For millions of tea lovers across India, The tea is going to taste bitter soon as the climate change is having its adverse impact on its quantity. Their daily cup of tea may soon cost a bit more, thanks to a sharp rise in sugar prices. As the effects of the ongoing heatwave continue to ravage sugarcane crops, sugar production in the country has dropped by a staggering 14%, leaving tea drinkers with the bitter taste of rising costs.
According to recent data from the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), India’s sugar production has dipped to just 219 lakh tonnes by the end of February 2025, a sharp fall from the 255 lakh tonnes produced last year. This decline, driven by reduced juice content in sugarcane due to the extreme heat, has already led to a 6.5% hike in sugar prices, which have surged to Rs 3,800 per quintal.
The heatwave, with its soaring temperatures, is having an even greater impact on sugarcane, causing the juice content in the crops to dwindle. And as sugarcane yields drop, it’s tea drinkers who will feel the heat the most. With sugar mills shutting down operations—177 mills have already halted production compared to just 65 last year—supply is struggling to meet the demand.
So, next time you reach for a cup of chai, remember that climate change isn’t just affecting the weather—it’s affecting your sugar, your tea, and, quite frankly, your ability to even finish your drink.
For many, a hot cup of tea is a daily ritual, but soon, you may find that your cup is as small as the hope of affordable sugar. In fact, with the shrinking cup sizes we’ve been witnessing lately, you’ll barely have room for two sips, let alone the sugar your tea needs. Maybe it’s time to prepare yourself for the ultimate innovation: the “one sip” tea cup. After all, who needs a full cup when you’re already paying an arm and a leg for a teaspoon of sugar? Cheers to the new age of tea-drinking—where even the cup gets smaller, just like your chances of enjoying a sweet, affordable brew.
