Are you drinking eco-friendly tea?

I love tea the way Oprah loves bread. I also love bread the way Oprah loves bread, but that is irrelevant here. Recently I watched a video on Facebook about how tea bags are made. I WAS SO SHOCKED! Those little paper bags filled with smushed up tea leaves are NOT little paper bags. They are made from plastic mush. The process to make them is NOT sustainable. The thing that they produce that holds the tea that we consume isn’t eco-friendly. It made me want to finish up my favorite tea bags and mourn those brands while searching for all the loose leaf teas I could possibly find. Whenever I discover a new way that I can be more sustainable, I research it and share it with you here. There are several rising brands that offer sustainably sourced loose leaf teas that are packed with delicious flavors.

Teas may be certified organic, but that only refers to the tea, itself. The bags that the teas are packaged in could still be made through unsustainable processes. Unless tea brands can tell you that the bags that their teas come in are sustainably made, you should question whether or not they are eco-friendly. What can we use as an alternative to those yucky bags? Loose leaf teas (preferably organic, grown in an eco-friendly manner, and ethically sourced) and eco-friendly tea bags are the answer.  The following 7 tea brands are the perfect solution to have eco-friendly tea that still tastes delicious!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Addie | sustainable + slow living (@oldworldnew)

Eco-Friendly Tea

Art of Tea

If you love organically grown eco-friendly tea made by a company that truly cares about the earth, Art of Tea is a company that embodies all of that. Art of Tea takes sustainability and eco-friendly beyond their tea products. They use eco-friendly and fair trade process throughout the entire manufacturing of their products. From eco-friendly paint and cleaning products in their factories to on-site composting, their sustainability efforts are a step above the rest. Not to mention, their exclusive botanical teas are USDA approved.

Flavor to try: Halo Blooming Tea

The Tea Spot

Not all tea bags are made the same. The Tea Spot’s tea sachets are crafted from eco-friendly and biodegradable material. They also have a wide array of loose leaf teas to choose from. Their eco-friendly tea is available in so many flavors – they seem seem limitless. Equally limitless is their commitment to equitable labor and the production of organic products. The Tea Spot is B Corp Certified, USDA Organic, Colorado Made, and they give 10% of sales to different charities and community programs.

Flavor to try: Morning Mojo Sachets, Organic

Mighty Leaf

Still pissed about how typical tea bags are made from plastic mush? The Mighty Leaf’s hand stitched tea bags, made from eco-friendly material, are like a breath of fresh air in this polluted world. Mighty Leaf products are USDA Certified and they are made with Fair Trade Certified ingredients. Their high quality blends of tea, fruits, and herbs plus a strong commitment to being socially and environmentally responsible is the equation for true sustainability and success.

Flavor to try: Organic Spring Jasmine

Arbor Teas

Arbor Teas has a goal of finding the most organic teas in the world and getting them to customers in the most sustainable way possible.  Their products are Fair Trade Certified and certified by the Global Organic Alliance. The company also set high quality standards for itself. The teas contain no GMOs and are sold in compostable packaging.

Flavor to try: Organic Pomegranate White Tea

Choice Organic Teas

Natural, staple-free tea bags.  The paper is 100% recycled and dye is plant-based. The goal of Choice Organic Teas is to make everything as biodegradable as possible.  They have a strong commitment to recycling, energy conservation, and fair-trade practices.

Flavor to try: Cranberry Hibiscus

Mountain Rose Herbs

Mountain Rose Herbs avoids convenience and sources only organic products.  Their production facilities are energy efficient, they use partially & 100% recycled and recyclable packaging, and employees are given many incentives to sustainably commute to work.

Flavor to try: Vanilla Rooibos Tea

Local Tea Vendors

Shopping local is another great way to find loose leaf teas that may be organically grown using little to no toxic chemicals or packaging. I love visiting my local farmers market and purchasing teas there.  The Shelter Tea brand by Old Rugged Works, LLC has a large variety of teas that are handcrafted right here in Texas. Rose flavor was the first one that I tried, and I absolutely fell in love it with this brand because of it. The last time I visited, I asked the owner her opinion on which flavor I should try next. She recommended the Citrus Gold, a blend of different citrus flowers and fruits with tea leave. She definitely did not lead me wrong.  I can’t wait to go back and explore and taste the teas that are made by a small business owner living so close to me!

Flavor to try: Cinnamon Pu-erh

If you’re ready to ditch the less than eco-friendly tea and tea bags, whether part time or 100%, try any of the teas and companies listed above. Do you have a favorite eco-friendly tea brand that isn’t listed above?  Share it in the comments below!

xoxo dolls & dudes,

Addie