+ Is Compassion Tea Fair Trade?
No. However, our tea producers belong to the Ethical Tea Partnership. The ETP is an initiative started within the tea industry to monitor and regulate the living and working conditions on tea estates. The organization is run and regulated by member companies and bolstered by regular external audits by Price Waterhouse Cooper. The goal of the organization is to provide consumers with a complete understanding of where tea is grown and manufactured. Everything from fair compensation to health coverage, housing and childcare comes under close scrutiny. The ETP is similar to the Fair Trade organization, but has a much broader scope for tea consumers since its focus is on tea only. Because tea is not a publicly traded commodity like coffee, Fair Trade is unable to penetrate many of the nuances and regional peculiarities of the tea trade.
The ETP is a socially and environmentally directed organization rather than the economic basis of Fair Trade. Some of the benefits to which tea estate workers are entitled by law in Sri Lanka, for example, include:
Wages are set by the government of Sri Lanka. Usually this is done in conjunction with the Trade Unions and the Estate Employer’s Federation under a collective agreement renewable every 2 years.
Workers are guaranteed a 40 hour work week (5 days per week, 8 hrs a day) and have to be paid the wages set by the government.
Paid vacation of up to 42 days (holiday wages and attendance bonus) depending on the attendance in the previous year, have to be paid.
Housing must be provided along with water service and sanitation. Retired or dismissed workers cannot be evicted from their houses even though worker housing is owned by the management.
Around worker housing a small portion of land is allocated for a home garden for cultivation of vegetables etc., depending upon land availability. Permission is also granted for the construction of a cattle shed for the purpose of raising cattle. Ravines and grasslands are accessible free of charge to workers to cut fodder.
Workers and their dependents have to be provided medical benefits. A health practitioner is employed by the management and a well stocked dispensary is available. Free transport to and from the nearest hospital is provided for those that need hospitalization. Workers are entitled to sick leave pay at the rate of 1⁄2 days wages per day of hospitalization, up to 14 days.
Pregnant workers are given 90 days paid maternity leave for the first two children and 45 days for later pregnancies. After birth, mothers are given time off for feeding their infants, twice a day at 10 am and 2 pm.
Pre-schools and infant/toddler day care centers are provided on the estate, and trained workers are employed by the management for this purpose. Mandatory immunization programs are strictly monitored. A free nutritional supplement (Thriposha) is given to children up to 1 year. This is a UNICEF sponsored program, under the auspices of the health department of Sri Lanka.
When there is a death of a worker or a retired worker, work on the estate is cut short by 2 hours so that workers can attend the funeral. There is no cut in wages. Funeral expenses are paid for workers and their dependents. The management of the estate not only provides the land (cemetery) but also 2 paid workers to cut the grave and fill. The adage ‘womb to the tomb’ could not be more appropriate than when it is used to describe the relationship between a worker and the estate.
It should be very clearly understood that the cost of all these social welfare programs and benefits are the responsibility of the management and such expenditure is included in the cost of production of every pound of tea that is produced on the estate. No subsidies or grants are given by the government.
+ Are Compassion Tea Flavors All Natural?
There are several ways to flavor tea. For our jasmine green teas, for example, the tea leaves, while withering, are covered in jasmine petals picked in the evening for the most profound smell and flavors. As the scent from the jasmine permeates the air, the tea leaves drink it in through osmosis. Once the withered leaves are steeped in boiling water, they release the jasmine smell. Remember, smell is 80-90% of taste!
Herbals are a combination of fruit peels, dried fruit, dried flower pieces or rose hips, chunks of spices such as cinnamon stick or cardamon seeds, and actual plant leaves or bark rather than tea leaves. Our Serene Herbal for example is filled with the perky yellow chamomile flower, subtle pieces of lemon verbena leaves, spearmint leaves, and soothing lavender flowers. That is the entire tea. No added fillers. Likewise, our Peppermint tea is purely peppermint leaves, dried and steamed or roasted to prevent oxidation and mildew. You might as well walk out to the garden and grab a handful of mint -- it is that natural!
Similarly, our Lemon Black tea combines pieces of lemon rind with ceylon black tea. The natural oils in the rind release in the hot water adding the tartness that makes lemon in tea so delightful. Our Cinnamon Orange Spice also contains chunks of orange peel and bits of cinnamon stick. Together with the tea leaves, these flavors combine to make the perfect cold weather tea.
Other teas are flavored with essential oils extracted from a plant. Earl grey tea is always flavored with bergamot oil which is usually cold pressed from the rind of the bergamot orange.
These are all examples of natural flavorings. The FDA defines natural flavorings as flavors that are derived from “a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material” as well as “meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products.” The use of the actual plant or food is the basis of the flavor, but it might undergo a chemical reaction such as those that occur in distillation, extraction, or roasting in order to produce a flavor additive that is easy to use.
Some of our teas may also include artificial flavors. According to the FDA, such flavors are created synthetically, are not derived from a natural source, but may in fact be identical structurally to the natural derivative. Artificial flavors may only come from a well-documented list of approved substances.
While it is generally more expensive to use natural flavorings rather than artificial flavors, we believe the benefits in flavor and in tea drinking experience far outweigh the cost factor. We hope you agree!
+ What is Loose Leaf vs Pyramid?
Our transparent pyramid sachets are made with biodegradable and compostable starch material. The unique material allows visibility into the quality of the tea. You will not find tea dust but rather large leaf cuttings. The shape of the pyramid sachets allows more space for the tea leaves to unfurl. This provides the robust flavor of drinking loose leaf tea with the convenience of a tea bag.
+ How Much Money Does Compassion Tea Give To Compassion Now?
100% of our after-tax profits goes directly to CompassioNow. The majority of our management and staff are volunteer, which allows more money to go toward the goal of serving the least served.
HOPE Coffee is a "coffee with a cause" organization. HOPE Coffee supports the farmers growing coffee beans in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, as well as the workers roasting and packaging the beans, through their Direct Trade agreement. HOPE Coffee supports housing and clean water projects in the villages around the plantations. And they share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their work in these areas. HOPE Coffee sells coffee wholesale to churches and coffee shops as well as through individual retail opportunities.
In 2020, HOPE Coffee took over Compassion Tea's fulfillment department. As we both support rural, underdeveloped areas with aid and with the love of Christ, our partnership is a beautiful example of how we work together for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
To learn more, visit HOPE Coffee.
