Did you know that the tea leaves used in most tea bags are actually the dust and fannings from broken tea leaves? Drinking larger tea leaves in the form of loose-leaf tea is less of a compromise in quality.
A good tea is not only comfort in a (healthy) cup, but it can also give us a boost, help us sleep, induce a little calm or energy, and nourish us – all depending on what’s in it. While steeping our own loose leaf tea feels wholesome…
Not all loose leaf tea is created equal.
When steeping our favourite teas, the last thing on our mind should be the harmful chemicals soaking in our cup. Just because you’re buying loose-leaf doesn’t mean the leaves haven’t been sprayed with chemical pesticides. You shouldn’t have to worry about the herbicides steeping in your mug, and you also shouldn’t have to worry about the lives of the people who picked your tea. The bulk of global tea is produced on large plantations where workers often are paid unfairly.
Choose organic, fairtrade loose leaf tea.
Choose teas that are good for your body, for the planet, and for the farmers … there are plenty of options, and you can even grow your own. Pesticides hurt everyone – so choose teas that are third-party certified organic. Look for fairtrade certification too: it guarantees that farms meet specific labour standards and that farmers are paid a fair price for their tea. Bonus, when it meets all of the above criteria AND is made with intention and functionality!
Find our favourite clean teas in The Wellness Intelligence Collective.
For more of our lessons in Empathy Economics click here.
