Kenya: Climate change is ruining your favorite beverage

PARIS (AFP) - Climate change is expected to devastate tea production in Kenya as the world's largest exporter of this plant faces increasing temperatures, erratic rains and an insect infestation, according to an analysis released Monday by Christian Aid. And tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water, and the interruption of supplies from this east African country is expected to have a global impact. The report identified the various threats faced by the black tea crop in Kenya, in addition to the dangers that countries may face. According to a revised study, the report stated that the quadruple threat of high temperatures, erratic precipitation, drought and insect infestation is expected to destroy 26.2 percent of the country's ideal tea growing areas by the year 2050. Climate change is expected to shrink areas with medium-quality growing conditions by about 40 percent in the same time frame. Best in the World “For generations, we have cultivated tea carefully and ...