With the current increase in environmental awareness and "green" earth-friendly philosophies, organic teas have begun to take a minority stake in the market. They are typically more expensive and often vary in taste and quality from regularly produced teas but have their own sometimes considerable advantages.
What is organic tea? Tea qualifies as organic when only environmentally friendly techniques have been used in its production with the intent of making the system of production itself entirely self sustaining. In the United States, in order for a product to qualify as organic it must meet the standards of the National Organic Program created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It can be summarized in three main points:
The farm that grew the product must emphasize or depend solely on the use of renewable resources.
The use of conventional pesticides is shunned.
No synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionic radiation is used during production.
The USDA goes out of its way to mention that there is no guarantee whatsoever that any organic product is of higher quality or more nutritious. The only difference NOP guarantees is that the methods of growing, handling and processing the food are different from those of regular commercial products. Why consume organic then?
The main reason to consume organic is to support an industry that is environmentally friendly and a production process that is self sustaining and, in the best of cases, zero carbon. These are groups that have made sizeable investments to ensure they reduce their pollution to the bare minimum or to zero in order to contribute to a healthier and cleaner environment. Because they refuse to use the conventional and less eco-friendly techniques the amount they can produce is reduced which leads to the higher price. Consuming organic is an environmentally aware lifestyle choice.
Another, and equally important, reason to consume organic is because of they don't use conventional chemicals. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers have been linked to cancer and hormonal imbalances both in children and adults. The purported anti-cancer effects of teas will surely be diminished if not completely eliminated if it has been grown steeped in a known carcinogen. Organic products are as close as we can get today to 100% natural foods that are free of harmful, if convenient, substances.
There is, however, a down side to consuming organic. The first and most obvious is that the price ranges from higher to significantly higher. Smaller production and higher investments translate to a higher cost for the consumer. The second is that due to worldwide air pollution there is no guarantee that the produce will be that much healthier than one that was grown using conventional chemicals. Finally, not only is there no guarantee that organic foods are more nutritious and of higher quality than non organic, but there is even evidence that suggests the contrary.
To go organic or not is a distinctly personal choice. Environmental awareness and a protect the earth mentality are noble things we all need to employ, but it is up to each of us to determine if that justifies the higher cost. However, the best organically grown tea is at least as good as the best non-organically grown, if not better. One just has to be prepared to pay much higher prices for the organic production and the ultimate quality.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
Shop for Loose Tea, Teapots, and Accessories in our Loose Tea Shop
With the current increase in environmental awareness and "green" earth-friendly philosophies, organic teas have begun to take a minority stake in the market. They are typically more expensive and often vary in taste and quality from regularly produced teas but have their own sometimes considerable advantages.
Tell a friend