A noble drink, a centuries-old tradition – black tea fascinates the senses and delights the palates of tea lovers worldwide. But what about the quality of the popular drink and the conditions under which it is produced? “Ökotest” sheds light on the complex world of black tea and tested 24 black teas. The results of their research are sobering.
The good news first: Although only a few of the organic teas tested successfully passed the strict tests, two products stand out: The “Lebensbaum Assam Black Tea” (4.79 euros per 100 g) is the nerd among the black teas. He received top marks in all test categories. It stands out not only for its taste, but also for its transparent supply chains and fair working conditions.
The “Tea Gschwendner Darjeeling FTGFOP1” (13.80 euros), which was convincing in terms of both ecological and social standards, was also rated positively. The “Alnatura Darjeeling Leaf” (4.36 euros) also received good marks and was classified as pesticide-free.
On the other hand, the testers found alarming levels of pesticides in some teas. In particular, Norma’s “Cornwall Ceylon-Assam Black Tea” was classified as one of the teas most contaminated with pesticides, including banned substances. This resulted in the worst rating of “unsatisfactory.”
Another critical case was the “Westminster Tea black tea blend” from Aldi Nord, which was criticized for having a chlorate content that exceeded the legal limit. Chlorate can damage the thyroid if consumed long-term. As a result of the test, Aldi Nord decided to remove the product from its range.
The research highlights that pesticide levels in some teas are alarmingly high and highlights the problematic working conditions faced by tea pickers in various countries. The best organic products, such as Lebensbaum and Tea Gschwendner, rely on transparent supply chains and fair working conditions.
You can read the entire test here for a fee.
