10 fun facts of Fairtrade tea.

The concept of Fairtrade tea is commonly understood in the UK giving tea drinkers the satisfaction that the tea they are consuming is of top-quality whilst ensuring fair wage is paid to its producers. 

1. The first Fairtrade certified tea that was launched is Clipper Teas back in mid-1990s. Two decades on, Clipper Teas still work closely with its tea producers, showcasing that a business can provide a great product and put the interests of people at the same time. 

2. Tea is the second most popular drink in the world, after water. Fairtrade tea is most popular in the UK compared to others countries in the world, with Brits buying over 80% of the total supply of Fairtrade tea! Selecting to drink Fairtrade-certified products is an amazing selection by consumers as it provides support to the growers of their favourite drinks. 

3. Kenya is the largest producer of Fairtrade tea, followed by India. Nearly 65% of all Fairtrade tea farmers and workers live in Kenya. 

4. There are nearly 400,000 people involved in Fairtrade tea across the world, either as smallholder farmers or as workers on different plantations. Fairtrade tea is grown across 11 countries by more than 100 organisations. 

5. Low prices and insufficient salaries mean tea producers struggle with extreme poverty. For example, in early 2000s the prices of tea in Malawi fell to $1.15 per kilo, which was well below the cost of production. The producers who sold their tea on Fairtrade terms earned at least the minimum price of $1.40 per kilo, which allowed them to have a safety net and thus covering their base production cost. 

6. Under the Fairtrade Association body, tea farmers also receive the Fairtrade Premium of $0.50 for every kilo sold. Last year, tea farmers and estate workers earned nearly £6m in premiums which is a significant amount more than traditional tea growers. The tea farmers on those Fairtrade-certified tea estates invested nearly half their premiums in better housing, further education and improved healthcare for themselves and their families.  

7. The average size of a Fairtrade-certified farmer’s tea plot in East Africa is under 0.4 hectares. In contrast, the average size of a farm in the UK is nearly 50 hectares! 

8. Climate change is having a significant impact on tea growing regions across the globe. Through projects such as ADAPTea, Fairtrade Association helps tea growers to adapt to changing weather conditions. 

9. The Fairtrade Association is working hard to get a better outcome for tea workers through its own Fairtrade Hired Labour Standard and by setting up industry-wide initiatives, such as Malawi 2020 and Tea 2030. One of the recent initiatives being carried out is how to have a minimum wage for tea farmers and to support them to directly negotiate better salaries, rates, working and living conditions.  

10. Right now there are over 400 Fairtrade-certified tea products in the UK, including: daily and premium; white, green and infusions; decaf and organic. The range – in flavour, quality, and price – is amazing.