As more and more Australians are requesting organic tea, restaurants and cafes are having to order it wholesale. But the business opportunity isn’t what makes organic tea so vital — it’s the impact on our health (and the environment).
Naturally, restaurateurs want to get involved. So let’s put the kettle on. As an organic food wholesaler, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know when shopping for organic tea, including:
- Why is organic tea so important for farmers, the environment, and your health?
- What are the three key criteria that organic tea must meet?
- Where is the best place to buy the highest-quality, certified, and affordable organic tea?
Has the kettle boiled? Then grab your cuppa and settle in for a riveting read. It’s tea-time.
Want high-quality, certified, and affordable organic tea? Terra Madre’s tasty organic tea is on the menu for Aussie restaurants and cafes.
Why is organic tea so much better than conventional tea?
Are the differences significant? Absolutely. There are dramatic differences between organic and conventional tea. Let’s start with why one kilogram of organic tea is worth all the chemically produced tea in China.
1. No chemicals in your cup
Conventional tea plantations rely on chemicals to boost their growth (and profits). This has become an industry standard, from Australia to China. Unfortunately, many of those chemicals end up in your cup — and body.
The chemicals that conventional tea plantations use include:
- Pesticides
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
While most of the chemicals are removed during processing, residue remains in the tea leaves. When you steep your tea, those chemicals seep out into your cup — invisible yet harmful to everyone drinking them.
Unlike conventional tea, organic tea isn’t produced using any chemicals. Organic tea is grown without pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The biggest health benefit of organic tea may be that it is chemical free. Still, it offers many additional health benefits.
2. What the science says
Studies have shown there are many health benefits associated with drinking organic tea, from preventing illness to improving everyday health.
Specifically, at Terra Madre our range of organic teas offer several health benefits:
- Earl Grey Tea Organic: With robust antioxidant properties; it boosts your immunity, lowers stress, and helps digestion.
- English Breakfast Tea Organic: Many studies link drinking English Breakfast Tea with a lower incidence of heart attacks.
- Green Tea Organic: High in antioxidants, Green Tea is associated with lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol as well as reducing the risk of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
- Roasted Dandelion Tea Blend Conventional: Nutrient rich, Roasted Dandelion Tea promotes healthy digestion.
- Rooibos Tea Conventional: High in antioxidants and minerals, Rooibos Teas has anti-allergenic properties and boosts the immune system.
3. A natural tea with more flavour
Many Australians start drinking organic tea for the health benefits, but continue drinking it for the superior flavour. Without all the chemicals, organic tea has a richer, natural flavour. It’s a higher-quality tea.
4. Prevent contaminated soil and water
Conventionally grown tea is one of the worst crops for the environment. As tea is grown at higher elevations, especially in Asia, the chemicals run down the hillsides into rivers, plants, farms, and even oceans.
In contrast, since organic tea farms don’t use any of these chemicals in their production, they keep the soil and water sources healthy, ensuring the ecosystem can thrive.
5. Take care of the farmers
Consider the farmers who have to mix and spray chemicals on conventional tea plantations. Some even apply them by hand.
Do you think their masks, gloves, and minimal protective gear keep them completely safe? Of course not. But what’s worse is that in many countries there are workers spraying crops without any protective gear at all.
In contrast, organic tea plantations have no chemicals to apply. And that’s not the only benefit to workers.
Compared to giant conventional tea plantations, the majority of organic tea farms are cultivated on smaller plots of land by smaller groups of farmers. This gives families and local workers more opportunity to profit from their work.
6. Long term environmental effects
The use of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides have a long term impact on the ecosystem. The chemicals harm spiders, ladybugs and insects. They harden the soil. They imbalance the ecosystem.
This all makes farms even more reliant on chemicals, which creates a chemical reliant cycle that hurts the environment, farmers, and ultimately tea drinkers.
What are the three key criteria when selecting organic tea?
Naturally, having seen how important it is to switch from conventional to organic tea, let’s explore everything you need to know to buy organic tea in bulk.
1. Australian Certified Organic (ACO)
A product with ‘ACO Certified Organic’ on the label is the only way to guarantee that your tea is organic. ACO audits producers of organic foods, including tea, to make sure they meet stringent requirements.
What are the requirements? Essentially, ACO certified organic products are grown, harvested, stored, and transported without the use of:
- Synthetic chemicals (pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides)
- Irradiation
- Fumigants
2. High-quality
All tea isn’t created equal. Beyond the growing conditions and farming practices, there are a myriad of factors that create high-quality tea—from propagation to processing techniques.
The best way to guarantee your organic tea is high quality, is to work with a specialty organic store. As well as stocking Australian Certified Organic products, they will ensure all their products are high quality—meeting the needs of restaurants and discerning customers.
3. Affordability
Shopping organic can get expensive if you aren’t aware of the best way to shop. Buying direct and in-volume allows wholesalers to keep their prices competitive. By shopping with a wholesaler who buys in bulk, you can get great prices—and high quality.
Why shop with Terra Madre for wholesale organic tea?
Terra Madre is popular in Melbourne's restaurants and cafes because we meet (and exceed) the three key factors for selecting organic tea.
1. Our organic tea is Australian Certified Organic
We only work with the best organic suppliers so we can bring you the highest quality organic tea. Our organic tea has been tested and approved by ACO—you’ll see ‘ACO Certified Organic’ on our product labels.
2. Our organic tea is the highest quality
As we only work with the highest-quality organic suppliers, we have become the leading certified organic wholesaler in Melbourne (and to many of the city’s best restaurants). This commitment to high-quality has given us the honour of serving our community for more than two decades.
3. We offer affordable prices because we are a wholesaler
As a wholesaler, we buy direct and in volume so that we can keep our costs low—and offer you affordable prices. And being both a wholesale supplier and retail store, we can offer both businesses and consumers great prices. It’s a win-win-win.
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