Does "Organic" or "Fair Trade" Matter?

Organic and Fair Trade are popular buzz words in the tea business these days. But what do they really mean, and should they matter to you?

Organic teas are teas that are grown with only organic fertilizers and treatments. The idea here is that the less chemicals we consume the better. In general, organic farming is more expensive, at least in part due to the costs involved with obtaining and maintaining organic certification.  Therefore, organic teas should fetch higher prices on the market. However, there are many smaller tea gardens who are actively working towards organic certification. Supporting these gardens helps them achieve their goals.

Fair Trade is a relatively new concept in the tea industry. The first fair trade labeling initiative, which did not include tea production, came in 1988 in the Netherlands. Tea was added to the list in 1994 by Transfair International, the United States' fair trade labeling organization. At this time, additional requirements were also added to protect the rights of children working on the tea plantations. Originally, Fair Trade certified tea in the United States was only available from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. This list is slowly expanding.

Although the definition of Fair Trade focuses on the agreement between the producer and the seller, the end goal in guaranteeing this higher price is fair treatment of the workers on the tea plantations in Third World countries in terms of working and living conditions. To obtain Fair Trade certification, the estate often has to show that it provides medical care, lodging and educational facilities for its workers. Relatively few tea estates have achieved Fair Trade certification. Supporting gardens who are working towards this goal is a socially responsible option.

Here at Keria Teas we believe it is important to protect both the tea workers and our environment. That’s why we continue to search for teas that are both Organic and Fair Trade certified whenever possible, while continuing to support smaller tea gardens who are actively seeking both organic growing methods and fair treatment of their employees.