Tea is the world’s most popular drink (after water), with about 70,000 cups drunk every second. From its origins as an ancient medicinal crop in China, tea has spread far and wide – many of us simply can’t face the day without a cup.
The multi-billion dollar tea industry employs millions of people, but working conditions and earnings for the producers are often dire. Fairtrade works with workers on plantations as well as with smallholder farmers to bring Fairtrade tea to consumers around the world.
Fairtrade 'tea' refers to all teas which stem from the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant. Grown year-round, this is the source of all white tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, and pu'erh tea. (Fairtrade also works with herbs and spices, which form the basis of many herbal teas.)
The bulk of global tea production takes places at large plantations. Workers often live on or near the estates where they work, and low wages and poor working conditions are prevalent. Even when national minimum wages are met on a tea estate, there is still a considerable gap between that and living wages, and workers often rely on in-kind benefits.
Small-scale tea farmers often have very small plots and rely on nearby tea estates as their connection to the broader markets, meaning these producers have little leverage with which to improve their incomes.
Fairtrade recognizes these challenges in the tea sector and is committed to bringing about change for tea farmers and workers. Our approach includes the following:
Would you like to learn how many producer organizations are involved in Fairtrade Tea? Or how many workers and farmers you can find per country? Visit our dedicated page with statistics on our Top 7 product dashboard
In many origins, tea production has roots in the colonial era, with only gradual improvements ever since. It’s time to pick up the pace of reform, and ensure that farmers and workers earn a dignified living from this immensely popular product. When you choose Fairtrade tea, not only do you get a delicious drink, but you also support farmers and workers to push for necessary change in the industry.
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