Is your chai ethical?

How will militant tea lovers react when told to switch their favourite morning cuppa brand, because it may taste great but lacks ethics?

In 2737 BC, when Chinese emperor Shen Nung discovered the flavour of tea, when tea leaves accidentally fell into bowls of water his courtmen were boiling, it's unlikely that he would've imagined how centuries later this innocent refreshing brew could decide if the drinker is serious about saving the planet.



Now, other than colour, flavour and natural benefits, tea drinkers are likely to discuss the pressing issue of ethics every time they take a sip. Is your brand of tea ethical, is the question that Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), a 12-year old alliance of tea-makers from across the globe, is asking. The group has taken on the task of making sure that the tea in your cup has been produced in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.

So, other than turning the tap off when you brush, and teaching your maid the virtue of carrying a cloth bag to the bhaji market, picking up a box of organic cereal, you now have to determine if your chai is ethical. But how?

Ranjan Circar, ETP regional manager for India says with consumers eager to know more about where and how the product they are consuming, is produced, tea drinkers too must spare time to figure where the tea they drink every morning comes from and what the tea packing company is doing with regard to its sourcing and supply chain.

"All major tea plantation companies in Assam and several in South India are participants in the ETP programme. Starting this month, the partnership will roll out its new approach in Darjeeling as well," says Circar, about ETP's reach in the country.

The partnership that aims to improve the lives of tea workers on estates across the world, has concentrated on better living and working condition for workers in India. Since many of them live with their families on the estates, the partnership decided to focus on improving sanitation and water supply.

Will you change your chai brand?
Nikhil Singh,
Marketing Professional
"If you told me at the time of purchasing that one tea is more ethical than another, I'd consider changing. But I would ask on what grounds that has been determined.
Vinita Berde,
Banking professional
"I'd change my brand to drink one that's part of the ETP partnership since supporting a cause would make me happy.

What organic food supporters say
Organic foods supporters don't seem to think much about the concept of ethical tea. They aren't too vocal about it but they believe that the ETP tag might be a marketing gimmick since growing tea on a large scale is in itself a commercial venture, and not particularly environment-friendly.
Ubai Hussein,
Organic farmer
"Bringing ethics into the tea-growing business is pretty controversial. The process of growing tea is not environment-friendly. When you start growing this crop, it's the only one you grow. Besides, tea plant roots secrete a sort of acid into the soil so that even after a tea estate is non-functional, it's tough growing another crop there."
Sreedevi Lakshmikutty,
Sustainable living campaigner
"I've heard of fair trade coffee but I haven't really heard of ethical tea. If ETP genuinely ensures that the workers operate in a better environment, it's a good initiative."

How you can find out
A tea drinker can find out more about ETP by visiting www.ethicalteapartnership.org. Here, they'll find information about which tea-packing companies are ETP members and whether or not the brand of tea you drink is included in their portfolio; to be included, a brand must be entirely blended and packed by a member.

Watch your brand
Most ethical tea brands are marketed internationally and are not easily available in Indian markets. But if you have made the decision to switch, here is a list of the brands to watch out for:
> Twinings
> Tetley
> Lipton
> Dilmah