International Tea Day was initiated by the United Nations in 2019, with the aim of recognising tea farmers and workers across the supply chain who bring us the tea leaves that go into the world’s most popular drink, after water. At ETP, this is what we do, every day: we work tirelessly to help our members address the issues in tea. However, I believe that a dedicated day to reflect on these issues is an important moment in the calendar of any tea producer, packer, retailer or consumer; the challenges are complex and widespread, requiring collaboration and investment on a huge scale if we are going to improve the lives and livelihoods of tea workers.

Globally, more than 13 million people are involved in the supply chain, and for the majority their livelihoods are almost entirely dependent upon the production of tea. The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that nearly 60 percent of the world’s tea is produced by small scale farmers. Social inequalities, economic instability, and the threat of climate change are some of the biggest challenges facing these tea communities.

Economic instability for tea communities if often a result of the lower wages and incomes that workers and farmers earn and the context in which they live. This is often in the world’s poorest countries such as India, where nearly one million workers are employed within the tea supply chain. 

Globally, the majority of tea workers and farmers are women. In Assam, India and Sri Lanka women make up nearly 50% of the tea workers yet, few manage to rise through the ranks to managerial positions.

Climate change poses a growing risk to tea communities as increasing temperatures, changes to rainfall, and deforestation impact tea growing and ultimately the livelihood of those working in tea.

At the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), we work with 50 members – made up of tea brands, retailers and suppliers from across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Together we address some of the long-term systemic challenges in tea. We run programmes in China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Rwanda, and Indonesia, where much of the world’s tea is produced and where millions of lives are dependent on tea; we support innovative business practices to improve outcomes for farmers and workers in tea; and, we engage with a wide network of stakeholders to inform decision-making and policy development, ensuring that tea communities are put front-and-centre of this process.

Our mission at ETP is to use the power of our partnerships to create a tea sector that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.

Everyone has enjoyed a hot cup of tea. Perhaps your first encounter was with your Mum enjoying a nice cup of tea, or an experience with a delicious iced fruit tea. It’s a chance to sit down, relax, and unwind during a break in a busy day, or to share a quiet “cuppa” with friends on the weekend. One of life’s affordable luxuries, drinking tea calms, refreshes, and is immensely satisfying for the body & soul.

Fresh tea though, is a big step up in aroma and flavour over that sourced from a supermarket. And you don’t have to be a connoisseur to notice the difference. The secret is in the freshness!

Tea Drop is a tea merchant with a difference. We insist on excellence and believe that every cup of tea should tell a story. Our commitment is to the craft of tea-making. We search for the finest tea leaves from around the world, chosen for their flavour profile, crispness, and freshness.

Why is fresh tea the better choice: 

"Tea in your cup will carry fresher quality solely dependent on the time frame between “bush to cup". Fresh tea brought to you in that lesser time frame will carry the better aroma and the fuller flavour of the tea at production than a tea which has spent more time on a supermarket shelf, which is usually of lesser quality by the time it reaches you. Fresher tea definitely tastes more refreshing with body, character and bright coloured brew, than tea that has spent its time on a supermarket shelf."

Large tea brands by necessity, store their teas in warehouses for many months with added shelf storage time. In the process of store house trading, the number of transit vehicles moving mass-produced tea to supermarkets also exposes it to humidity and high temperatures. "Inevitably, the tea suffers with less flavour by the time it reaches you."

As artisanal tea producers, we work completely opposite to how larger tea providers and supermarket brands operate. We absolutely minimize the time frame taken between processing and sending the tea to you.

Quality over quantity:

"As tea specialists, we emphasize and focus on the selling of ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’. We pay close attention to the clean and crisp flavour of fresh tea. To achieve this, we only produce, package and distribute a limited amount of tea, with the focus on freshness, quality, and taste.

We make sure the conditions are perfect for growing and picking. We handpick all of our leaves and take time and care at all stages of the packaging and delivery process to ensure crispness and flavour, to bring to you, the most flavoursome and satisfying tea possible. Our master blender, who draws on decades of family tradition, knowledge and skill, tests and approves every batch.

The finest customer service

To buy tea directly from our online tea store means receiving the full customer experience. We send our packages with minimum shipment time to make sure you get the freshest product. Not only are our leaves ethically sourced and checked for quality, but you also will receive a range of extra tea material and samples of our other products to try. You will also be able to contact our tea specialists with questions you may have on your tea experience.

Coffee and tea are amongst the most consumed beverages in the world. People drink tea and coffee for a variety of reasons including the health benefits they provide. Often there have been debates over the two regarding the health benefits of coffee and tea - some arguing that coffee and tea almost score the same while others feel that tea wins the game.

To help determine which of the two has greater health benefits, it is crucial to look at each of them to see how they benefit people. Here, we take a look at what these beverages bring to the table and why in our opinion, tea takes the win.

Tea Benefits

We wait all year long to decorate our Christmas trees, unwrap presents and engage in some festive baking. Since medieval times the scent of cinnamon along with cardamom, nutmeg, ginger and cloves is how we know its Christmas.  

So if you are obsessed with cinnamon rolls as we are and love the flavours of chai, with this recipe you can taste Christmas all year long.

What you need:

Dough

• 580g all-purpose flour
• 100g granulated sugar
• 6g fine sea salt
• 84g butter
• 235ml lukewarm milk
• 7g instant yeast
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk

Filling