THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY TEA TO KEEP YOUR MORNINGS SUSTAINABLE
Legend has it that tea was first discovered in 2732 BC China by Emperor Shen Nung. According to the story, some leaves from a nearby wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water, thus creating tea. Nowadays, most people buy their tea from manufacturers, and, much like every other household product, it’s important to buy as eco-friendly as possible. Instead of waiting around with a pot of boiling water, check out this handy list of the best eco-friendly teas! No tall tales, just a cup of tea you can feel good about.
What’s Happening:
Surprisingly enough, most tea bags are made of plastic. Among other problems, single-use plastics greatly contribute to carbon emissions, pollute our oceans and stay in landfills for hundreds of years. If you are trying to limit your single-use plastic consumption, tea bags are a real concern. According to new research, plastic tea bags can also release billions of microplastics into your cup. We’ve heard of putting a pack of sweeteners or a squeeze of lemon in your tea…but polypropylene? Not so much.
What you can do:
Luckily, there are ways to make tea sustainable - without plastic tea bags and wasteful packaging – and there are plenty of brands to choose from. Tea bags can be made biodegradable by using paper, cotton, or even plant-based materials. Try out compostable bags, or simply skip 'em all together and go for a loose leaf tea!
BEST ECO-FRIENDLY TEAS
A star player in the sustainable tea game: Teatulia is not only an eco-friendly option, but it’s also one of the most ethical teas on the market. This is a Bangladeshian premium organic tea, with all leaves sourced from the Teatulia Garden in Bangladesh. Teatulia is set apart from other tea brands due to its local sourcing, as opposed to the commonly used method of bulk outsourcing. Teatulia Garden serves as a beautiful sanctuary for wildlife through careful use of natural and regenerative farming methods. Additionally, their workers enjoy fair wages with benefits and women are placed at the forefront of the business. Finally, their tea bags are made from plant starch, which makes them completely plastic-free.
It’s hard to find many downsides with Teatulia brand, but one obvious factor to consider is the price. Sadly, these added expenses are a common result of ethical and eco-friendly production, and it could cause this tea to be out-of-budget for many shoppers. Sitting at around $5.50 for 20 tea bags, Teatulia is comparatively expensive.
In addition to offering a wide variety of wellness teas to choose from, Choice Organic Teas are certified organic, Non-GMO, packed in the U.S.A. and fair trade certified. The unbleached tea bags made from paper fiber are then sealed by sewing rather than using glue or staples – making them a great non-plastic, eco-friendly tea option. They also sell loose leaf tea! Lastly, Choice Organic is highly focused on helping build a bigger market for renewables worldwide.
Just like Teatulia, Choice Organic Tea is sold at a higher price point compared to other teas on the market. This is a common problem when shopping eco-friendly and organic, but, don’t worry - we'll provide a couple budget-friendly recommendations as well.
Arbor Teas, out of Ann Arbor Michigan, are a fan favorite when it comes to taste. With a loyal following of online and local customers, they're definitely worth a try! Arbor Teas also offer inexpensive samples to ensure you know what you're purchasing ahead-of-time. They are a family business, selling USDA Organic tea and fair trade certified loose leaf teas. Their zero waste, organic loose leaf tea comes in a bunch of different flavors: like green, white, black, rooibos, oolong, Pu-erh and herbal teas. Currently, Arbor Teas are one of the only companies offering a full line of loose teas in backyard compostable packaging. Lastly, every tea sold includes a specific description of the tea, place of origin and detailed steeping instructions.
We searched far and wide for any cons of Arbor Teas and came up flat! Arbor Tea is a delicious, organic, ethical, fair-priced and sustainable tea.
Another great loose leaf tea option is Nuditea. This is a very small, emerging U.K. brand founded in 2019. Nuditea is pretty impressive for a start-up when it comes to earth consciousness, and with 100% plastic-free and biodegradable packaging, it makes the cut for our list. A bit cheeky, Nuditea offers options such as Breakfast in the Buff and Fifty Shades of Earl.
Nuditea is not certified organic or fair trade. However, as an emerging brand, it seems that they are still working towards this goal. Additionally, you can be sure that all outsourced ingredients are from trusted and ethical suppliers.
Clipper is our top choice for a budget-friendly tea that's organic, fair trade and sustainable. Clipper was actually the first major tea company to ditch plastic with plant-based, unbleached tea bags. The company pledged to cut out anything artificial, pays workers fair wages and uses ethical suppliers. As a low-waste tea for a fair price, you can't go wrong!
Although affordable compared to other big brands in organic and sustainable tea, Clipper is still a tad pricey for tea in general.
The brands listed above are all great options for sustainable tea, but there’s plenty more out there to choose from. Don’t be hesitant to try out a couple different brands before you find your perfect tea. Overall, it’s important to remember that going green doesn’t always need to be difficult! Small changes, like switching to compostable tea bags or buying an infuser for loose leaf tea, can go a long way. These teas are also great gift ideas – and might inspire your friends and family to make environmentally-friendly changes as well.