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ICON DECODER

COMPANY RATINGS
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Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
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Tea

The Guide > Food & Drink > Drinks > Tea 

    Industry Alert: Pesticides

Pesticides In Tea

In 2003, CHOICE tested 55 widely available brands of tea for pesticide residue. Nearly 40% tested positive. Formosan Tea was particularly high in pesticide residue.  [The New Daily]

Caffeine

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. It is highly addictive and causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (headaches being the most common) if you stop drinking it suddenly. Most people get their caffeine fixes from coffee and tea, but it is also present in cola drinks, energy drinks and chocolate (the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it contains). Caffeine is a strong diuretic and can cause insomnia, tremors and reduced fertility in men. It's bad news for pregnant women too.   [more]
  • Typical caffeine quantities: Red Bull (250ml can) - 80mg; Mother (500ml can) - 160mg; Coca-Cola can - 40mg; Coffee - 80-100mg typically; Tea - about half that of coffee (varies greatly); A chocolate bar - up to 10mg
  • Find out how much caffeine you consume each day using Choice's Caffeine calculator.  [Caffeine calculator]

Alternatives beyond the mainstream

Koala Tea Company  [more info]
Features: Organic
Koala Tea Company is a 100% Australian owned company that offers Certified Organic herbal tea and flavoured teas. Based in Lismore (NSW), their products can be ordered through their website.
Manufacturer: Koala Tea Company
Tea Tonic  [more info]
Features: Organic, Australian owned and made
100% Australian owned company that has been making certified organic teas since 1998, using locally sourced fruits and herbs, and biodegradable, unbleached teabags. Based in Melbourne, VIC.
Manufacturer: Tea Tonic
Tielka Fairtrade Organic tea  [more info]
Features: Fairtrade, organic
Tielka is a 100% Australian owned company that offers fairtrade and organic loose leaf tea. They specialise in white, yellow, green, oolong, black, pu-erh and floral varietals that are ethically sourced and imported directly from tea farmers. Ph: 1300 843 552
Manufacturer: Tielka
Tradewinds  [more info]
Features: Organic, Fairtrade
Your one stop shop for fair trade and organic tea and coffee. Online sales. Tradewinds is a volunteer based not-for-profit company, with profits funding targeted projects that open new opportunities for producer communities.
Manufacturer: Tradewinds
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
Nature's Cuppa certified organic certified organic EatRite Australasia   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Madura some products grown in Australia some products certified organic some products grown in Australia some products certified organic Madura Tea Estates   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Arkadia  Maltra Foods   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Planet Organic certified organic certified organic Planet Organic   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Virgin Garden certified organic certified organic Virgin Garden   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Natureland  Vittoria Food & Beverage   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Clipper some products certified organic some products Fairtrade some products certified organic some products Fairtrade Clipper Teas   (PAI Partners) FRA  Some praise, no criticism2
Dilmah  Dilmah Australia   (MJF Group) LKA  Some praise, no criticism2
Nerada grown in Australia grown in Australia Nerada Tea   (JA Russell & Co) MYS  Some praise, no criticism2
Nerada Organics certified organic  some products Fairtrade certified organic some products Fairtrade Nerada Tea   (JA Russell & Co) MYS  Some praise, no criticism2
Daintree grown in Australia grown in Australia Daintree Tea   Australian Owned  No rating3
Bonvit  G&R Gerardis   Australian Owned  No rating3
Hari Har Chai  Hari Har Chai   Australian Owned  No rating3
Kintra Foods  Kintra Foods   Australian Owned  No rating3
Symington's  Kintra Foods   Australian Owned  No rating3
Madame Flavour  Madame Flavour   Australian Owned  No rating3
Jones  A.F. Jones   (Capital Maharaja) LKA  No rating3
BOH  BOH   (JA Russell & Co) MYS  No rating3
Qi certified organic certified Fairtrade certified organic certified Fairtrade Herbal Health  
Distributor: Universal Village  
UK  No rating3
Impra  Imperial Tea Exports   LKA  No rating3
Just Rooibos  Just-Rooibos   ZAF  No rating3
Victorian  Millennium Teas   LKA  No rating3
Dr Stuart's  Only Natural Products   UK  No rating3
Higher Living certified organic certified organic Only Natural Products   UK  No rating3
Kromland Farm  Only Natural Products   UK  No rating3
Stassen  Stassen Group   LKA  No rating3
Lotus Peak certified organic certified organic BH Fine Foods   (Pact Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Diplomat  Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Pukka certified organic certified organic Pukka Herbs   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Praises, some criticism4
Taylors of Harrogate  Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate  
Distributor: Manassen Foods  
UK  Criticism, some praise5
Yorkshire Tea Rainforest Alliance certified Rainforest Alliance certified Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate  
Distributor: Manassen Foods  
UK  Criticism, some praise5
Red Seal  Red Seal   (EBOS) NZL  Criticism, some praise5
Healtheries  Vitaco   (Shanghai Pharma) CHN  Criticism, some praise5
Bushells  ekaterra   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Criticisms6
Lan Choo  ekaterra   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Criticisms6
Lipton some products Rainforest Alliance certified  some products Rainforest Alliance certified ekaterra   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Criticisms6
PG Tips some products Rainforest Alliance certified some products Rainforest Alliance certified ekaterra   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Criticisms6
Celestial  Hain Celestial   USA  Criticisms6
Pickwick some products UTZ Certified some products UTZ Certified Jacobs Douwe Egberts Australia   (Acorn Holdings) NLD  Criticisms6
Tasty  Monde Nissin Australia   (Monde Nissin) PHL  Criticisms6
T2 some products certified Fairtrade some products certified organic some products certified Fairtrade some products certified organic T2 Tea   (CVC)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
UK  Criticisms6
Billy Tea  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Kinkara  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Robur  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Tetley  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Tuckfields  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Tynee Tips  Tata Consumer Products Australia   (Tata Group) IND  Criticisms6
Twinings  Twinings & Co   (Garfield Weston Foundation) UK  Criticisms6



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