Beware of Fake ‘Organic’ Labels

When a tea is labelled as organic that means that some agency has determined that the tea has met the standards of that agency.  Some of these standards include not using synthetic pesticides and herbicides and only using organic fertilizers.  The soil where the tea is grown needs to be tests and it must be maintained according to the organic standards.

The Cost of Organic Tea

The reason that fake organic labels have begun to appear is that the cost of organic tea can be prohibitively high. While the cost of organic products is almost certain to continue to be the case, there are several actions consumers can take to reduce the overall cost. You can search for online deals at popular retail sites that sell organic tea like Amazon.com and DavidsTea.

Growing Organic Tea

Trying to growing organic tea is a noble endeavor and it provides a healthier and more sustainable product.  While this sounds like an excellent notion, growing a healthy and sustainable product used all over the world.   However in practice there are many teas that are labelled organic that really aren’t.  Faking organic tea status is something that happens more often than we would like to think.  You need to beware of fake ‘organic’ labels on your tea.

Fake Organic Teas

You may be wondering why anyone would go through the trouble of faking their status as organic.  The answer is pretty simple…money.  Organic teas fetch a higher price and the supermarket and that extra profit goes straight into the manufacturer’s pocket.  While anyone can slap the organic label on a product, law enforcement has been doing its best to crack down on fraudulent organic labels.  You should know that reputable tea companies won’t risk their reputation on fake certification, they have far too much to lose.  You should always check the label and the agency that is claiming to certify the tea as organic.

Many Teas are Uncertified

In many parts of the world tea is grown and farmed the old fashioned way without the use of harmful herbicides or pesticides which technically makes them organically grown.  Getting certification as an organic farm is an expensive and time consuming process that many farmers just can’t afford to do.  There will be many types of tea out there that are organically grown but never bear the organic label.

Choosing to opt for organic teas is a good thing, it benefits both you and the environment.  You can reduce health risks associated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides while promoting sustainability.  However bear in mind that the limitations that allow for organic certification can sometimes get in the way of achieving the goals of better sustainability.  You may pay a premium for the luxury of having organic tea, whether that is worth the cost is up to you.  You should always consider where your tea comes from and how it is made.


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