Cultivation Environment

Climate

The average annual temperature of optimal tea cultivation area is 13 ~ 16 ℃. Plantation is more favorable in regions with winter minimum average temperature above -5 ℃ ~ -6 ℃ and it is difficult to cultivate when the minimum temperature is below -13 ℃ ~ -14 ℃. In Korea, when the average annual temperature is over 16 ℃, the yield is high but the quality is low. When the temperature is over 30 ℃, the yield and quality are both low. When over 35℃, it poses high temperature injuries to plants.

Average temperature of tea plantation area (℃)

Precipitation rate

Growing sprouts of tea tree require light, temperature, moisture and at least 1,300mm of annual precipitation. If precipitation is insufficient from Feb. to April, during which buds come out, sprouting time of Ujeon will be late. As water evaporation is high from the middle of July to early September, high precipitation is good for growing tea trees.

Weather Condition

• Tea produced in the region with cool climate, large temperature difference between day and night, and highly humid streams nearby is of high quality. As moderately warm sunlight is preferable whereas overly strong sunlight and high temperature can discourage the growth and increases tannin content, natural light of 50% is appropriate for the growth.
• Suitable amount of sunlight: 0.5 ~ 0.6㎈ / ㎠ (12 ~ 13㎈ / ㎠ at high temperature in summer)

Soil

The optimal acidity is slightly acid at pH 4.5 ~ 5.5, but tea growth is not good at pH 6 ~ 7, which is favored by other crops, but rather normally grows at pH 4 ~ 4. 90% of soil moisture is suitable for tea growth.