russian entomologist Alexey Reshchikov to study the relationship between insect species and ecosystem functionality. Their goal is to identify species that promote tea tree growth and develop targeted measures to enhance biodiversity in tea plantations.
A Sustainable Business Model – For Nothing Less then a Better World
Monsoon Tea’s “forest-friendly tea” concept ultimately aims to increase biodiversity in tea cultivation, not just produce tea. Or, with the words of Monsoon Tea founder Kenneth Rimdahl: “For me, it’s not about the tea, or fair prices for farmers, or even the health of tea drinkers. Instead, it’s all about biodiversity — more biodiversity! Tea is simply the means to that end. And fair conditions for farmers or healthy enjoyment for consumers are welcome side effects.”
The associated business model is also best explained with a quote by it’s spiritual father: “The more tea we sell, the more tea we can buy. The more tea we buy, the higher our farmers’ incomes. And the more money our farmers can earn from tea from biodiverse cultivation, the more biodiverse cultivation areas they will want to create. And the more biodiverse habitats our farmers create, the better the world we live in. In this way, our “Forest Friendly Tea” concept ultimately serves nothing less than the creation of a better world.”
Monsoon Tea sells its products through a growing number of stores in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and most recently Copenhagen. When following Kenneth Rimdahl’s vision, more major European and American cities are to follow in the near future. All of the shops further advance the mission of promoting biodiversity through tea education seminars and a developing e-commerce platform. The company’s success has also attracted notable clients in the B2B market, including luxury hotels, restaurants, or even fashion brands, who appreciate the added value of supporting biodiversity.
The Next Level – Biodiversity in Tea Cultivation Becomes Measurable!
The Rimdahl-Skala – Bioindicators for Determining a Tea Garden’s Degree of Biodiversity
The Rimdahl Scale is a tool developed to assess the biodiversity levels of tea plantations. This five-tier scale evaluates biodiversity by examining soil quality, plant diversity, and insect populations. By encouraging tea producers to preserve and enhance biodiversity, Monsoon Tea provides economic incentives for sustainable farming. The company is also developing a “traceability app” that will allow consumers to trace the biodiversity status of their purchased tea back to its origin.
The classification of a tea garden on the Rimdahl Scale relies on “bio-indicators. These in turn divide into three main categories: flora, fauna, and soil. Each category further breaks down into several subcategories. In the flora category, evaluators assess species diversity, endemic species, and species evenness. For fauna, the classification focuses on microfauna, mesofauna, and megafauna. The evaluation of soil quality takes place by identifying microorganisms, fungi, and chemicals present in the area.
„Biodiversity Traceability“ – From the Visual Assessment to the Scientific Measurement of the Degree of Biodiversity
Originally, the classification of a tea cultivation area on the Rimdahl Scale was based on mere visual inspection. With the identification and measurability of more bioindicators, the classification became increasingly accurate. Recent efforts now aim to elevate the scale to a more scientific level. To achieve this, Monsoon Tea has formed partnerships with universities and research institutes worldwide.
The project’s goal is twofold: to determine the biodiversity level of a cultivation area using measurable indicators and to develop a mobile-friendly “traceability app.” This app will enable tracking of each Monsoon Tea product back to the specific tea garden. Farmers and producers in the mountains will use the app to document the harvest time and geographic location of each picking. Sensors, developed by the AI Department of the Asia Institute of Technology in Bangkok, will assist in precisely measuring the biodiversity level of the area.
Data gathered by these sensors will then be analyzed using artificial intelligence. For example, highly sensitive acoustic recordings from the tea garden are evaluated to detect species (fauna) based on the sounds captured. These findings allow the exact location and biodiversity data of each box of Monsoon Tea to be made available to customers through a QR code on the packaging.
YOUR (delightful) Contribution to More Biodiversity in Tea Cultivation… Forest-Friendly Tea @ Siam Tee Shop
A great advantage of the “Forest Friendly Tea” concept presented is that every tea lover can make a – enjoyable! – contribution to more biodiversity in tea cultivation. Because every purchase of a tea from Monsoon Tea goes entirely to the benefit of the cause!
When selecting our range of Monsoon Tea products in the Siam Tea Shop, we have remained true to our preference for pure tea varieties. The resulting range of green, black, white and oolong teas from forest-friendly, biodiverse cultivation can be found here @ Siam Tea Shop:
https://www.siam-teas.com/product/forest-friendly-tea-northern-thailand/
Under the link, the teas are available as a sampler. Alternatively, however, you can also buy them individually through e linked product pages.