Hampstead Organic Tea (truly plastic-free!)

Hampstead Teas always come out top, when indie experts look at which teas have the best eco credentials.

Everyone in England likes a nice cup of tea. Most teas are packed in plastic, which means that when you pour hot water over the tea bags, you’re literally drinking microplastics. Fair Trade tea is also important, as tea plantation workers often live in some of the poorest countries on earth.

And tea leaves are very absorbent, so choosing organic not only is good for you and the planet, but the tea plantation pickers (they don’t therefore have to wear protective clothing, in very hot climates).

Elephant-friendly tea plantations promise not to poison elephants, farm organically and avoid electric fencing, razor wire and deep narrow ditches (difficult to cross).

NHS says that it’s best to avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing (or no more than 2 cups of weak tea daily – or 1 cup of mild coffee or cola). Some teas (like hibiscus and liquorice) should be avoided for pregnancy/nursing.

Although tea leaves are natural, in excess their acids could harm compost creatures. So latest advice is to just bin them (or put them in food waste bins) to naturally break down. Use a sink protector mat to catch tea leaves, to avoid them clogging your sink. The same applies to coffee grounds (and acidic food scraps – alliums, tomato, citrus and rhubarb).

Beware (not all ‘plastic-free’ teas are true)

microplastics in tea

Years ago, all tea was sold loose. But now most contain plastic. Just one bag at 95 degrees C can release over 11 billion microplastics into your drink. So unless you use loose leaf tea, look for plastic-free tea brands.

Be careful, as some brands label their teas as ‘plastic-free’, when they actually use plant-based PLA (polylactic acid) that still is not truly plastic-free.

This brand is one of the few on the market, that truly is plastic-free. Plus all their teas are organic. And delicious. And varied, so there is something for everyone. The range includes: