Determination of canopy resistance (r_c ) is necessary for accurate estimating hourly latent heat flux (LET), using the Penman–Monteith (PM) model for tea crop. In this study, a non-linear relationship between r_c and climatic resistance (r*) was obtained for tea plants based on micro-meteorological data and LET from the end of 2014 to the beginning of 2016 in southern China. The proposed r_c model was integrated to the PM method and compared with measured LET using a Bowen ratio energy balance method. The root mean square error (RMSE) and the index of agreement (d) were calculated for assessing the accuracy of the proposed r_c model. RMSE and d values for r_c and LET were 167.4 s m⁻¹ and 29.7 W m⁻² and 0.93 and 0.99, respectively. As compared to data from a single season, the r_c sub-model based on data from different seasons was more reliable for estimating LET of tea field when integrated to the PM model.