Organic Tea -- Is It Worth It?

But how can you be sure the "organic tea" you buy is really organic? Organic beverages such as tea and coffee are also available and they are very popular. We can buy organic vegetables, fruits, and even "organically raised" meat. Organic produce is everywhere.
What's to stop an unscrupulous tea vendor from falsely labeling his tea "organic" simply to get a better price? Organic produce, tea included, is usually more expensive than non-organic brands.
What is Organic Tea?
Organic tea is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The soil is enriched with natural compost and a layer of mulch retains the moisture while providing extra nutrients as it breaks down.
These competitions are held "blind" so that the judges can only use taste, aroma and color as the judging criteria. Tea competitions in China, Japan, and Taiwan have consistently chosen organic teas as the best teas of their class. This growing method is more labor-intensive but produces superior quality tea.
Scientific studies have shown that these compounds are found in higher concentrations in good quality tea. These are the antioxidants that provide many of the health benefits that tea is famous for. In addition to the improved flavor, organic tea is also higher in health promoting polyphenols and catechins.
This means that the farmer has less expense in replacing tea plants. Tea plants can live more than 100 years, and organic farming methods allow the tea plants to remain healthy for the duration of their lifespan. Organic tea is also better for the tea farmer.
Is it Really Organic?
Organizations like the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have certification programs that examine the growing practices of a particular tea plantation and issue certificates to those that meet their requirements. For one thing, there are several governmental and non-government agencies that certify products as being organic. When you pick up a package of tea that is labeled "organic" how can you be sure it's the real McCoy?
Packaged organic tea is required to meet the standards of the certifying agency, so look for tea which has the label of a recognized agency.
You are paying a premium for organic tea, so accept nothing short of the best. If it is not superb, it is probably not organic. Organic tea should titillate the taste buds with complex flavors and subtle delights. Above all, however, you should rely on your taste buds to tell you whether a tea is really organic.
Paul Dickson is a contributing writer to
Tea Genius.com
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