Organic tea is grown and processed without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and is often more expensive due to labor-intensive practices. It is selected as the top contender in tea tastings and is part of a general movement towards organic farming methods. Organic tea can be found in all countries that grow tea as a crop and can be sold in loose blends or standard tea bags.
Many food products can legally be called organic because they have been grown and processed without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. In the case of organic tea, an independent certification committee verifies that the tea plants have been rigorously grown in natural soil fertilized with only organic additives. The use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers is already minimal in the tea industry, so it’s generally not difficult to produce a legally organic tea.
Organic tea often requires more labor-intensive practices than other types of tea, so it is often more expensive in the retail market. According to the results of many sanctioned tea tastings, however, organic tea is often selected as the top contender in terms of overall taste, flavor, and potency. Many seasoned tea aficionados can instantly identify the tea during a tea sampling session.
The recent surge in popularity of organic tea is part of a general movement towards organic farming methods in general. Unregulated tea farmers have been known to use raw sewage lines to irrigate their crops, and they use banned pesticides like DDT to control insect damage. While most tea companies regulate themselves internally, only those using cultivation methods such as crop rotation, transplanting and composting are eligible for organic certification. According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards, legally organic soils must be free of chemicals and synthetic fertilizers for at least three years.
Certified organic teas can be found in virtually all countries that grow tea as a crop. The designation can be applied to white, red, green, oolong, black or any other variety of tea. Many organic herbal tea blends contain other ingredients such as spices and flowers, which are also grown organically. Classifying a tea as “organic” refers only to the cultivation and processing methods to produce it, not the specific type or level of fermentation of the tea.
Many consumers choose loose tea blends at specialty tea shops, but organic tea can also be sold in standard tea bags. Tea drinkers can enjoy the natural antioxidants and polyphenols found in most tea blends and also take comfort in knowing that their tea contains no dangerous chemicals or pesticides.
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