Brewing a Better World: Sipping Sustainable Tea with Fair Trade Values
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We are big tea enthusiasts. Every kind of tea has a special place in our hearts. It doesn’t hurt that tea comes in a variety of delicious berry and floral options.
We can always find a new flavor that suits our mood, and we are regularly searching for our latest favorite sustainable and fair trade blend.
Tea, the world’s second most beloved beverage, has reached soaring popularity, and with it, a tide of unsustainable practices – think mountains of packaging waste, worker exploitation, damaging agriculture practices, and harmful microplastics in our tea bags. Sustainable and fair trade tea has become a buzzing topic.
Across generations, the tea industry has seen its share of exploitation. Nowadays, supermarket shelves have become battlegrounds of price wars, where big brands fight for your loyalty with rock-bottom prices. But here’s the catch: they’re squeezing the farmers, paying them less and less, and cutting corners on tea leaf excellence.
This relentless pursuit of profit leads to declining quality, while farming communities bear the brunt of this unequal exchange, sinking them deeper into poverty.
Fortunately, several sustainable and fair trade tea companies committed to equitable business practices have discovered solutions beneficial to the farmers and don’t price gouge customers. For all the tea enthusiasts and Earth advocates out there, we’ve taken the plunge into the vast ocean of tea companies to find those committed to a brighter, greener future.
So, consider this your passport to eco-friendly sipping as we serve up a guide about some fantastic sustainable tea companies leading the way.
Quick Glimpse of Our Favorite Sustainable and Fair Trade Tea Companies
From Leaf to Sip: What Makes Tea Sustainable?
Tea’s sustainability isn’t just about a perfect steep; it’s a journey from field to cup. How tea is grown, packaged, and sourced all play a part.
Organic Growing Practices
In our research, sustainable tea is grown utilizing organic practices using regenerative agriculture methods without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or insecticides. The brands included in this article grow tea organically, and several implement regenerative farming practices.
Sustainable Tea Bags
Unfortunately, many tea providers package their teas in sachets that are not environmentally friendly. The tea bags contain microplastics, staples, and harmful glues. The envelopes protecting the tea sachets are often not biodegradable/recyclable.
Sustainable tea is most easily achieved with loose-leaf tea varieties. This zero-waste solution reduces a lot of unnecessary and individual packaging. Loose-leaf tea has the added benefit of eliminating the need for strings, staples, inks, and adhesives. Look for tea packed in reusable and recyclable containers like tins or backyard compostable packaging.
However, sometimes you need a quick cuppa before heading out the door, and individually packaged tea makes it faster. The companies listed below that sell individually packaged tea produce individual tea sachets that are fully recyclable or biodegradable.
What is Fair Trade Tea?
Fair trade has become a popular term. For this guide, fair trade means the tea was sourced ethically through transparent direct trade, which means the tea companies work individually with tea farmers or through a fair trade-certified partner. Direct sourcing, or close to it, will help you avoid industrially cultivated tea. It will also help guarantee that the ingredients advertised are what make it into your tea and not just a strategically marketed product.
All brands in this guide follow one or both of these standards — you’ll see which one (or both) of the standards each brand follows in their descriptions.
Don’t dismiss a company because it lacks Fairtrade or organic labels. While these certifications are incredibly valuable, they can be a financial burden for smaller farmers. Any tea company that holds these values will openly and proudly disclose its sourcing methods.
Now let’s dive in so you can get to sipping on some sustainable fair trade tea!
Cup of Change: Our Favorite Sustainable Teas
If you are a coffee lover trying to find a way to enjoy tea, Teeccino might be just the company for you. A blend of roasted herbal teas creates a deliciously rich blend that is a bit similar to coffee. The brand currently has over 35 organic and gluten-free options.
The inspiration behind this beautiful product is a caffeine-free cappuccino.
Their herbal coffee is an artisanal creation crafted for versatile brewing. This composite grind embraces various methods, including drip coffee makers, French press pots, pour-over brewers, and espresso machines.
Our Sips of Choice: French Roast Chicory Herbal Coffee ($12.49), Almond Amaretto Chicory Herbal Coffee
Why We Sip and Support
- The majority of Teeccino’s ingredients come from Europe and the United States. The company also sources organic chicory in India.
- Teeccino works to build economic opportunities in rural communities by sustainably harvesting herbs. In Guatemala, the company collaborates with small family farmers and rainforest villagers to harvest ramon seeds.
- Teeccino donates a slice of its sales to empower Central American women and children, protect rainforests, and make a lasting impact. They are all about genuine giving, not just fleeting profits. This is why Teeccino donates based on sales rather than profits.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Teeccino’s tea bags are made from paper derived from plant fiber. The tea bags are renewable, biodegradable, and industrially compostable.
- Furthermore, Teeccino’s tea bags are entirely devoid of fossil fuel-derived plastic.
Arbor Teas strives to deliver the finest organic teas while upholding commendable sustainability and fair trade practices. Arbor Teas delivers exactly that and more with their carbon-free ethos and backyard compostable packaging.
Our Sip of Choice: Organic Lychee Black Tea ($9.50)
Why We Sip and Support
- USDA certified organic
- Works with Fair Trade certified farmers around the world in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, and across South Africa
- Arbor Teas has installed solar panels at their packaging facility and participates in DTE Energy’s GreenCurrents program. Furthering their commitment to sustainability with the generation of energy.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- All tea from Arbor Teas is loose-leaf and packaged in a cellulose material that is fully compostable at your home. They do not offer individually packaged tea varieties.
Traditional Medicinals, a pioneer in wellness, offers a passport to a world of mindful sipping. They infuse every cup with certified organic and non-GMO ingredients, reflecting their dedication to environmental responsibility and social equity. At the heart of their mission lie the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability. But their commitment goes further – they invest in communities, sourcing herbs with ethical, fair trade, and wildlife-friendly certifications. It’s not just a sip; it’s a journey. Join Traditional Medicinals as they nurture wellness, respect the planet, and celebrate the people who make it all possible.
Our Sip of Choice: Cup of Calm Lavender & Mint ($10.61)
Why We Sip and Support
- Traditional Medicinals partners with fair trade farmers who grow their tea organically.
- The company strives to invest in communities by improving the lives of both farmers and collectors.
- The corporation is driven by 57% female leadership.
- Traditional Medicinals is a Certified B Corporation and California Green Business.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Tea bags at Traditional Medicinals are non-GMO and sustainably made from plant fibers. The tea bags are fully compostable, non-heat sealed, and do not contain any plastics. In addition, the tea bags are naturally gluten-free.
- Traditional Medicinals’ tea bags are wrapped in a new BPI-certified industrially compostable packaging. The overwraps protect the freshness and quality of the medicinal herbs while being environmentally conscious. The company is currently integrating the new wraps for all of its teas, but only the Raspberry Leaf and Licorice Rott teas currently use them.
Why We Sip and Support
At Equal Exchange, the mission is clear. Cultivate economic justice and environmental prosperity by building partnerships that benefit farmers and consumers.
Born from the vision of genuine fair trade, they stand as a beacon of hope. Their partnerships are grounded in farmer cooperatives, ensuring democratic decision-making where every member’s voice matters.
Today, Equal Exchange extends its reach to over 40 small farmer organizations across the globe. Their commitment is unwavering, and their journey is a testament to the transformative power of authentic fair trade.
Our Sip of Choice: Organic Vanilla Rooibos
- Certified organic, fair trade tea.
- Empowering 40+ small farmers.
- The company is Co-op owned.
- Join the ranks of Citizen-Consumers, where you can stir up change during monthly meet-ups, delving into vital topics like food politics and climate justice.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Equal Exchange packages their teas in unbleached abaca with organic cotton strings. The paper at the end is printed with vegetable-based ink.
- Their tea envelopes are paper lined with plastic, and tea boxes are paperboard.
Steeped in tradition since 1996, Art of Tea, led by Master Tea Blender Steve Schwartz, crafts over 100 exquisite loose-leaf teas. Not a loose-leaf fan? Art of Tea also offers 100% compostable pyramid tea bags in 20+ flavors, made from eco-friendly Soilon. From globe-trotting growers, these teas are made with sustainability in mind.
If you’ve been searching for the perfect tea subscription, your search ends here. Art of Tea has a remarkable monthly exploration of the vast and diverse world of tea.
Are you having trouble deciding on a new flavor? The Art of Tea has crafted a unique tea quiz. The quick questionnaire helps you discover different teas tailored to your preferences and tastes. It’s not just tea; it’s an invitation to broaden your tea horizons like never before.
Our Sip of Choice: Happy Tea
Why We Sip and Support
- Art of Tea sources their teas from China, India, Japan, Taiwan, and Egypt. They specifically source organic teas and ensure employees are treated with respect.
- All tea is quality tested in LA, CA.
- Each product that Art of Tea ships out goes through GMP and GACCP business protocols and handling
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Individually packaged teas are 100% plastic-free bags made of Soilon, which is a plant-based material. Soilon is commercially compostable.
A French tea company on a whole-hearted mission to share the magic of tea with people from all walks of life. The company works directly with its farmers around the world to ensure high-quality tea that is non-GMO, prevents deforestation, and pays farmers reasonable wages.
Our Sip of Choice: Thé Du Hammam ($21.00)
Why We Sip and Support
- All of their teas are organic or Safetea certified. A Safetea certification guarantees that all of Palais des Thés’ non-organic teas are tested by a third party to ensure the teas do exceed strict EU guidelines concerning pesticides.
- Palais des Thés is working to be carbon neutral by 2026. To reduce its carbon footprint, Palais des Thés has teamed up with Good Planet, founded by Yann-Arthus Bertrand.
- The company strives to be zero-plastic by 2026
- Since 2020, Palais des Thés has been supporting the charity Karuna-Shechen, which develops humanitarian projects for underprivileged populations in India, Nepal, and Tibet.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Palais des Thés tea bags are biodegradable cotton.
- In 2021, they introduced refillable paper pouches made from 100% recyclable materials.
Pukka teas are the trifecta: Fair Trade, Organic, and dedicated to people, plants, and the planet. In the U.S., they’ve partnered with Soul Fire Farm through 1% for the Planet. Plus, they’ve planted over 1.2 million trees worldwide with Tree Sisters. And, the cherry on top? Their teas come in 100% plastic-free compostable bags and recyclable boxes. Sip responsibly, and savor the mission!
Our Sip of Choice: Chamomile, Vanilla & Manuka Honey
Why We Sip and Support
- USDA organic
- Certified B Corp
- They are members of 1% for the planet. As a result, 1% of their profits goes to an organization called TreeSisters, which is a social and reforestation charity that specifically empowers women and supports indigenous communities.
- Carbon neutral as of 2019
- They will be single-use plastic-free by 2025
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Pukka’s tea packaging is 100% recyclable.
- The tea boxes are FSC-certified cardboard and the printing on the box utilizes vegetable-based inks.
- The tea bags are made from abaca (closely related to bananas), wood pulps, and plant fibers. The bags are 100% compostable, and the string is organic cotton. The tea bags do not have staples and are stitched together with non-GMO organic cotton.
- The envelopes are made of FSC-certified paper with a thin coating of plastic devoid of BPA and PVC. The plastic is so fine that it still can be recycled with normal paper. Pukka is currently looking to find a way to make the envelopes fully compostable.
Organic India’s tea is based on the Ayurvedic principle, which states that the greatest benefits are found by using the entire plant rather than certain parts. Tulsi is revered in India as “The Queen of Herbs.” It is an impressive adaptogenic herb that has been used for over 5,000 years. Tulsi is used to relieve stress and uplift mood, support the immune system, and help the body in its detoxification process.
Tulsi is at the heart of Organic India’s tea blends due to its health benefits and how it synergistically complements other herbs.
Our Sip of Choice: Tulsi Sweet Rose
Why We Sip and Support
- USDA organic
- Certified B Corp
- Fairtrade Certified and partners with over 2,232 farmers in 121 villages across India.
- The company is a part of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, which has set out the highest standards in the world regarding soil health, farmworker fairness, and animal welfare.
- Herbs are grown using bio-regenerative agriculture and harvesting practices tailored to each plant species.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
Organic India’s tea bags are made of organic abaca (manila hemp). The string is made from cotton fibers. Both the bags and strings are unbleached.
There is no plastic of any kind in Organic India’s tea bags.
Mountain Rose Herbs doesn’t just deliver exquisite organic teas; they weave a sustainable and fair trade story into every cup. Beyond their artisan blends, they are dedicated to nurturing the planet and its people. They source organic ingredients whenever possible, reducing the impact of harmful chemicals on the environment. Mountain Rose Herbs prioritizes equitable and transparent relationships with its suppliers. They ensure that the communities growing and harvesting their ingredients receive fair compensation for their work. They collaborate with growers and communities around the world, striving to make a positive impact. By working closely with their partners, they ensure the highest quality products while promoting ethical labor practices and social responsibility.
Our Sip of Choice: Assam Tea ($12)
Why We Sip and Support
- Zero waste certification since 2016
- USDA Organic agriculture
- Non-Gmo
- Oregon B corporation
- Fair for life-Fair trade
- Mountain Rose Herbs donates 5% of annual sales from Pollinator tea to Beyond Toxics, a company working towards environmental and social justice in Oregon.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Mountain Rose Herbs only sells loose-leaf teas. Their tins are made from materials containing at least 25 percent recycled metal. All product labels are printed with 80% recycled paper stock.
An independent tea company with tea handcrafted and packed in a UK warehouse. Bird& Blend sources ingredients from around the world. While they are not registered, they do pay at or above Fairtrade prices and provide extensive traceability on all of their ingredients.
They have a mixture of both loose tea and tea bags. Each season, Co-founder Krisi crafts new blends, so be on the lookout for new tea flavors regularly.
Our Sip of Choice: Strawberry Lemonade Tea ($8.00)
Why We Sip and Support
- Certified B corporation
- Carbon neutral
- Partnered with Ecologi to fund climate projects to help offset their carbon footprint.
- They have planted 49, 700 trees with the help of tea for trees.
- Each quarter, Bird & Blend chooses an organization and pairs it with one of their tea blends. All profits from that blend for the season go to this organization.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- All of their consumer packaging is either compostable or recyclable. The tea bags are 100% plastic-free. The bags are made of paper and plants (eucalyptus and corn starch). The bags can be composted at home. They will break down into water, biomass, and CO2.
Numi Tea is a sustainable tea company that offers more than 40 USDA-certified organic tea blends.
This unique tea brand is a sustainable tea company that was founded to create beautiful teas that are eco-friendly and people-centered. Each of their teas is lovingly made with high standards.
Numi sources over 130 organic ingredients from 34+ countries around the world. The company travels to many of these farms throughout the year.
Our Sip of Choice: Moroccan Mint ($6.92)
Why We Sip and Support
- All of Numi’s teas are certified organic
- Numi works with organic tea farmers that cultivate regenerative agriculture, which includes practices like no-till farming, cover cropping, perennial planting, and agroforestry.
- Climate Neutral Certified business, which means they are constantly finding innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
- The company is a part of the Climate Collaborative, an initiative building on the power of natural products in the industry by collaborating with other brands to combat climate change.
- The teas are both Fairtrade Certified and Verified Fair Labor.
- With help from Earth Island Institute, Numi provides emergency food relief, clean water services, and educational opportunities in Iraq.
- Numi purchases Fair Trade Certified tea. The farmers have a democratic system that determines Fairtrade Premiums in their communities.
- Founding B Corporation. Numi was one of the first 30 companies to be certified as a B corporation.
- Together for H20pe is a Numi foundation that partners with its farming communities to help build and repair water and sewage infrastructure to help over 844 million people around the world access clean water.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Their Compostable tea bags are comprised of manila hemp cellulose (plant fiber). The bags are non-GMO, unbleached, and the tags are 100% recycled materials and soy-based inks. The tea strings are cotton.
- Numi’s Compostable tea bag wrappers are made of sugar cane and other renewable products.
The Tea Spot is an impressive women-owned business brewing health, one sip at a time. Marrying traditions and botanicals for your wellness in every cup. The company’s ethos is to brew love and resilience into each cup of their delectable teas. For the company’s founder, Maria Uspenski, her life has been steeped in tea from a young age. A touchstone of strength she tapped into along her personal cancer recovery journey
While not all of their teas are organic, they do label the ones that are. Their teas are also vegan, gluten-free, and made in a kosher-certified facility.
Our Sip of Choice: Meditative Mind ($12.25), Immunity Tea ($15)
Why We Sip and Support
- Colorado-based Public Benefit Corporation
- Certified B Corp
- The company donates 10% of all its profits to cancer survivors and community wellness programs.
- The Tea Spot is now working with the non-profit charity: water to bring water access to communities in developing countries.
- All of their teas are packaged in Colorado to ensure the quality of every tea product.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
The Tea Spot’s tea sachets are designed from a plant-based material that is cultivated from sugar cane fibers. The tea bags are biodegradable, compostable, and 100% free of petroleum-based plastic.
A beautiful company that constantly holds the big picture of people and sustainability in mind. The company navigates by an admirably simple ethos: “source and supply the world’s best loose-leaf tea, directly from farmers and their tea gardens.” Rare Tea chooses not to label any of its teas organic (even the ones that are certified) to safeguard the smaller farmers who cannot afford the costly organic certification. Instead, Rare Tea takes on the burden of testing the teas themselves instead of having the farmers incur that additional cost. While they sacrifice a verified organic emblem, they buy tea that is organically grown and protect their smaller farmers.
Our Sip of Choice: Silver Tip Jasmine ($14.49)
Why We Sip and Support
- Fair trade with a twist. Rare Tea no longer works with the Fairtrade organization. Instead, they work directly with the farms they receive their tea from.
- They return a percentage of their revenue to Rare Charity, which supports scholarships on the company’s partner farms.
- Rare Tea exclusively works with farmers utilizing organic farming practices. Smaller farmers often don’t possess the resources to obtain expensive organic certifications. But rest assured, the teas don’t contain chemical pesticides or herbicides.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- The company utilizes tins rather than paper. Rare Teas have chosen tins to protect the tea from air, light, and moisture. However, the tins are recyclable and reusable.
- Their shipping boxes are also recyclable.
Rishi Tea brings you the world’s finest teas and botanicals, sourced directly from global growers. Their inspiration blends ancient wisdom regarding organic cultivation with modern culinary innovation. Their teas draw inspiration from various disciplines (third-wave coffee, cocktail mixology, etc.) having recognized that tea was first medicinal before it became one of the world’s beloved beverages.
Our Sip of Choice: Blueberry Hibiscus ($8.90)
Why We Sip and Support
- Rishi Tea practices direct trade with their farmers to ensure organic practices and tea transparency.
- All of their teas are organic certified and devoid of harsh agrochemicals.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Rishi’s tea bags are made from PLA, which is a plant-based material. PLA is DNA-free making the bags hypoallergenic and allergen-free. There are no harmful plastics and the bags are completely BPA and phthalate-free!
- The tea bags are commercially biodegradable. There are no glues, staples, or any other metals. The bags have a cotton string and a printed paper tag.
Young Mountain Tea’s vision is to revive Himalayan farms and villages through sustainable and regenerative agriculture of tea. The company works closely with Indian and Nepali communities. In Kumaon, the tea farmers Young Mountain Tea works with earn 4x the industry average. In this area, 90% of the farmers are women who can build financial independence for the first time. As the community members build more wealth, they are investing in food, their children’s education, and new tools for farming.
Our Sip of Choice: Organic Nepali Golden Black ($13.00)
Why We Sip and Support
- 1% of every purchase goes towards helping to open a new farmer-owned tea factory in the Himalayas
- Young Mountain Tea works directly with farms in India and Nepal.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- The tea cartons are made from recycled cardboard and are recyclable. The tea bag, tag, and string are all produced from sugarcane PLA, which is 100% biodegradable. The envelopes are made from an industrially compostable material. There are no plastics!
Have you considered trying matcha green tea? Matcha isn’t your average tea. It’s a 100% pure stone-ground tea leaf. When you savor matcha, you’re getting all of the leave’s components and unlocking 100% of its health benefits. It’s tea with a twist – where every sip tells the whole leafy tale!
A female-owned small business, Mizuba Tea Co. strives to deliver the finest matcha tea and equally share the beautiful traditions and experiences this particular tea has to offer the world. Their matcha green tea is sourced from JAS-organic farms and made in a family-run factory that is 100 years old. Mizuba Tea Co. prioritizes connection and quality by working closely with farmers in the region of Uji, which is recognized as the origin of Japanese green tea.
Our Sip of Choice: Matcha Moment Essential Tea Set ($45.60)
Why We Sip and Support
- Mizuba Tea Co. personally knows its farmers and commits to direct trade.
- Mizuba Tea Co.’s matcha is 100% free of heavy metals, radiation, and is certified organic.
Eco-Tea Bag Insights
- Mizuba is committed to sustainability, and its packaging emphasizes its diligence. Their single servings of matcha envelopes are fully compostable. All loose-leaf matcha packaging is fully compostable. Mizuba Tea Co.’s packing peanuts dissolve when placed underwater, and their shipping labels are zero waste!
Final Thoughts on Sustainable and Fairtrade Tea
When it comes to sustainable and fair trade tea, it’s all about making choices that taste good and taking steps towards a more balanced planet. A journey where your daily cup of tea becomes a small yet meaningful step towards a better world. So, here’s to enjoying your tea with a side of good intentions and a dash of eco-friendliness. Cheers!