11 Organic & Fair Trade Teas We’re Sipping On

Fair Trade & Organic Tea For Your Mornings

It’s no secret that our team at The Good Trade are big fans of tea. You’ll find us sipping cup after cup, enjoying its calming and rejuvenating benefits. Regular tea alone, however, can be made of leaves covered in pesticide or sourced by underpaid and overworked farmers. Instead, we can choose to support organic and fair trade tea brands that are hand-picked and hand-crafted.

We’ve rounded up 11 brands who are paving the way in fair trade and organic tea practices. From supporting workers cooperatives to using sustainable packaging, these teas are going the extra mile to ensure both people and planet remain cared for. So snuggle up, get the kettle going, and get ready for a cuppa that’ll get your day started on the right foot.

(Or, if you’re a coffee drinker, head over to our roundup of fair trade coffee brands).


1. Numi

Ethics | USDA certified organic, Fair Trade Certified, certified B Corp
Features | 30+ flavors, hand-picked, gives back, compostable packaging, non-GMO
Our Pick | White Rose Tea ($7.49)
Price | Starting at $7.49 for 18 bags

Numi, a certified B Corp, has a focus on serving people and planet. Its tea leaves are handpicked by fair trade farmers and grown organically without any GMOs. After being sorted, the leaves are placed into paper filter bags for maximum sustainability. Seen everywhere from Kroger to Whole Foods, you can pick up one of its 30+ flavors online or in stores, making it accessible to all. Our top pick is the White Rose flavor, a white tea made with organic whole rose buds. Floral, warm, and comforting.

Shop Numi Tea


2. Alaya Tea

Ethics | USDA certified organic, biodynamic farms, small batches
Features | 10 flavors, hand-picked, compostable packaging, regenerative agriculture
Our Pick | Darjeeling First Flush Black Tea ($22)
Price | Starting at $14 for 2.5 oz. (~35 servings)

Alaya Tea co-founders Esha Chhabra and Smita Satiani built the company to celebrate the women who make the industry possible, especially in India. Supporting small farmers, tea estates, and the women tea pickers, Alaya’s small batches certified organic and biodynamic. Plus, with a goal to be zero-waste, its packaging is fully plastic-free and biodegradable. Enjoy loose leaf tea flavors like lemongrass and ginger, Tulsi Indian basil, and darjeeling green tea.

Shop Alaya Tea


3. Us Two Tea

Ethics | Responsibly sourced on family-owned farms in Taiwan, biodegradable & non-toxic bags
Features | Four signature flavors & sets, non-GMO, gives back
Our Pick | Pillowtalk Jasmine Tea ($6.95)
Price | $6.95 for 5 bags (~15 cups)

For premium Asian loose leaf tea, check out Us Two Tea. The team works with family-owned farms across Taiwan to directly source four premium kinds of tea: oolong, black, jasmine, and Baozhong. While each pack contains five bags, each one can be used three times over. Then when you’re done, the tea bags are all biodegradable! Make this ritual even easier.

Shop Us Two Tea


4. Steep & Mellow

Ethics | Ethically sourced ingredients, eco-friendly
Features | Plant-based tea bags & wrappers, compostable packaging, gives back, build-your-own bundles
Our Pick | Dream Chamomile Tea ($29)
Price | $29 for 0.7 oz

Steep & Mellow is a natural tea brand with a contagious energy that puts a smile on our face each time we brew a cup. We love that its tea bags are fully compostable, and that ingredients include adaptogens and nootropics to boost your mind and creativity. Whether you want to dream, groove, or flow—drink up!

Shop Steep & Mellow Tea


5. Hobbs Tea

Ethics | B Corp, organic, ethically sourced, eco-friendly inks, Cherokee woman-owned
Features
| 5+ flavors, hand-picked, small batch, biodegradable packaging & bags, offers regenerative farming training
Our Pick
| Hawaiian Grown Black Tea ($19)
Price | $19 for 10 bags

Dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway? You can now get one step closer with a cup of Hobbs Tea, an organic and ethically sourced tea company out of Oahu. Each small batch is handpicked with organic tea that’s the highest quality around—so high that you can re-brew the tea nearly 4x, getting the most bang for your buck. This Hawaiian grown tea is shade-dried after being planted in volcanic soil, then hand-filled in compostable bags. Good for you, good for the planet.

Shop Hobbs Tea


6. No. 3 Clive Road

Ethics | Naturally & locally sourced in India, small batches, gives back
Features
| 15+ flavors, vegan, carbon-positive, eco-friendly packaging, refill options
Our Pick
| Madurai Masala Blend
Price | Starting at ₹400 for 150 g (~75 servings)

Radhika Chopra launched No. 3 Clive Road in New Delhi, named after the street she lived on with her family. Today, this premium, luxury tea brand locally sources loose leaf teas and handcrafts small batches in the area—from Assam tea from the Brahmaputra River to the Darjeeling slopes. And the team is sustainable, too: It’s a 1% For The Planet member, uses recyclable packaging, and offers refillable tins.

Shop No. 3 Clive Road Tea


7. T Project

Ethics | Organic, ethically sourced, eco-friendly & locally sourced packaging
Features
| 30+ flavors, recycled & biodegradable packaging
Our Pick
| Marrakesh Express ($12)
Price | Starting at $12 for 1.5 oz

Based on nostalgia alone, we’re big fans of T Project, an organic and fair trade tea brand that names its flavors after vintage rock songs (California Dreamin’, anyone?). Ethically sourced from Asia and India, Teri Gelber handcrafts small batches of seasonal and signature blends. They’re then packaged in eco-friendly and sustainable packaging, creating a nearly perfect product. If you’re in Portland, you can stop by in store, but no worries if not: You can order online at a very affordable price-point.

Shop T Project Tea


8. Equal Exchange

Ethics | USDA certified organic, fair trade, kosher, eco-friendly packaging
Features
| Worker cooperative, 20+ flavors, hand-picked, six-pack available
Our Pick
| Organic Rooibos Tea ($3.10)
Price | Starting at $3.10 for 20 bags

Equal Exchange has been a gamechanger in the tea and coffee industry since 1986, being one of the first companies to bring fair trade coffee to the states. Today, Equal Exchange is a for-profit worker cooperative, owned equally by every employee, and it operates with fair trade practices and values. Its range of green, black, and herbal teas are hand-picked and ethically sourced in India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. With nearly two dozen flavors, you’ll wake up feeling fresh and focused no matter which one you pick.

Shop Equal Exchange Tea


9. Hampstead Tea

Ethics | Certified organic, fair trade, sustainable, eco-friendly
Features
| 40+ flavors, hand-picked, compostable packaging, biodynamic
Our Pick
| Darjeeling Loose Leaf Tea (£5.99)
Price | Starting at £2.79 for 20 bags

Hampstead Tea was founded by Kiran Tawadey, after hearing about the well-known Makaibari Estate famous for its darjeeling tea leaves. She then went on a mission to make Makaibari a certified organic and biodynamic space, ensuring that plants are grown sustainably and harvested ethically. Based out of the UK, you can order online for worldwide shipping—and we highly recommend trying its award-winning Darjeeling tea for yourself. You’ll see why everyone’s a fan.

Shop Hampstead Tea


10. Arbor Teas

Ethics | USDA certified organic, Fair Trade Certified, eco-friendly packaging
Features
| 30+ flavors, carbon-free, compostable packaging
Our Pick
| Organic Lychee Black Tea ($8.95)
Price | $8.95 for 2.5 oz (~31 servings)

Arbor Teas believes we can have premium ingredients and full-bodied flavors without compromising sustainability and human rights. Its teas are organically grown; better for growers, consumers, and the business. Plus, it utilizes fair trade practices in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, and across South Africa, so you can sip without worry. The team goes the extra mile by using sustainable and eco-friendly packaging and sourcing throughout the entire supply chain.

Shop Arbor Teas


11. Guayaki

Ethics | USDA certified organic, fair trade, certified B Corp, regenerative farming
Features
| Loose leaf Yerba Mate, eco-friendly, kosher, non-GMO
Our Pick
| Loose Leaf Yerba Mate ($18)
Price | $18 for 16 oz. (~150 servings)

Guayaki is not your traditional tea brand. Instead of going for black or green teas, its specialty is Yerba Mate, a plant used to make medicine. Some tea drinkers prefer Yerba Mate, known for its chocolate-y flavor, health benefits, and caffeine-like energy. Guayaki describes its loose leaf Yerba Mate as “rich, robust, and balanced, with a complex earthy body and a smooth mellow finish.” Hot, cold, or iced, this organic and fair trade tea will leave you feeling healthier than ever.

Shop Guayaki Tea


The Good Trade editors endorse products we genuinely love. If you end up making a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. Learn more here.



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