9 Organic And Fair Trade Teas We’re Sipping On
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
It’s no secret that our team at The Good Trade are big fans of tea. You’ll find us sipping cup after cup, enjoying its calming and rejuvenating benefits. Regular tea alone, however, can be made of leaves covered in pesticide or sourced by underpaid and overworked farmers. Instead, we can choose to support organic and fair trade tea brands that are hand-picked and hand-crafted.
We’ve rounded up nine brands who are paving the way in fair trade and organic tea practices. From supporting workers cooperatives to using sustainable packaging, these teas are going the extra mile to ensure both people and planet remain cared for. So snuggle up, get the kettle going, and get ready for a cuppa that’ll get your day started on the right foot.
(Or, if you’re a coffee drinker, head over to our roundup of fair trade coffee brands).
1. Numi
Ethics | USDA certified organic
Features | 30+ flavors, hand-picked, gives back, compostable packaging, non-GMO
Our Pick | White Rose Tea ($7.99)
Price | Starting at $7.99 for 16 bags
Numi, a certified B Corp, has a focus on serving people and planet. Its tea leaves are handpicked by fair trade farmers and grown organically without any GMOs. After being sorted, the leaves are placed into paper filter bags for maximum sustainability. Seen everywhere from Kroger to Whole Foods, you can pick up one of its 30+ flavors online or in stores, making it accessible to all. Our top pick is the White Rose flavor, a white tea made with organic whole rose buds. Floral, warm, and comforting.
Also available at:
Target
2. Alaya Tea
Ethics | USDA certified organic, biodynamic farms, small batches
Features | 10 flavors, hand-picked, compostable packaging, regenerative agriculture
Our Pick | Darjeeling First Flush Black Tea ($22)
Price | Starting at $14 for 2.5 oz. (~35 servings)
Alaya Tea co-founders Esha Chhabra and Smita Satiani built the company to celebrate the women who make the industry possible, especially in India. Supporting small farmers, tea estates, and the women tea pickers, Alaya’s small batches certified organic and biodynamic. Plus, with a goal to be zero-waste, its packaging is fully plastic-free and biodegradable. Enjoy loose leaf tea flavors like lemongrass and ginger, Tulsi Indian basil, and darjeeling green tea.
3. Us Two Tea
Ethics | Responsibly sourced on family-owned farms in Taiwan, biodegradable & non-toxic bags
Features | Four signature flavors & sets, non-GMO, gives back
Our Pick | Pillowtalk Jasmine Tea ($8.95)
Price | $8.95 for 5 bags (~15 cups)
For premium Asian loose leaf tea, check out Us Two Tea. The team works with family-owned farms across Taiwan to directly source four premium kinds of tea: oolong, black, jasmine, and Baozhong. While each pack contains five bags, each one can be used three times over. Then when you’re done, the tea bags are all biodegradable! Make this ritual even easier.
4. Hobbs Tea
Ethics | B Corp, organic, ethically sourced, eco-friendly inks
Features | 5+ flavors, hand-picked, small batch, biodegradable packaging & bags, offers regenerative farming training
Our Pick | Hawaiian Grown Black Tea ($19)
Price | $19 for 10 bags
Dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway? You can now get one step closer with a cup of Hobbs Tea, an organic and ethically sourced tea company out of Oahu. Each small batch is handpicked with organic tea that’s the highest quality around—so high that you can re-brew the tea nearly 4x, getting the most bang for your buck. This Hawaiian grown tea is shade-dried after being planted in volcanic soil, then hand-filled in compostable bags. Good for you, good for the planet.
5. No. 3 Clive Road
Ethics | Naturally & locally sourced in India, small batches, gives back
Features | 15+ flavors, carbon-positive, eco-friendly packaging, refill options
Our Pick | Madurai Masala Blend
Price | Starting at ₹400 for 150 g (~75 servings)
Radhika Chopra launched No. 3 Clive Road in New Delhi, named after the street she lived on with her family. Today, this premium, luxury tea brand locally sources loose leaf teas and handcrafts small batches in the area—from Assam tea from the Brahmaputra River to the Darjeeling slopes. And the team is sustainable, too: It’s a 1% For The Planet member, uses recyclable packaging, and offers refillable tins.
6. Equal Exchange
Ethics | USDA certified organic, kosher, eco-friendly packaging
Features | Worker cooperative, 20+ flavors, hand-picked, six-pack available
Our Pick | Organic Rooibos Tea ($3.60)
Price | Starting at $3.60 for 20 bags
Equal Exchange has been a gamechanger in the tea and coffee industry since 1986, being one of the first companies to bring fair trade coffee to the states. Today, Equal Exchange is a for-profit worker cooperative, owned equally by every employee, and it operates with fair trade practices and values. Its range of green, black, and herbal teas are hand-picked and ethically sourced in India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. With nearly two dozen flavors, you’ll wake up feeling fresh and focused no matter which one you pick.
Also available at:
Target
Thrive Market
7. Hampstead Tea
Ethics | Certified organic, sustainable, eco-friendly
Features | 40+ flavors, hand-picked, compostable packaging, biodynamic
Our Pick | Darjeeling Loose Leaf Tea (£6.49)
Price | Starting at £2.99 for 20 bags
Hampstead Tea was founded by Kiran Tawadey, after hearing about the well-known Makaibari Estate famous for its darjeeling tea leaves. She then went on a mission to make Makaibari a certified organic and biodynamic space, ensuring that plants are grown sustainably and harvested ethically. Based out of the UK, you can order online for worldwide shipping—and we highly recommend trying its award-winning Darjeeling tea for yourself. You’ll see why everyone’s a fan!
8. Arbor Teas
Ethics | USDA certified organic, eco-friendly packaging
Features | 30+ flavors, carbon-free, compostable packaging
Our Pick | Organic Lychee Black Tea ($9.50)
Price | $9.50 for 2.5 oz (~31 servings)
Arbor Teas believes we can have premium ingredients and full-bodied flavors without compromising sustainability and human rights. Its teas are organically grown; better for growers, consumers, and the business. Plus, it utilizes fair trade practices in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, and across South Africa, so you can sip without worry. The team goes the extra mile by using sustainable and eco-friendly packaging and sourcing throughout the entire supply chain.
9. Guayaki
Ethics | USDA certified organic, regenerative farming
Features | Loose leaf Yerba Mate, eco-friendly, kosher, non-GMO
Our Pick | Loose Leaf Yerba Mate ($18)
Price | $18 for 16 oz. (~150 servings)
Guayaki is not your traditional tea brand. Instead of going for black or green teas, its specialty is Yerba Mate, a plant used to make medicine. Some tea drinkers prefer Yerba Mate, known for its chocolate-y flavor, health benefits, and caffeine-like energy. Guayaki describes its loose leaf Yerba Mate as “rich, robust, and balanced, with a complex earthy body and a smooth mellow finish.” Hot, cold, or iced, this organic and fair trade tea will leave you feeling healthier than ever.
Also available at:
Target
