Can You Grow Tea in Canada? Climate, Challenges & What’s Really Possible
Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, but many Canadians ask the same question: can you grow tea in Canada? The short answer is yes, but only under very specific conditions.
In this guide, we’ll explore whether tea plants can survive Canada’s climate, where it may be possible to grow them, and why most high-quality tea enjoyed in Canada is still sourced from traditional tea-growing regions.
What Plant Does Tea Come From?
All true tea—green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh—comes from a single plant species: Camellia sinensis.
This evergreen shrub is native to East Asia and has been cultivated for thousands of years in regions with mild winters, high humidity, and long growing seasons. If you’d like a deeper botanical breakdown, you can read our full guide here: What Plant Does Tea Come From? A Complete Guide to the Tea Plant.
Understanding the needs of Camellia sinensis is key to knowing whether it can realistically grow in Canada.
Can Tea Grow in Canada’s Climate?
Tea plants are sensitive to extreme cold and frost. In ideal conditions, they require:
- Mild winters with minimal freezing
- Warm, humid summers
- Acidic, well-draining soil
- A long growing season lasting most of the year
Most of Canada experiences cold winters and short growing seasons, making outdoor tea cultivation difficult or impossible in many regions without protection.
Where Can Tea Be Grown in Canada?
Coastal British Columbia
Some parts of southern coastal British Columbia have milder winters and higher humidity. In these areas, small-scale growers and hobbyists have had limited success growing tea plants outdoors with heavy winter protection.
Even in these regions, plants often grow slowly and yields remain very small.
Greenhouses and Indoor Growing
Tea plants can be grown indoors or in greenhouses anywhere in Canada, provided temperature and humidity are carefully controlled. However:
- Growth is slow
- Harvest quantities are minimal
- Leaf processing requires specialized knowledge
- Energy and labor costs are high
As a result, greenhouse-grown tea in Canada is generally experimental or recreational rather than commercial.
Why Tea Is Not Grown Commercially in Canada
While it is technically possible to grow tea plants in Canada, commercial tea farming is not economically viable due to:
- Harsh winter conditions
- Short growing seasons
- High heating and labor costs
- Low yields compared to traditional tea regions
- Complex post-harvest processing requirements
Countries such as China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan benefit from climates that naturally support tea cultivation and centuries of agricultural expertise.
How Canadian Tea Companies Source Their Tea
Although tea plants are rarely grown in Canada, Canadian tea companies focus on sourcing, blending, and curating high-quality teas from established tea-growing regions.
At Happy Fox, our focus is on selecting exceptional teas based on quality, freshness, and flavour, then making them accessible to Canadian tea lovers through careful sourcing and local expertise.
You can explore our curated tea selection.
Are There Teas Grown in Canada?
It’s important to distinguish between true tea and herbal infusions.
- True tea must come from Camellia sinensis
- Herbal teas (such as chamomile, mint, rooibos, or chaga) do not
Many herbal ingredients grow well in Canada and are commonly used in Canadian-made blends. However, they are not technically tea, even though they are enjoyed in a similar way.
Final Thoughts: Can You Grow Tea in Canada?
Tea plants can be grown in Canada under controlled conditions, but the country’s climate makes large-scale or outdoor tea farming impractical in most regions.
For this reason, high-quality tea consumed in Canada continues to be grown abroad and thoughtfully curated locally. Canadian tea companies play an essential role in sourcing exceptional teas and sharing them with tea lovers across the country.
If you’re looking to enjoy outstanding tea without the challenges of growing it yourself, you can browse our full tea selection.