Crop

Where can I grow tea?

Camellia sinensis · Beverage · Perennial

Tea is a great fit (80+) on 45.8 million km² (17.7 million sq mi) of land in 188 countries, 56% of it only with irrigation. The most well-suited land is in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Amazonas, Brazil and Pará, Brazil. Where it can't grow, it's usually winters get too cold (55%) and too many heat-stress days (36%).

Crop fit≤5075100Uncolored land: won't grow

Tap the map for the score at any spot. Each square is a 28 km (17 mile) grid cell.

Great fit (80+): 45.8M km²(17.7M sq mi); 32% of land
Worth a try (50–79): 3.8M km²(1.5M sq mi); 3% of land
Great fit without irrigation: 19.8M km²(7.6M sq mi); Rain alone is enough
Countries: 188; With great-fit land

Regions with the most suitable land

1
🇧🇷Minas Gerais, Brazil
Great fit on 564k km² (218k sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Camanducaia (100), Cambuí (100)
2
🇧🇷Amazonas, Brazil
Great fit on 555k km² (214k sq mi) · worth a try on 6,900 km² (2,700 sq mi)
For example Manaus (100), Manacapuru (100)
3
🇧🇷Pará, Brazil
Great fit on 510k km² (197k sq mi) · worth a try on 31k km² (12k sq mi)
For example Belém (100), Ananindeua (100)
4
🇦🇷Buenos Aires, Argentina
Great fit on 305k km² (118k sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Mercedes (100), La Plata (100)
5
🇨🇳Yunnan, China
Great fit on 276k km² (107k sq mi) · worth a try on 9,700 km² (3,700 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Mabai (100), Hekou (100)
6
🇪🇹Oromiya, Ethiopia
Great fit on 272k km² (105k sq mi) · worth a try on 2,300 km² (900 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Āgaro (100), Bedelē (100)
7
🇨🇳Guangdong, China
Great fit on 219k km² (85k sq mi)
For example Zhongshan (100), Huizhou (100)
8
🇦🇺New South Wales, Australia
Great fit on 187k km² (72k sq mi) · worth a try on 14k km² (5,300 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Coffs Harbour (100), Port Macquarie (100)
9
🇨🇳Guangxi, China
Great fit on 186k km² (72k sq mi)
For example Qinzhou (100), Fangchenggang (100)
10
🇺🇸Florida, United States
Great fit on 173k km² (67k sq mi)
For example Miami (100), Hialeah (100)
11
🇿🇦Eastern Cape, South Africa
Great fit on 163k km² (63k sq mi) · worth a try on 1,300 km² (500 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Gqeberha (100), East London (100)
12
🇦🇺Queensland, Australia
Great fit on 156k km² (60k sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Mackay (100), Sunshine Coast (100)
13
🇺🇸Georgia, United States
Great fit on 153k km² (59k sq mi) · worth a try on 1,300 km² (500 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Canton (100), Rome (100)
14
🇦🇺Victoria, Australia
Great fit on 149k km² (57k sq mi) · worth a try on 11k km² (4,300 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Echuca (100), Wodonga (99)
15
🇺🇸Mississippi, United States
Great fit on 147k km² (57k sq mi)
For example Pascagoula (100), Gautier (100)

Regions are states and provinces, counting land within 75 km of a town. At most three per country, so the list covers the world.

By country

🇧🇷Brazil5.1M km² (2.0M sq mi) · 85% of its land
🇨🇳China2.2M km² (842k sq mi) · 39% of its land
🇮🇩Indonesia1.5M km² (593k sq mi) · 98% of its land
🇺🇸United States1.5M km² (565k sq mi) · 26% of its land
🇦🇷Argentina1.3M km² (492k sq mi) · 81% of its land
🇨🇩Democratic Republic of the Congo1.1M km² (435k sq mi) · 100% of its land
🇹🇿Tanzania849k km² (328k sq mi) · 100% of its land
🇲🇽Mexico832k km² (321k sq mi) · 52% of its land
🇿🇦South Africa826k km² (319k sq mi) · 97% of its land
🇦🇴Angola718k km² (277k sq mi) · 97% of its land

Best-suited towns

100%fit
Kakamega
🇰🇪 Kakamega County, Kenya
100%fit
Joinville
🇧🇷 Santa Catarina, Brazil
100%fit
Cimahi
🇮🇩 West Java, Indonesia
100%fit
Bucaramanga
🇨🇴 Santander Department, Colombia
100%fit
Florianópolis
🇧🇷 Santa Catarina, Brazil
100%fit
Pereira
🇨🇴 Risaralda Department, Colombia
100%fit
Manizales
🇨🇴 Caldas Department, Colombia
100%fit
Xalapa de Enríquez
🇲🇽 Veracruz, Mexico
100%fit
Mauá
🇧🇷 São Paulo, Brazil
100%fit
Bello
🇨🇴 Antioquia, Colombia
100%fit
Cascavel
🇧🇷 Paraná, Brazil
100%fit
Popayán
🇨🇴 Cauca Department, Colombia

The most comfortable fits among the 2,000 biggest towns, two per region.

What tea needs

Coldest night of the year (average): Ideal at least 14°F (-10°C)Won't grow below 5°F (-15°C)
Yearly rain: Ideal 59–118 in (1,500–3,000 mm)Won't grow below 43 in (1,100 mm) or above 197 in (5,000 mm)
Average temperature: Ideal 61–77°F (16–25°C)Won't grow below 54°F (12°C) or above 86°F (30°C)
Dry-season length: Ideal at most 2 monthsWon't grow above 5 months
Days above 95°F (35°C): Ideal at most 10 daysWon't grow above 45 days

Needs acidic soil and steady rain; the finest teas come from cool highlands.

Sources: Carr 1972, The climatic requirements of the tea plant: a review (Experimental Agriculture); FAO ECOCROP: Camellia sinensis. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

What stops it elsewhere

Winters get too cold55%
Too many heat-stress days36%
Too cool overall8%

Share of the land scoring under 50, by what holds it back most.

How this map works

Every 28 km square of land is scored 0–100 against the requirements above, using 1991–2020 monthly climate averages with frost, chill and heat estimated by simulating daily weather. Each square is scored with whichever variety fits it best. “With irrigation” ignores rain shortfalls; “Rain-fed only” counts them.

Climate is only part of it: soil, slope, water and markets decide where a crop is actually farmed. Use this to shortlist places, then check them locally.