Nemi Teas (helps London refugees)
Nemi Tea is a London social enterprise, which uses profits to give jobs and incomes to refugees, arriving in England often after traumatic experiences. This tea is not just Fair Trade, but made with organic tea leaves. Not just good for the planet, but good for tea plantation workers, who often work in some of the hottest temperatures on earth (they therefore don’t have to wear extra clothing to protect themselves from chemicals).
Avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing (also some herb teas like hibiscus and liquorice). Just bin leaves (caffeine could harm compost creatures). Use a SinkShield to stop clogging drains.
Also read about energy-saving kettles.
Beware (not all ‘plastic-free’ teas are true)
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.
Elephant-friendly tea plantations promise not to poison elephants, farm organically and avoid electric fencing, razor wire and deep narrow ditches (difficult to cross)
This brand also sells a disposable tea filter (100 each pack). Just use 1 filter to make 4 cups of tea (made from chlorine-free easy-to-recycle paper). Just add your tea leaves, and fold down, leaving room for the tea leaves to expand. Then dip the filter into your mug or teapot.
Sold in pretty zero waste cardboard tubs (you can recycle the inner packaging at supermarket bag bins), the range (serve with oat drink or cashew drink includes:
- English Breakfast Tea (the classic, ideal for your veggie full breakfast). Or serve with a slice of vegan Victoria sponge.
- Earl Grey (if you’re a bit posh). This is spiced with bergamot oil, best without milk. This smoky Assam tea also has a blue hue, thanks to the addition of cornflower petals.
- Spicy Chai (the Indian classic, loved worldwide). This featuring black tea warmed up by spices of ginger, cinnamon, peppercorn, cloves and cardamom. Ideal to sip on one of England’s many cold rainy days.
- Green Tea (this is the healthiest tea, some love it – others don’t!) This version is not so bitter, due to delicate steamed green leaves from Southern India’s Nilgiri District.
