12 Best Organic Tea Brands to Reap Most Health Benefits
Simply, tea is a way for us to energize, detoxify, and relax. You will find tea lovers all over the world, and tea has become a breakfast staple. Not to mention, avid tea lovers don’t start their day without a cup of freshly brewed tea. Whether you are a tea lover or new to tea drinking, you would love to know about the best organic tea brands and the benefits of drinking organic tea.
Organic tea is getting popular among tea lovers as they become aware of its health and environmental benefits. There is an incredible variety in terms of flavors and types of teas produced and harvested in different parts of the world. This article offers everything you need to know about organic tea and helps you get started with a list of the best organic tea brands and their vest variant of flavor.
Why Drink Organic Tea?
The main ingredient used for making tea is the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. In the simplest terms, organic tea comprises tea leaves that are grown without using synthetic or chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
Organic Tea Contains more Antioxidants
Organic tea is rich in compounds like polyphenols, or flavonoids that act as antioxidants in our body to detoxify and neutralize the free radicals to improve our immune system. The free radicals elevate oxidative stress, which increases the chances of developing chronic diseases.
Further, these antioxidants have anticancer, antitumor, anti-mutagenic, and antimicrobial efficacies that also help to counter heart conditions. A study suggests organically grown tea can contain up to 60% more antioxidants than regular tea. Therefore, organic tea serves as a great health beneficiary.
Free of Harmful Chemicals
Tea that is grown inorganically uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that are eliminated during tea processing. Even after that, some residues of these harmful chemicals remain on the leaves that can contaminate your tea during steeping as these chemicals are water-soluble.
Drinking these chemicals contaminated tea in the long term can be harmful to health and can lead to chronic diseases. Also, the toxicity of chemicals and pesticides in non-organic tea growth carries a possible link to cancer.
On the other hand, organic tea doesn’t contain these chemical residues on the leaves as they weren’t used in the first place.
11 Best Organic Tea Brands
Following are the best organic tea brands that you should try no matter whether you are a new or old tea-lover. We also recommended flavors that we think can help you get started on your journey to healthy, satisfying, aromatic, and flavorful organic teas.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If anyone makes a purchase by clicking on these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Organic Positively Tea – Assam Black Tea
Characteristics
- USDA certified organic
- Loose leaf tea
- Sweet & smooth flavor
- Great price
Flaws
- High in caffeine compared to other tea
Organic Positively Tea Company is USDA, Organic, and Fair Trade certified tea company renowned for loose leaf tea. It is a popular brand as they use environmentally-friendly and human-friendly methods of tea production.
Organic Positively Tea Company’s tea range is incredible in taste and freshness that energize your tastebuds. Our favorite is Assam Black Tea.
Additionally, they offer more than 70 different kinds of organic loose-leaf tea, and you are sure to find a flavor that matches your preference. Some of their other best products include Scottish Breakfast Tea and Yunnan Tea.
FGO Organic – Nettle Leaf Herbal Tea
Characteristics
- USDA certified organic
- Loose-leaf tea & teabag options are available
- Refreshing taste and unique flavor
- Great for health
Flaws
- No significant flaw
FGO Organic is USDA certified organic tea brand that offers a wide variety of tea. Most of their blends are available as loose leaves and tea bags for your convenience.
This nettle leaf blend is a unique-tasting tea made of 100% raw nettle leaf sourced from Bulgaria without any additives. Not only does this tea taste great, but it also provides many health benefits. It is a great option for people with allergies.
FGO Organic has a massive collection of tea. Other popular blends from this brand are Hibiscus, English Breakfast, and Lemon Ginger.
Mighty Leaf – Organic Breakfast Tea
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic, Non-GMO Verified
- Whole leaf tea
- Stitched tea pouches ensure full flavor
- Strong flavor & aroma
Flaws
- Pretty expensive
Mighty Leaf is a luxury organic tea company that uses recyclable packaging material for its teas. What’s more, each tea bag is hand-stitched and compostable.
Organic Breakfast Tea blend from Mighty Leaf is a premium blend that provides a great taste and wholesome aroma.
They use natural ingredients and raw materials that are also GMO-free, sourced from Asia and Africa. While they offer a great variety, you can always order a collection or sample pack they offer. They deliver authentic taste and flavorful organic tea leaves to your doorstep.
The most popular tea from Mighty Leaf is the Whole-Leaf Organic African Nectar (you can only purchase it online or find it in hand-chosen stores). Other recommended organic tea blends from Mighty Leaf include Organic Earl Grey, Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder, etc.
Stash Tea – Organic Jasmine Green
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Jasmine scented
- Loose leaf tea
- Nutty flavor with sweet floral aroma of Jasmine
Flaws
- The packaging is not great
Ever tried the jasmine green tea? If you didn’t, you should try this delicacy. This refreshing tea from Stash offers a hint of the jasmine flower’s amazing fragrance, offering a special mix of nutrients.
Serving tea connoisseurs since the 1970s, Stash Tea is still popular among tea lovers worldwide. They offer Non-GMO and Kosher teas that are also organic. Stash Tea Company is Organic and Fair Trade certified. They offer a wide range of organic teas and flavors, and some of their best tea types include black, decaf, herbal, white, oolong, green, etc.
Their organic teas have a pleasant aroma and taste. Other than the jasmine green tea from Stash Tea, we recommend the Chai flavor Organic Chai Black Tea that you can purchase online. The blend contains a mixture of ginger, cinnamon, and a few other healthy herbs. Besides, you should also try Stash Tea Organic Chocolate Orange and Stash Tea Organic Moringa Mint.
Tielka Tea – Tielka Breakfast Black Tea
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Award-winning tea
- High quality packaging
- Available in both teabags and loose leaf
- Creamy flavor
Flaws
- Some shipping delays
- Limited availability
Tielka’s signature breakfast black tea is one of the company’s best sellers. Also known as Dianhong black tea, this organic tea offers delicate caramel layers and a peppery note. This breakfast blend is grown in the high elevations of the Yunnan Province of China, where great tea has been produced for centuries.
Tielka is Australia’s most awarded organic tea company with a total of 29 Golden Leaf Awards in 2018 and 2019. Tielka’s teas are earth-friendly, support fairtrade, and are always grown organically. Tielka sources ingredients from China & Australia, focusing on direct trade where possible.
You may also want to try one of Tielka’s original herbal teas, Limonada Rosa. This best-seller uses the highest quality Australian lemon myrtle, adding rose and hibiscus for a fun. Or perhaps the soft floral yet nutty white tea with its soft downy buds and whole leaves is more what you crave. The Tielka’s Moonlight white tea with naturally occurring mood-enhancing theanine is a perfect choice.
Tielka’s tea arrives directly from the manufacturer in Australia. Delivery times can take 1 to 3 weeks if you are not from Australia, but from your first glass, you will know that the wait was worth every sip.
The Art of Tea – Organic Earl Grey Creme Tea
Characteristics
- 100% organic
- Moderate caffeine content
- Unique flavor with a hint of cream
- Great aroma
Flaws
- The flavor is too mild
The Art of Tea came into existence in 1996. The Master Tea Blender, Steve Schwartz, established this brand, who has a passion for traveling around the world and enjoying wonderful tea blends from all places. This USA-based brand sources natural ingredients and carries the processes from growth to packaging.
Thanks to the use of fresh ingredients, you get high-quality organic teas that soothe the taste buds with a delightful aroma. Moreover, The Art of Tea is organic and fair trade certified as it offers a wide range of teas, including some of the best organic tea blends in the industry.
One of our favorites from The Art of Tea is the Organic Earl Grey Creme Tea which is available as both teabag and loose-leaf. It is vegan, gluten-free, and it serves great flavor along with the aroma.
Other tea options include all-time favorite White Coconut Crème and English Breakfast Teabags.
Traditional Medicinals – Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic, Non-GMO Verified
- Caffeine free tea
- Whole leaf teabags
- Great flavor & aroma
Flaws
- Most of their blends are herbal. Very few ‘true tea’ collection.
Chamomile tea is a fan favorite for herbal tea lovers. Blend it with lavender and make it even more delicate. This floral tea blend from Traditional Medicinals offers a great taste of chamomile with distinct notes of lavender. It is bittersweet and provides a sensational taste that is especially good when you are under stress.
Traditional Medicinals is a tea company that has been serving people and the planet since 1971. Their environmentally-friendly ways of producing and harvesting herbal tea and then manufacturing the most desirable tea blends are worth acknowledging.
They maintain the quality, purity, and, more importantly, the safety of their tea blends by ensuring thorough testing, from the tea plant fields to the manufacturing processes.
Another amazing organic tea blend from Traditional Medicinals is Dandelion leaf & root. Some other blends include Organic EveryDay Detox Schisandra Berry Detox Tea and Organic Throat Coat Seasonal Tea.
Teatulia – Organic Lemongrass Tea + Bay Leaf Herbal Blend
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Caffeine free tea
- Whole leaf teabags
- Great flavor & aroma
Flaws
- Other flavors are not as great as lemongrass or chamomile
This brand serves a variety of organic tea blends that you can brew hot, cold, or iced. One of the tea lovers’ favorites is the Organic Lemongrass Tea which is a herbal blend and caffeine-free. It has a refreshing taste, and you’d love sipping a hot cup of this organic tea while reading a book in your cozy living room.
Teatulia proudly produces all its teas using tea leaves cultivated on its land. This organic tea brand sources its teas from its 3000+ acre single-garden in Bangladesh. Teatulia predominantly stays ahead to provide the best quality, aroma, color, and flavor. Moreover, they have fair trade and organic certification, which also puts them among the best organic tea brands. Further, Teatulia feels proud to support its female workers.
Other popular organic tea blends from Teatulia include Chamomile Tea & Organic Black Tea.
Numi Organic Tea – Aged Earl Grey
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Hight caffeine tea
- Whole leaf tea bags
- Unique flavor with citrusy hints
Flaws
- The flavor is a bit weak for some
The Aged Earl Grey blend from Numi Organic Tea is a popular option for its unique flavor and aroma. No matter you want a hot tea, iced tea, or chai, this blend allows you to design your own tea.
Numi Organic Tea needs no introduction if you are an organic tea lover. As the name suggests, Numi Organic Tea is Organic and Fair Trade certified and feels responsible as many other top organic tea brands to use recyclable and environmentally-friendly packaging. Besides, Numi Organic Tea is known for its exuberant tastes and aromatic flavors.
The tea lovers’ favorite Jasmine Green Tea is a great option to enjoy a refreshing taste. You can buy this amazing organic tea online. It serves as a great iced and flowered tea with a tinge of organic Assam black tea. Other must-try organic teas from Numi Organic Tea include Organic Gunpowder Green Tea and Organic Moroccan Mint Tea.
Pukka Organic Tea – Three Ginger
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Infusion of three herbs
- Mild & balanced flavor
- Great for health
Flaws
- Taste is not distinct and weak for some people
Pukka began in 2001 with the core values of Fair Trade, environmental friendliness, and organic tea production. For that reason, they carry the respective certifications and maintain the deliverance of quality and quantity to tea lovers with the utmost respect.
Pukka Three Ginger is a must-try if you like herbal tea and looking for an exquisite flavor. This blend is crafted from organic turmeric, ginger, and galangal that deliver an aromatic, flavorful, and blissful taste that makes pukka a league of their own.
What’s more important is that they are carbon neutral since 2019. Some of their other ‘must try’ organic tea include Organic Lemon Ginger and Manuka Honey, Organic Turmeric Glow, Organic Night Time Valerian Herbal Tea, etc.
Tea Forte – Lemon Lavender Organic Herbal Tea
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Loose leaf tea
- Refreshing flavor
- Caffeine free
Flaws
- Weak flavor
Tae Forte feels responsible and works directly with the growers of their tea plants. Tea Forte is Fair Trade and Organic certified. What’s more, Tea Forte makes use of the ingredients that make up 1% of the tea worldwide.
Delivering the most aromatic and calming tea blends, Tea Forte currently serves more than 35 countries. Some of the Tea Forte specialties include Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea (English breakfast), Lemon Lavender Organic Herbal Tea, etc.
Equal Exchange – Organic Vanilla Rooibos Tea
Characteristics
- USDA-certified organic
- Bold & flavorfull with hints of vanilla
- Caffeine free
Flaws
- Poorly designed teabags
Rooibos tea is a great option to step up your tea drinking habit. This blend from Equal exchange offers a bold but not so sweet flavor with notes of vanilla. Also, it’s a great option for people who want to avoid caffeine.
Serving since 1991, Equal Exchange is a proud tea company that values the interests of its employees. Thereby, they find it their duty to involve employees as equal owners of Equal Exchange. Fair Trade and Organic certified Equal Exchange bring only the best of the organic tea to its large customer base constitutes the majority of teaholics.
A few other recommended tea blends from Equal Exchange include Organic Irish Breakfast Tea, Organic English Breakfast Tea, etc. These are fine ingredient blends that produce scents capable of relaxing your mind and taste that will make your taste buds tickle.
Environmental Benefits of Organic Tea
Organic Tea comes from authentically organic sources and means of extraction. According to US regulations and rules for organic plant growth, there should be no use of synthetic and chemical fertilizers in the production, harvesting, or extracting of tea leaves. Tea-producing companies should not use herbicides, chemical pesticides, etc., which might pose health and environmental threats and risks.
Organic teas come from tea leaves plants that producers grow according to the USDA regulations (in the US). Major tea brands in other parts of the world must comply with their countries’ rules and regulations governing tea production. Basic principles that all organic tea leaves producers follow are:
- Organic growth should base on living ecological systems.
- Organic growth should ensure protection for future generations by improving the environment and safeguarding its well-being.
- And, the organic tea plant growth/produce/manufacture has to be fair (Fair Trade Tea)
Advantages to Farmers
An organic tea brand with fair trade certification means that it pays fair wages to the farmers working in the fields. Moreover, it also ensures that there are suitably healthy working environments for the farmers, and the company uses natural ingredients rather than chemical and synthetic production methods.
Environmental Benefits
“Organic” tea brings a variety of environmental benefits too. Organic practices ensure a safe and healthy environment. On top of that, fair trade and legal bindings improve the environment by regulating the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. This helps prevent any degradation of soil, farmers’ health, and the rivers or lakes (i.e., local drinking source) near the tea plants fields.
What is Fair Trade Tea?
Fair Trade Tea is a practice that ensures the manufacturers are producing the safest, healthiest, and most sustainable means, especially in countries where tea production and exports contribute to the country’s wealth and culture. Examples include Asian countries, specifically Bangladesh.
Fairtrade entails a certification that comes from an independent third party, which ensures that a company is paying fair and just wages to the laborers involved in tea production. Moreover, fair trade involves restrictions on child labor in tea plant fields and manufacturing plants.
Above that, it mandates companies to provide better working conditions and use environmentally friendly processes. Some of the best organic tea brands that we have listed above are fair trade certified.
Conclusion
Tea is the second most heavily consumed beverage in the world, following water. Statistics show that in the year 2020, the consumption of tea was over 3.8 billion gallons!
If you want to immerse yourself in the world of tea, then this list of top organic tea brands will surely help you find your way and determine your taste preference. What’s more, it can also help you choose from a plethora of organic tea varieties and find the best organic tea blends.
About the Author
Twigs cafe staff is comprised of editors, writers, food & drink experts, nutritionists, and researchers to create informative and helpful content for health-conscious people.
1 comment
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