Top 7 Organic & Fair Trade Tea Brands for Guilt-Free Sipping!
Tea has been an incredibly popular commodity for thousands of years, and is still a huge favorite worldwide. However, with the steady growth of the tea industry, a few ethical and environmental problems have arisen as a consequence of its rising demand.
Now, before you toss out your kettle, we’ll have you know you don’t have to refrain from drinking tea to help save the planet and promote the fair treatment of workers. The answer is to simply swap your current go-to brand for a more ethical, sustainable choice! Keep reading and discover the top 7 organic and fair-trade tea brands out there working toward a kinder, more sustainable future!
Numi Fair Trade Tea
Price | $
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified, Verified Fair Labor, Together For H20PE (provide clean drinking water for farming communities around the world).
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified B Corporation, Compostable Tea Bags.
A brand founded by eco-conscious siblings Ahmed Rahim and Reem Hassani from Baghdad, Iraq, Numi is no stranger to environmental and humanitarian causes. All of their teas are certified organic, and either Fair Trade or Fair Labor certified!
As pioneers in the industry, they have helped popularize plenty of little-known powerful medicinal herbal teas in the States since their launch in 1999. Among their most popular varieties are Jasmine Green, Hibiscus, Rooibos, Tulsi, Emperor’s Pu’erh, and White Rose. Best of all, each serving of high-quality tea leaves is sustainably enveloped in a compostable plant fiber with a recycled tag. Even their wrappers are made with FSC certified paper, and lined with non-GMO PLA and metalized eucalyptus layers!
Clipper Teas
Price | $
Ethics | World's largest Fairtrade tea brand.
Sustainability | Unbleached and plastic-free tea bags, USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, Certified B Corporation.
A brand committed to the fair treatment of workers since 1994, sustainable packaging, and organic ingredients, you can trust Clipper Teas with your beloved morning brew. Each tea bag is biodegradable, and their respective envelopes are totally recyclable! Plus, each box is both recyclable and biodegradable. Although not all of their teas are Fairtrade certified, they make sure to source each ingredient as ethically as possible. All of their black and green teas carry the Fairtrade logo, and all of their new products are organic!
Teatulia Organic Teas
Price | $
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified.
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic, Certified B Corporation, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Compostable Packaging.
For an affordable, ethical, and sustainable tea brand, look for Teatulia’s Organic Teas! They take pride in promoting safe working conditions, protecting our planet, and improving the lives of farmers they work with. Their teas are USDA Certified Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified, and packaged in eco-canisters made from compostable materials!
The Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Price | $
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified.
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic, MOGFA Member, Food Safe Tins with No Plastic Liner.
For premium, ethically-sourced and sustainably-packaged Chinese teas, The Little Red Cup Tea Co. is the place to look. Each is Certified Fair Trade, USDA Certified Organic, and packaged in a food grade tin that forgoes the typical inner plastic liner, making it totally recyclable! Shop this brand’s black, oolong, green, pu’er, white, or herbal tea varieties today!
Arbor Teas
Price | $$
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified (not all teas).
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic, Member of Green American’s Green Business Network, Certified CarbonFree, Certified Organic by Global Organic Alliance, International Green Industry Hall Of Fame, Partners of The Green Panel.
Arbor Teas’ focus is on three principles: organic farming, social welfare, and sustainability! That’s why each of their teas is USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, and enclosed in 100% compostable packaging. As for quality, their team performs extensive comparative tests when introducing a new tea — if it’s up to par, they store it at the ideal temperature necessary to preserve its freshness until it hits the shelves, or your pantry.
Rishi Tea & Botanicals
Price | $$
Ethics | Direct Trade (5-10x commodity price paid to farmers), Employee Volunteering.
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic Since 2002, Compostable BPA-Free Sachets.
Available in loose leaf form or in sachets, Rishi provides ethical, sustainable solutions for conscious tea lovers! Whether you’re searching for caffeinated or herbal teas, their all-natural, ethically-sourced, and sustainably packaged collection is sure to carry all your favorites!
Hobbs Tea
Price | $$$
Ethics | Fair For Life, Local, Organic Regenerative Farming Training.
Sustainability | 100% Certified Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Certified B Corporation, Sustainable Plant-Based Packaging, Non-Toxic Water-Based Ink.
For high-quality, ethically sourced leaves in plant-based packaging, check out Hobbs Tea! With a range of herbal and caffeinated local varieties, including Chamomile, Sencha Green, Mint, Rooibos, and Black Tea, you’re sure to find your go-to!
All Hobbs Teas are 100% organic and come in biodegradable sachets made from plants and printed with non-toxic ink. In addition, each box is processed in their renewable energy production facilities, and supports regenerative farming!
Mighty Leaf
Price | $$$
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified Ingredients.
Sustainability | USDA Certified Organic (all new teas), Corn Starch-Based Compostable PLA Sachets.
This well-known brand has been providing tea lovers with high-quality whole leaves since the mid-90s! Fast forward to present day, and all of their new teas are USDA Certified Organic, and packaged in biodegradable, compostable hand-stitched bags for you to enjoy guilt-free. In addition, they’re carefully crafted with Fair Trade Certified Ingredients that boast bolder flavors and complex tastes that are not easily found elsewhere. Give these premium teas a try and experience the Mighty Leaf yourself!
Did you find a brand that caught your eye? Tea is very personal to each individual, and can become a peaceful, precious self-care ritual in your life. So, choose wisely and enjoy some guilt-free sipping! Thanks so much for all you do to save the planet and our animal friends — good luck on your ethical vegan journey!
