World Tea News asked tea industry influencers: How is the organic food trend changing tea?
Here are their insights.
I love that the organic food trend generally raises consumers’ awareness of the pesticides and other concerns, including ambient pollution and lead in tea cultivation. There are regions from which we won’t market teas which aren’t certified organic. However, the highest quality teas in the world are not organic certified, and nor will they ever be. They’re at the pinnacle of fine artisanal cultivation. For these growers, catering to a certification is both irrelevant and devaluing. Many consumers don’t realize this, and it’s unfortunate that they’ll most likely miss tasting some real treasures of tea.
—Maria Uspenski Founder and CEO of The Tea Spot, author of Cancer Hates Tea
—Richard Enticott Owner of Meridian Trading Company
—Kelly Amoroso Tea Buyer at Allegro Coffee
—Tim Smith Owner of The Tea Smith