December Tea Harvest in Turkey Signals Climate Shift
Unseasonably Warm Weather Extends Tea Harvest into December in Turkey
Tea producers in Turkey’s northeastern province of Rize are harvesting tea well into December, a rare occurrence attributed to unusually warm weather. Normally, the tea harvest in the Black Sea region ends by late October, but this year’s mild temperatures have allowed farmers to carry out a fourth harvest.
Since the official purchasing period by state-run Çaykur has ended, producers are selling their crops to private factories.
“Global climate change has brought challenges like floods and landslides, but it has also extended the tea production period. A fourth harvest in December is unprecedented in Rize’s history,”
said Bünyamin Arslan, head of the Rize Chamber of Agriculture, noting the link between climate patterns and the prolonged harvest.
Impact on Yield and Quality
Local producers reported that the late harvest maintained the same quality as earlier yields. Rize produces nearly 70% of Turkey’s tea, one of the world’s largest tea-consuming countries.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
This extended harvest coincides with unusually high temperatures nationwide. Data from the State Meteorological Service shows November 2025 as the third-warmest in 55 years, with an average temperature of 12.2°C, significantly above the seasonal norm of 9.3°C.
The broader implications of this shift include:
- Extended agricultural cycles for specific crops like tea.
- Market disruptions due to overlaps in public (Çaykur) and private buying seasons.
- Potential long-term risks to crop viability despite short-term gains.
Important: While the extended season offers economic benefits now, agricultural experts warn that sustained climate irregularity could stress tea plants over time.
Warning: Farmers operating outside the state purchasing system must ensure their private buyers adhere to all local agricultural and trade regulations to avoid legal or financial penalties.
In conclusion, this December harvest in Rize serves as a clear, tangible example of how evolving climate patterns are directly reshaping traditional agricultural calendars and supply chains.
