The word “organic tea” seems simple enough but can be confusing for consumers. Here you can get an Idea about the standards and laws governing this group of products, especially tea.
What exactly determines if a product is grown organically?
The regulations further state that farms, or handling facilities may not use any of the following in production or handling;
- Genetic Engineering
- Ionizing Radiation
- Sewage Sludge
Organic crops must be without using;
- Most conventional pesticides
- Petroleum based fertilizers
- Sewage sludge-based fertilizers
What are “organic” labeling standards?
Organic labeling is the simplest part of the certification process and the aspect that is most confusing for consumers. While many times “organic” on a label means you pay more, what is the meaning behind the label? The standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product, and by law must be identified like this;
- Products labeled “100 % organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients.
- Products labeled “organic” must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
- Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can only use the phrase “made with organic ingredients”.
- Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” other than to identify the specific ingredients, on the ingredients list, that are organically produced.
It has become increasingly important for consumers concerned about how their teas are grown to be comfortable with their tea supplier. Bio terrorism laws have impacted tea importation by looking more closely overall at what and who are importing products into this country, particularly food products. While these laws can sometimes impede the smooth flow of tea to us from overseas it may be beneficial overall to consumers due to the “closer look” of the FDA.
Converting gardens and estates to organic farming is a costly and lengthy process and sometimes not even a consideration for small farmers. In some cases farmers are already doing a lot right, but lack the knowledge or funding necessary to become certified.
Quality, from a taste perspective, has been an issue with organic teas. Gardens converting to organic farming have challenges, short and long term, producing teas that taste as good. As processes continue to improve an d farmers gain more experience, quality and taste are improving.
As an importer and supplier of premium teas one of our major responsibilities is knowing the production standards and philosophies of the gardens we work with. Securing quality, organic teas with outstanding taste characteristics can be challenging but more become available each season.
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