We’re asking the UK government to Brew it Fair. Like all of us, the people growing our tea deserve to be able to plan for their futures, and to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. Take action by signing our petition and calling on the government to take stronger action in the tea industry.
Taking action for fairer tea
Tea is the world’s most popular drink apart from water – in Britain alone we drink over 100 million cups of tea every day.
But right now, too little of the money in the industry goes back to the people who grow and pick our tea. As tea drinkers we have become used to paying very little, with an average tea bag today costing just two or three pence, while the cost to grow and pick our tea is increasing.
Despite high levels of unstable work, low incomes and wages, gender discrimination and unsafe working conditions, most businesses are still not taking responsibility for the impact their purchasing practices have on the people in their supply chains. Urgent action is needed to support the people at the end of these supply chains to create positive change for themselves, their communities and our shared environment.
It will require a collective effort to change the future with the people behind Britain’s favourite drink. Together, Governments, businesses and civil society organisations can work alongside tea growers and pickers to raise low tea prices, increase pay and demand human rights for the people behind the tea we drink.
Building a fairer future for tea producers
Tea is more than just a drink—it’s a daily ritual, a comfort, and a symbol of connection across the UK. But behind every cuppa lies a story that too often goes untold.
Despite tea’s power to transform lives—supporting education and gender equality, and strengthening rural communities—too little of the industry’s wealth reaches the people who grow and pick it.
While we pay just a few pence for a tea bag, workers face rising costs, low wages, and unsafe conditions.
The industry has reached boiling point, but by working together, we can call on governments and companies to act. We can help build a fairer future for the people behind the nation’s favourite drink.
Get Involved
Visit our petitions page to join fellow Fairtrade supporters asking the UK government to Brew it Fair and stand with the people behind the tea we drink.
Get the facts
Read the Brew it Fair Report
Discover an overview of the reality for tea workers today in our tea report, sharing the views of the people who grow and pick our tea in Kenya.
The report makes recommendations for how we can all play a part in making the trade system fairer, so the people behind the tea we drink can live decent lives.
FAQs
How is tea made?
Tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant and goes through different processes according to the quality and variety of the tea. The final blend we see on the shelf at a shop is likely to be a mix of teas from different places, with different taste profiles.
Generally the top two leaves and a bud are hand-plucked from the tea plant and placed in a basket carried by the farmer or worker. A full basket might weigh up to 30kgs. The leaves are then taken to a nearby factory to be ‘withered’. Then the leaves will be rolled, twisted or curled to release the flavour and shape the tea into the larger pieces you might tend to see in a loose leaf or a finer powder that you might see in a tea bag. The tea is then oxidised and further dried, graded and packaged.
Where is tea grown?
Tea is grown on both family owned ‘smallholder’ farms and big estates where hired workers pluck tea and process it in factories. These farms and estates can be all over the world but tea is a climate sensitive crop and only grows well when it’s warm and wet. This limits the areas where tea can be grown. Countries where Fairtrade tea is grown include India, Malawi, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
How much are tea workers paid?
This varies of course in the many different regions where tea is grown, but in Assam, which produces half of India’s tea, the minimum wage for workers is 250 rupees per day (around £2.50). A living wage would be about almost double that at 450 rupees a day. In Kenya, 4 out of 5 tea farmers and workers have told us they don’t earn enough every month to support their families with the essentials and over 70% of Kenyan tea workers say the biggest challenge is wages and income for their family.
When you consider that the price of an average tea bag in the UK today is just around 2 or 3 pence, you can see that the scales are not tipped in favour of the people at the start of the tea journey.
Why is tea good for you?
Apart from the relaxing benefits for your mental health, of taking a break with a cherished cup of tea, tea is full of anti-oxidants. Polyphenols can help fight cell damage! Some studies suggest tea can be good for the heart by reducing cholesterol levels! There is less caffeine in tea than coffee, so that great focus can come without the jitters. And of course its great to stay hydrated with a Fairtrade cuppa.
How do you choose good tea?
Whenever we buy anything it is vital to consider where it came from. Who made it? Were they paid fairly and do they have good working conditions like knowing their job is secure? Once you trust that the tea you are buying is fair to the people who grew it, you can choose for taste. Lots of UK supermarkets have many delicious Fairtrade tea options which are blends exactly tailored for your palate. Try a new Fairtrade blend this week and see what difference you can taste!
How do I tell if tea is good quality?
This is all about your own taste. Larger or unbroken leaves are said to be higher quality than smaller leaf particles but its entirely up to your tastebuds! Good quality tea is what smells fresh, fragrant and delicious to you. The length of time you brew a tea can increase the level of bitterness, or flatness so the way you prepare your tea also affects its end result.