Hype or help? Organic, Kosher and Fair Trade teas

There has been an explosion of organic products that have hit the market. Everything from organic soap to organic dog food has incited this latest trend among consumers. Many tea companies have jumped on the Organic train. With so many companies now boasting this popular title, it only seems "natural" to cover it. So, in this lesson we'll discuss the complexity of Organic tea, as well as other salient issues, such as Kosher and Fair Trade teas.

It is not the desire of TeaClass to judge the lifestyle decisions that are made when one decides what food to put into your body. Convincing you to drink or not to drink organic tea, for example, is not the aim of this course. Therefore, in this next article, we'll cover the plain facts on the issues, and give you a deeper understanding so you can decide for yourself if these choices are worth taking.

To begin, one must understand what makes a product organic. The USDA tells us that organic foods are those that are "produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation." In other words, Organic foods must use very little chemicals during the growing process. In addition, the soil that the products are grown in must be free and clear of the same chemicals. To ensure this, farmers must let their fields lay fallow (unused) until they reach an acceptable level. As most farmers in tea growing regions are too poor to be able to afford the privilege of not making money off of their fields, most of the tea that is produced worldwide is not certified "organic."

Being "certified" organic is also an issue with many complications. There are hundreds of different agencies internationally that certify products as organic. Each company has different standards and some certifications are accepted in one country, but not others. For example, some products considered organic by the European organic association will not be considered organic by the USDA. Undoubtedly, these complications are due to political reasons as well as health concerns. It is natural to be suspect of a tea company that boasts a foreign "organic" sticker. But, on the other hand, there are been no significant scientific proof showing that it is dangerous to drink a tea that is not organic.

Usually accompanying the "organic" title for many teas is the socially responsible label, "Fair Trade." This is a separate certification process, independent of how the product is grown. The focus of Fair Trade teas shifts from the tea itself to the grower. Teas which are certified "Fair Trade" are those in which the growers are guaranteed fair wages and other rights. Unfortunately, though, there are an extremely low number of tea estates which are certified "Fair Trade," so the variability of choice is drastically limited.

Another issue that the tea industry faces exists on a more spiritual realm- Kosher certification. Luckily for most tea companies, teas are considered naturally kosher. Because most teas do not include any man-made add-ons, they are automatically regarded as Kosher. This is not true, however, for most flavored teas. As many of these teas use flavorings or other additives, these teas may need to be certified. With Kosher certification as well, there are an abundance of agencies, each with their own version of what should and should not be certified Kosher.

It is important to notice that, while all these certifications focus on an aspect of quality of tea, none of these say anything about the most important aspect in judging the quality of tea: taste. For example, while products which tout the title "Organic" may taste better, they also may not.

When you choose your next cupful, whether it be a tea that is certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher or an plain, uncertified tea (or anything in between), remember that there are many variables involved in the quality of the product. Always try to blend your beliefs with all the information that you can find, and don't forget about your tastebuds.

A rich life, full of tea, is just a sip away.

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