Recently, water supplies in southern Taiwan have been critically low, and central Taiwan’s tea-growing regions aren’t doing much better. Heping District, Ren’ai Township, Zhushan Town, Meishan Township, and Zhuchi Township have all been seeing well below-average rainfall. March is the sprouting season for high mountain teas, and if it doesn’t rain soon, both the quality and yield of the spring harvest will take a major hit.
The historic drought of 2021 left a deep impression, and the store manager vividly remembers whole patches of tea trees withering away across various tea regions. While most high-mountain tea gardens have irrigation systems, the severe water shortage forced them to conserve water and even implement rotational water supply. Beyond withering tea trees, the lack of water led to poor budding rates, uneven sprouting, and premature leaf opening and aging. Furthermore, fertilizers could not break down, leaving the tea trees unable to absorb nutrients. Consequently, the quality of tea produced during that drought season was far from ideal.
Back then, many tea factories suffered from insufficient water sources, resulting in poor yields and quality. However, some factories had invested heavily in water infrastructure. Not only was their quality largely unaffected, but they also enjoyed smoother sales because other producers saw drops in both quantity and quality. This just goes to show how crucial tea garden management and equipment investment really are—things that might seem useless in ordinary times make all the difference in a critical moment.
The store manager is already inquiring about the water conditions of various tea factories. We are confident that great spring tea can still be found, though we certainly hope the water situation improves. Otherwise, if high-end teas skyrocket in price like they did in 2021, it will be quite a handful for us.
Note: The photo shows the tea garden’s irrigation facilities. Do you have any guess on how much water tanks, sprinklers, and diversion pipelines cost? Feel free to take a guess!