Crop

Where can I grow tea (Assam type)?

Camellia sinensis · Beverage · Perennial

Tea (Assam type) is a great fit (80+) on 32.3 million km² (12.5 million sq mi) of land in 162 countries, 46% of it only with irrigation. The most well-suited land is in Amazonas, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Pará, Brazil. Where it can't grow, it's usually winters get too cold (74%) and too many heat-stress days (23%).

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+): 32.3M km²(12.5M sq mi); 22% of land
Worth a try (50–79): 3.2M km²(1.2M sq mi); 2% of land
Great fit without irrigation: 17.2M km²(6.6M sq mi); Rain alone is enough
Countries: 162; With great-fit land

Regions with the most suitable land

1
🇧🇷Amazonas, Brazil
Great fit on 556k km² (215k sq mi) · worth a try on 6,100 km² (2,400 sq mi)
For example Manaus (100), Manacapuru (100)
2
🇧🇷Minas Gerais, Brazil
Great fit on 552k km² (213k sq mi) · worth a try on 5,800 km² (2,200 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Passos (100), Bambuí (100)
3
🇧🇷Pará, Brazil
Great fit on 513k km² (198k sq mi) · worth a try on 28k km² (11k sq mi)
For example Belém (100), Ananindeua (100)
4
🇪🇹Oromiya, Ethiopia
Great fit on 202k km² (78k sq mi) · worth a try on 15k km² (5,900 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Dembī Dolo (100), Babīlē (100)
5
🇨🇳Guangdong, China
Great fit on 145k km² (56k sq mi) · worth a try on 25k km² (9,800 sq mi)
For example Zhongshan (100), Huizhou (100)
6
🇲🇾Sarawak, Malaysia
Great fit on 121k km² (47k sq mi) · worth a try on 10k km² (3,900 sq mi)
For example Miri (100), Marudi (99)
7
🇺🇸Florida, United States
Great fit on 117k km² (45k sq mi) · worth a try on 13k km² (5,200 sq mi)
For example Miami (100), Hialeah (100)
8
🇿🇲North-Western, Zambia
Great fit on 116k km² (45k sq mi) · worth a try on 800 km² (300 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Zambezi (96), Kabompo (96)
9
🇦🇺Queensland, Australia
Great fit on 115k km² (45k sq mi) · worth a try on 14k km² (5,600 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Mackay (100), Sunshine Coast (100)
10
🇲🇲Shan State, Myanmar
Great fit on 109k km² (42k sq mi) · worth a try on 7,800 km² (3,000 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Möng Yawng (100), Yawnghwe (100)
11
🇨🇳Guangxi, China
Great fit on 104k km² (40k sq mi) · worth a try on 16k km² (6,300 sq mi)
For example Fangchenggang (100), Hepu (100)
12
🇨🇩Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Great fit on 101k km² (39k sq mi) · worth a try on 800 km² (300 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Kalemie (100), Kongolo (100)
13
🇮🇩East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Great fit on 97k km² (37k sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Ruteng (100), Tambolaka (100)
14
🇦🇴Luanda Norte, Angola
Great fit on 94k km² (36k sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Cuilo (100), Lubalo (100)
15
🇲🇿Nampula, Mozambique
Great fit on 90k km² (35k sq mi) · worth a try on 6,700 km² (2,600 sq mi) · mostly with irrigation
For example Nacala (100), Monapo (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

🇧🇷Brazil4.9M km² (1.9M sq mi) · 81% of its land
🇮🇩Indonesia1.5M km² (584k sq mi) · 97% of its land
🇨🇩Democratic Republic of the Congo1.1M km² (428k sq mi) · 98% of its land
🇹🇿Tanzania821k km² (317k sq mi) · 96% of its land
🇦🇴Angola708k km² (274k sq mi) · 96% of its land
🇿🇲Zambia565k km² (218k sq mi) · 89% of its land
🇵🇭Philippines526k km² (203k sq mi) · 94% of its land
🇪🇹Ethiopia467k km² (180k sq mi) · 55% of its land
🇮🇳India449k km² (173k sq mi) · 14% of its land
🇻🇳Vietnam415k km² (160k sq mi) · 97% of its land

Best-suited towns

100%fit
Salvador
🇧🇷 Bahia, Brazil
100%fit
Bandung
🇮🇩 West Java, Indonesia
100%fit
Cali
🇨🇴 Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
100%fit
Bucaramanga
🇨🇴 Santander Department, Colombia
100%fit
Ibagué
🇨🇴 Tolima Department, Colombia
100%fit
Palmira
🇨🇴 Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
100%fit
Camaçari
🇧🇷 Bahia, Brazil
100%fit
Praia Grande
🇧🇷 São Paulo, Brazil
100%fit
São Vicente
🇧🇷 São Paulo, Brazil
100%fit
Toamasina
🇲🇬 Atsinanana, Madagascar
100%fit
Bandar Lampung
🇮🇩 Lampung, Indonesia
100%fit
Percut
🇮🇩 North Sumatra, Indonesia

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 36°F (2°C)Won't grow below 28°F (-2°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 70–82°F (21–28°C)Won't grow below 64°F (18°C) or above 90°F (32°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 cold74%
Too many heat-stress days23%
Too cool overall3%

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. This map is for Tea (Assam type) only. “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.