A story on the website, Resurgence and Ecologist, describes the long-held tradition of growing tea under agroforestry systems in Yunnan, southwest China.

“It is sometimes difficult to decipher the managed teagarden from the forests that surround them,” says the article.

Tea is the most consumed beverage globally after water.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) originated in forests in and around southwestern China but to meet global demand, tea is now largely grown in intensive monoculture plantations designed for high productivity and uniformity. These systems have been created by clear-cutting natural forests and often require significant chemical input.

Tea-growing communities in Yunnan that have in-depth knowledge of tea resources and related diverse practices have teagardens that support greater ecological and genetic diversity. The article explains how some farmers enhance the genetic composition of tea in their gardens through intimate management and selection practices, introducing seedlings with desired properties from wild tea populations and other areas. This variation has “helped buffer stress factors without the need for chemical inputs.”

The article emphasizes the need to maintain the traditional management of these forest tea gardens.

Read the full story: A Cup of Diversity