The continuous heat waves hitting Hangzhou city, a major production region of China's Longjing tea, will reduce tea output next year, local authorities said Monday.
Hot weather started to hit the city in eastern China's Zhejiang Province about 12 days ago, with daily temperatures reaching between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius, and is expected to linger until the end of July, the city's meteorological department said.
"The tea output and quality will decline as a result of the hot and dry summer days," said Weng Jianguo, who has 0.3 hectares of tea farm in Longjing Village in Hangzhou.
The annual output of Longjing tea is forecast to reduce by as much as 10 percent next year, said the city's Longjing tea management office.
Longjing tea, also known as West Lake Dragon Well tea, is a variety of green tea from Hangzhou. It has topped the list of the ten most famous teas in China and is characterized by its green color, delicate aroma, mellow taste and beautiful shape.
Hangzhou has about 1,400 hectares of Longjing tea farm, with annual output of about 550,000 kilograms last year.